Vissel Kobe, aiming to be at the pinnacle of the J.LEAGUE and conquer Asia, boasts a roster that includes players like Iniesta, who played for the Spanish national team, and Yuya Osako, Gotoku Sakai, and Hotaru Yamaguchi, who have experience with foreign teams and the Japanese national team.We spoke to Manager Takayuki Yoshida, who leads a team full of star players, about his thoughts and methodologies on how to fight as a united team towards victory.It must be quite challenging to bring together strong individuals with various experiences and ways of thinking, isn't it?

ー The Manager reflected on the 2022 season and felt that they were able to strengthen ‘team unity’. What kind of changes were observed in the athletes?

To win a single match, it is crucial that everyone understands the tactics and prepares together. This requires the ability to understand and act on one’s role, regardless of whether they are participating in the match or not. The fact that we were able to instill such thinking into the team was a significant achievement.

– I believe this is common to all professions and jobs, but deepening understanding of tactics, or aligning everyone’s thoughts is not easy. What is it that Manager Yoshida is mindful of for that purpose?

I am conscious of how to convey the key points as simply and quickly as possible. It’s difficult to understand everything if you cram it all in at once. There are many things I want to say, but how do I pare them down and make them shorter? In preparing for a meeting, there might be more work involved in trimming down content than you might think.

– Each person has their own experiences, and everyone thinks differently. In particular, the current Vissel Kobe has many players with experience playing overseas, making it a very unique team. While there is strength in that, I believe there is also difficulty in aligning thoughts. What is needed to bring together each individual piece into one?

That’s exactly a sense of conviction. Once you’ve determined your direction, it’s important to proceed with conviction towards it. In order to do so, it is necessary to thoroughly analyze your opponent and demonstrate the basis for why you are doing so. The emphasis is particularly on ensuring the core players and veteran players on the team are satisfied. If such players understand, they will also convey it to the younger players, and they will show the direction and lead the team.

– A player who becomes the center of the team must have the ability to interpret the Manager’s thoughts within themselves and convey it to others.

That’s right.Indeed, players who have experienced the world and are called first-class often have a high understanding of tactics, so it’s helpful to have them on the team. Such players also have respect for their teammates, opponents, staff, and the Manager.

– However, it seems difficult to balance understanding the team’s tactics and playing while also utilizing one’s individuality.

Of course, I believe that organizations should not erase individuals. In soccer, the roles and characteristics change depending on the position, system, and arrangement, but I’m always thinking about how to bring out their individuality and abilities to the fullest while maintaining the balance of the team.

ー Could you also tell us about the future of Vissel Kobe, now that we’ve heard about your team building for the championship? What kind of team does Manager Yoshida envision to create?

After all, I want to show the image of “fighting”. Soccer that is interesting to watch due to the aggressive play in both offense and defense. I believe that the sight of each player fiercely battling it out can indeed evoke emotions in the viewer. Among other things, it is particularly important to consider how many chances can be created in front of the goal, and how we can increase the instances of invading the opponent’s penalty area.

– The play that leads to scoring is the most attractive point.

After all, soccer is a sport where you score goals. Of course, a team that can present many exciting scenes that thrill the audience is ideal, even if the cheers ultimately turn into sighs.