Vissel Kobe, whose ambitions stretch to the top of the J.League and domination across Asia, boasts players like Andres Iniesta, who was a central figure for the Spanish national team, as well as Yuya Osako, Gotoku Sakai, and Hotaru Yamaguchi, all of whom have played overseas and for the Japan national team. We spoke with Manager Takayuki Yoshida, who leads this team packed with star players, about his thinking and methodology for fighting as one toward victory. Bringing together such strong, varied personalities ― each with their own experiences and ways of thinking ― would seem to be quite a challenge.

——Looking back on the 2022 season, you reflected that you were able to deepen “unity.” What kind of changes did you see in the players?

To win any single match, it is crucial that everyone understands the tactics and prepares as a unit. This requires each person to understand and act on their own role, regardless of whether they are playing or not. Being able to instill this kind of thinking throughout the team was a major achievement.

——This is something common to all professions and jobs, but deepening tactical understanding, or aligning everyone’s thinking, is no easy task. What are some things you keep in mind in order to achieve this?

I focus on how to get the key points across simply and concisely in a short period of time. It’s difficult for people to absorb everything if you try to cram everything in at once. There’s a lot I want to say, but the real work is whittling to the core, and figuring out how to make it short. When I prepare for meetings, I spend more time editing things out rather than adding them in.

——Each player has experienced different things, and they each have their own way of thinking. Right now Vissel Kobe has many players who were active on foreign teams, making it a team of very distinct personalities. That is a strength, but it must also make getting everyone on the same page more difficult. What is needed to bring all these individuals together as one?

Simply put, it all comes down to conviction. If everyone can truly agree on something, they can move forward in the same direction. To achieve that, you need to thoroughly analyze your opponents and present the reasoning behind your decisions. I especially prioritize getting the key players and veteran players on board. If you can get through to those players, they’ll pass the message along to the younger ones, and they’ll take the lead in driving the team forward.

——So the central players need to be capable of interpreting your thinking in their own ways and conveying it to others.

That’s right. Top-caliber players who have experienced the world at the highest level tend to have a strong understanding of tactics, which is a real asset to the team. They also tend to be respectful of their teammates, opponents, staff, and the manager.

——It must be difficult for the players to play within the team’s tactics and also exhibit their personalities at the same time.

Of course, I don’t think it’s right to suppress individuality for the sake of the team. In soccer, roles and characteristics change depending on position, system, and formation―and within those constraints, I’m always thinking about how to bring out each player’s personality and abilities to the fullest while maintaining the balance of the team.

——Now that we’ve heard about building the team toward a championship, let me also ask about the future of Vissel Kobe. What is your vision for the kind of team you want to build?

The foundation, above all, is to show a “fighting” spirit. I think that soccer that is aggressive in both attack and defense naturally makes it interesting to watch. I believe that when each individual player fights with intensity, it moves the people watching. On top of that, I think it’s essential to create as many chances as possible in front of the goal, so we have to figure out how we can increase the number of times we penetrate the opponent’s penalty area.

——So the plays that lead to goals become the biggest highlight.

Soccer is all about scoring goals, after all. Matches that make the fans roar with excitement, even if some turn into sighs of disappointment, are ideal in that a team can give supporters an exciting experience.