Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, Manager
Q: As the Okinawa camp comes to an end, please review the events leading up to this point.
A, we conducted the first phase of the preseason here, and while we usually organize the preseason over 5 weeks, this time we are organizing it over 6 weeks due to a longer off period. To avoid fatigue from preparing in the same location, we plan to start in Okinawa, return to Tokyo, and then move to Miyazaki to change the environment while progressing with our preparations. The first theme in Okinawa, which is the initial phase, was to improve physical condition. However, our players have prepared well for the preseason as wonderful professionals, so we are starting in good condition. It has been a period of significant growth in terms of tactics over the past two weeks. Thanks to the foundation built last season, we have been able to start smoothly. Additionally, the new players fit well into our style. The players promoted from U-18 have been participating in the top team's training since last season, so they understood what we are looking for. The two players who joined from university also understood what we do, which I believe contributed to the smooth progress.
Q, Last season was a season to establish some rules. So far this season, it seems like there are efforts to go beyond those rules.
A, it is appropriate to say that we are evolving. There are players who have played soccer with the ball as the main character in the way we aim for, and on the other hand, there are players who have not. I believe that continuing to evolve together with them is the direction we aim for this season. There are also players who went through tough times at the end of the 2021 season. It is difficult to turn things around from there, but I think we are accomplishing it. I hope that the team, which faced difficult situations at the end of the 2021 season, can be reborn with a new style and a more aggressive approach. Thanks to the cooperation of the new players from last season, we were able to start in a good direction. So this season, I want it to be a season where the team and each player evolve further by adding a new concept. In last season's Premier League, there was a need to complete the team as soon as possible. On the other hand, the preseason has become a very difficult situation for me as a coach. This is because the competition for positions within the team is tight, making player selection difficult. This is a wonderful situation for the team.
Q, it seems like we can create two teams of the same level.
A, exactly right. In addition to being able to form two competitive teams, it is a situation where young players can break into that. It is ideal for this to happen every season, and for multiple young players, about 4 or 5 high-level players who make the position competition even more difficult, to join and continue to activate the team, is the ideal flow.
Q, it's been a repetitive training since the beginning of the camp, but now we've reached a point where we're in really good shape.
A, I think the reason why the menu was in good shape was because of the accumulation of last season's one year. Without that, I don't think we could have done it like that. We've only been here for two weeks. The phase of seeking such plays has just started. In the future, we would like to continue to seek more difficult and higher level plays, and aim for a higher level of completion over the course of several months.
Q, pocket, is the keyword that has come up at this camp.
A, What is important is for the team to mature along with the ball. It depends on whether each player can express their mature play with confidence in a smaller space. When we put pressure on the opponent with multiple players in a small space, it means that the opponent player is sliding, which in turn creates more effective space for us. So in order to pass the ball effectively in that space, it is necessary to first put pressure on the opponent with a good sense of distance. We want to continue to do that well, and I think it is an element that we can only work on with the accumulation of last season. Of course, we also want to improve our speed in switching between offense and defense, and we want to polish our ability to quickly move towards the goal. We aim to play with the ball as the main character. Along with that, we are working hard in practice to become a more complete team.
Q, What do you want to instill in the team for the remaining 4 weeks?
A, After returning to Tokyo this time, I want to return to the usual form of training once in the morning during the season. After that, we have three consecutive games scheduled for practice matches, so we want to aim for a high-intensity game that is closer to an official match and focus on playing with a strong determination.
Q, the intensity seems to have increased by one level even in Okinawa.
A, the better the play, the higher the intensity tends to appear. In the preseason, it is important to gradually prepare and minimize injuries. And because the season is long, in order to continue fighting in a better condition for the entire season, good preparation is necessary. However, some teams and players may drop their condition in the second half of the season if they demand too much. We do not want to be like that, so we want to prepare to continue fighting in a good condition throughout the season. I believe in the method of stacking week by week, rather than dividing the season into sections.
