Director Takeshi YoshimotoDespite this cold weather, 2,396 people came. It was good because I wanted to make this venue hot. This is a special tournament, so we want to continue to show some memorable football.
Yes, I’m glad I won. I feel relieved. That’s all for the summary (lol).
NHK: This victory in the opening game is huge.
YoshimotoLast year, we played against Toyama, who stayed in J2 after catching up in the final stages, and a team that was camped in Kochi, so it was a very close match, but the (Kochi U) players were very aggressive from the first half, showing an attitude of going for the goal and stealing the ball. On the other hand, it was a match that made me think, “Oh, he can do something like that.” It was a match where I felt the player’s potential was even more appealing.
NHK: What was your intention and what kind of voice did you say to the players going into the match?
YoshimotoWell, first of all, it was not an easy situation because there was a lot of wind, but first of all, we tried to control what we could control. The same goes for the mental part, and also includes teamwork. With that said, I sent him off.
NHK: Specifically, what in particular did you prepare for that led to your victory?
YoshimotoIs that okay as a trade secret? That’s the question (lol). Rather than trying to match up with the opposing team, I think we are gradually starting to see the fusion of individual players that we are currently aiming for. Under these circumstances, what kind of soccer we should aim for is not a football that suits the opponent, but a football that allows us to shine in various colors. I’m glad that we finally got to see some of that.
NHK Lastly, based on this match, please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
YoshimotoThis is a special tournament, where each game will not go down in the records (as part of the regular season), so to put it another way, I would like to show a new Kochi United with memorable football.
TV Kochi The forward awareness was amazing.
YoshimotoPrinciples of football. We have to score goals and we have to protect goals. I’m trying to pursue those two extremes, or rather, always try to play in a positive manner, and that’s what I’ve been doing this season, so I’m glad that I was able to see that.
TV Kochi What did you think of the atmosphere in Haruno, including the supporters?
YoshimotoIt’s a special event, so it doesn’t really feel like a great start, but 2,396 people came despite the cold weather and there were so many other events going on, and that’s why I wanted this venue to be so hot. I feel relieved that I was able to bring even a little bit of Hokkaido into the hearts of the people who came.
Kochi-san TV Please tell us about Yoshimoto-san’s J activities if you have any.
YoshimotoThat’s a difficult question. No, I’m already pushing. We encourage all players. So, I want them to make good use of this special tournament and gain as much experience as possible, so I want to send out more and more players who have done well in their daily training. Therefore, we are promoting all players. I don’t know what to say, but I think it’s a good opportunity to convey the appeal of football once again, so I’d like to do that on Instagram as well, and work with the players. I’m sorry if this is okay.
Kochi newspaperThe match was so great that I almost forgot that it was the J’s first time in charge other than as a substitute (from his time at Niigata), but I thought it would be nice to see him win again in his first time in charge.
YoshimotoI received an offer that allowed me to officially pitch as a J-team coach for the first time in the prefecture where I was born and raised. I really want to thank everyone, and I really want to thank the players for winning today.
Kochi Shimbun How did you assess the degree of completion of the fusion part?
YoshimotoI still think they can do more, and I think I was able to show them one of the opportunities. That’s why I want to ask this more and more and convey it to the players, and today’s goals were all great, so I expressed my gratitude.
Kochi Shimbun Yoshimoto Color could have been released sooner
YoshimotoNo, this season I thought I’d wear a black suit instead of a gold one, and try to hide myself a little bit, but I think I’d like the players to stand out more than me as the coach (lol).
Kochi Shimbun The black splashes were conspicuous.
YoshimotoDoes it stand out? (laughs) I want to be a coach who supports the players, so while I’m supporting the players in that way, I also hope that I can show some of Yoshimoto’s colors.
Kochi Shimbun I thought Sasaki was very good, but I could see that he wanted to have possession of the ball to some extent, including by using him in the shadows. And, in fact, I think they were very effective in possession of the ball, not just holding it, but moving forward, so what do you think of them being able to do that in this opening game?
YoshimotoJust because we have the ball there doesn’t mean we can win. Well, I think it would be good if the players were informed about the time and timing for moving the ball. Regarding the starting lineup for this match, I chose players who have a very good understanding of soccer. What’s up with that part? I think we were able to get both players and the ball moving in the first half. However, there were times when we were a bit on the receiving end of Katale in the second half, so I would like to improve on that and pursue actions that we initiate rather than reactions.
