[Full text of news station]”I want to continue as a national team coach” The future of Japanese soccer Coach Moriyasu, who returned to Japan, will appear live (December 7, 2022)

After completing the challenge to the World Cup, the voices of the fans who welcomed the Japan national soccer team back home were the voices of “thank you”. The relay is connected to the Japan national team coach Hajime Moriyasu, who has just finished a fierce battle. ◆ Japan national team coach Hajime Moriyasu (Q. How did you feel about the welcome from the fans at Narita Airport?) I was so happy. Our fight is to make our supporters and the people of Japan smile and be happy. We had to say “thank you”, but he said “thank you”. More than anything else, seeing the smiles and joy of the people of Japan really brings me joy, and I am happy right now. (Q. How would you describe the fight of the Japanese national team?) I could not see the “new scenery” because I could not break the barrier of the best 16, but a different new scenery, Germany and Spain. I think I was able to come from behind and win, and I was able to see a new view of Japan that I had never seen before. More than anything else, I believe that the performances that the players showed showed that Japanese football is entering a new era. From now on, I think we have a fight that you can look forward to even more. (Q.I think we have established a Japanese style of “defending well and winning on the counter.” What do you think?) As you say, we need to shift from good defense to good offense, in order to win on the world stage. From the necessary base fighting style, when the opponent takes the lead, the players are more aggressive, have courage, and bravely go forward while the counterattack is not effective. I think we were able to create a new power for Japan, a new way of fighting, that we can win from a come-from-behind victory. (Q. The tactics that completely changed the character of the team between the first half and the second half were called “Moriyasu Magic” and surprised the world. There was some speculation about the way players were appointed that had not been shown before. All the teams that appear in the World Cup are strong, especially Germany and Spain, who have won the World Cup and are strong teams, so we can’t easily make them ideal. At that time, first of all, we will start with a good defense, so we will ask the players to be patient in the first half and then raise the gear at once in the second half. I think the players understood that well and played well. I think I could have played in other ways, but when I thought about the odds of winning, I can’t say from the data, but I think the players were convinced and played according to the plan. However, in the second half, I think that I was not inferior at all in each phase, and I think that the Japanese players showed that they can compete in the world in the one-on-one phase. think. (Q.At the end of each match, overseas reporters often say, “Japan is evolving.” It seems that the number of foreigners wearing Japanese uniforms has increased as the matches have progressed. How do you feel about the reaction from overseas?) I am very happy. I really hope that what we are doing, trying to win on the world stage, will be appreciated by Japanese supporters and the people of Japan, as well as by those who have a discerning eye for football overseas. I’m glad. People all over the world are feeling the courage and courage shown by the players, and the tenacity that is one of Japan’s strengths, and the fact that they work together as a team to fight until the very end. I’m glad. (Q. I feel that your never-give-up attitude really resonated with a lot of people.) That’s what I wanted to share with the players and express, so I’m happy to see that. In order to win, I think it will be a very important point to fight until the end without giving up, so I think the players did a good job. (Q. As the national team coach, I think you were in a tough environment, where you were exposed to intense criticism, and you were praised for a sudden change, but how did you overcome it?) I have. It makes me happy that football is being seen more broadly, with both praise and criticism. I’m really grateful because being indifferent is more lonely. In the midst of the desire to deliver dreams, hopes, energy, courage and perseverance through soccer, the people of Japan can watch soccer as a part of their daily lives, and be able to explode their emotions. It’s a very happy thing for those who play soccer. If possible, I would like you to have a lot of joy, but I would be happy if you could hit all your emotions and relieve your daily stress. (Q. Was there any difficulty in bringing the team together?) In baseball, all the players say, “I am the ace and number 4,” “I am the king,” and “I am number 1.” Among them, of course, I want you to have it. I am very happy to see the players show their ambition to break through. It’s hard to put together, of course, but we had some great veterans on our team who put the team together. This time, 19 out of 26 players participated in the World Cup for the first time, so they had little experience. I would be happy if young people in Japan could think, “We can do it too.” (Q. In the practice after losing the match against Costa Rica, I felt that many of the veteran players were yelling and trying to push forward. I also felt a sense of self-confidence from looking at you. Did you see any changes in the team?) I think there was a wave of emotions due to winning or losing, but it didn’t fluctuate greatly. I thought. The veterans always lead the team and they say, “We don’t need a manager, so let’s lead the team on our own”, leading the team in a good direction. Also, for the sake of the team, for Japan, I will sacrifice myself and move on to the next one.” We weren’t arguing with each other, but a sense of unity with nature was born. It’s a group with strong individuality, but I think everyone understood and tried to practice the power of “harmony”, which is the strength of Japan, which is the strength of unity and the feeling of unity toward something. . That is also for us to win, and I think we were able to fight while sharing with the supporters and people who have been cheering for us, “This is how Japan fights.” (Q.As a coach, you must have said many things to the players. Conversely, are there any words that left an impression on you?) The players are always positive, saying, “We can do it. When we played against Spain and Germany, we were always reminded that we could win if we showed our strength as usual. Even when we were having a difficult time in the qualifying rounds, and when we were standing on the edge of the ring, the coaches were encouraged by the voices of the players saying, “No, we can do it.” (Q.As a director, is there anything you want to protect?) I think that’s what I always tell my players. However, I myself am charismatic and not the type to lead from the top down, so I would like to create an atmosphere where everyone works together as much as possible. (Q.Where do you want Japanese football to go from here?) Not only does Japan break through the round-of-16 barrier, but the Japan Football Association also has a goal of winning the World Cup by 2050. Don’t catch up with the world, but overtake the world. I think we have to think about what we have to do to win. We can compete as an organization, but I think it’s important to make our individual strengths stronger and bigger within the global standards and World Cup standards. I think it is necessary to always have the ability to connect with people within that individual power, and ultimately to be able to fight organizationally with the power of Japan’s “harmony”. (Q. If asked to continue as the national team coach, would you continue?) Yes. I would like to continue. However, I haven’t received any official talks yet, so I think I’ll continue directing for a while longer.
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