It has been about two and a half years since Ayase Ueda became a professional football player. With each passing season, he has steadily progressed, and now, both in name and in reality, he has established himself as Antlers' ace, demonstrating a significant presence on the pitch.
Because he is now in a position to lead the team, there are things he sees and feels. While understanding the strengths and areas for growth in terms of play and teamwork, Ueda sees Antlers' current situation as follows:
"The current Antlers team is by no means strong, and we must aim much higher and become stronger."
With the 2021 season, in which he constantly battled various conflicts both as a team and as an individual, as a stepping stone, the number 18 vows to evolve further.
Coping with the dilemma of things not going as planned between ideals and reality
── The 2021 season has come to an end. How do you reflect on Antlers' year, Ueda-san?
"Last season had similar aspects, but I think it was a year where every single player felt the difficulty as a professional soccer player. Honestly, my candid impression is that it was a tough season, and there was a clear discrepancy between the image of the goals we set and the actual results. Players faced the dilemma of things not going as planned between their ideals and reality, while raising their motivation for the upcoming matches and overcoming each game. There were times when I thought about how we should fight or agonized over it, but even in such situations, I had to express myself on the pitch and win. While understanding what was expected of us, we couldn't always meet the expectations of our fans and supporters, and I feel that the entire team battled with that conflict throughout the season."
── Heading into the club's 30th-anniversary season, the desire to win a title was even higher than in previous years.
"We set the goal of definitely winning a title and started the season led by Zago, following on from last season. The entire team, including the manager and players, had a strong awareness of 'wanting to win a title in this milestone season,' and we wanted to carry the momentum from the end of last season into this one. But when it actually started, we immediately stumbled in the opening league match against Shimizu. Everyone was anxious, thinking, 'We have to rebuild the team quickly,' and perhaps that anxiety backfired a bit, as things didn't go as planned afterward either. There were also aspects where we struggled with the gap between the matches at the end of last season, where both our performance and results went according to plan, and the current situation. However, because it was right after the season started, I feel that despite the struggles, the entire team's motivation remained at a high level at that time. Zago had been rotating players since he took office, and there were also position changes and the introduction of various tactics, so many players had opportunities. Therefore, overall, I felt a rising sense of 'we're going to do it.'"
── Under former manager Zago, the use of young players was also noticeable.
"Recently, young players have started to bear the brunt of the team's core, and it can be said that Zago laid that foundation. For example, me, Oki, and also Ikuma (Sekigawa), Taro (Araki), and Matsu (Matsumura). By consistently getting playing time, young talents steadily grew, and through that, he promoted generational change and created the base for a new Antlers. I also believe it was Zago who solidified my own foundation. That's why, when I heard the news of his departure, I was sad and honestly wished I could have worked with him longer. Although the team's results weren't good, Zago's football philosophy was intriguing, and it was a continuous source of inspiration for us."
── From mid-April onwards, the team restarted under a new system.
"Of course, in our pursuit of winning titles, I also understood that the decision to change managers was unavoidable, and under former manager Soma, the team shifted to a style that further emphasized results. With this change in policy, there were some shifts in how we played both offensively and defensively, and also in how players were used. This mid-season change in environment was undoubtedly a significant point for both the entire team and individual players. In particular, for the young players who had been given opportunities under Zago, a period of unfulfilled potential continued, and I think it might have become a little difficult to maintain their motivation. The accumulation of such factors led to fluctuations in motivation, and perhaps it affected the team's sense of unity."
── Ueda-san, you've always cited the high level of unity in Antlers, where various players can fight with a single mind, as one of its strengths.
"For young players, including myself, being in a team like Antlers, which 'must aim for titles,' is just that—we actually haven't experienced winning titles, nor do we know how to. If you look at it that way, honestly, the current Antlers team is by no means strong, and we must aim much higher and become stronger. Compared to the top three in the league, our player composition is young, and I recognize that we are inferior in terms of individual experience, achievements, and recognition. However, despite that, I believe that Antlers can win in league and cup matches largely due to the team's sense of unity, solidarity, and the aggressiveness that comes with youth. In particular, for plays and movements where a shared understanding is required as an Antlers member, there is a unique ability among players to share and cooperate. It is because we have this strength of 'connection' that we have been able to accumulate points and just barely hold on until now. Therefore, I want to continue to cherish and strengthen the 'connection' within the team. At the same time, for next season, the new wind brought by the new manager and new players will likely have a fresh impact on the entire team. Because we are a young team, I believe that even more intense competition will drive the players' motivation and revitalize the entire team."
── So, you're saying that you want to extend the team's strengths while also fearlessly embracing new changes.
"As I mentioned earlier, I don't believe the current Antlers team is strong by any means. Looking at our history and using phrases like 'Antlers must aim for titles' almost feels like we're obscuring our current weaknesses. We need to squarely face the present situation and delve deeper into 'how to win titles?' including tactical aspects. I personally believe that in addition to our aggressive attacking and defending style, we need a way of fighting that breaks through the current situation and aims for higher positions. I believe that from next year onwards, with the interplay of various elements including existing players, a new manager, and new additions, we can expect new changes and growth."
The presence of each and every person in the stands
is our motivation as players
── This season, Ueda-san, you appeared in 29 league matches and scored 14 goals. How do you evaluate your performance and play?
"I've repeatedly said that 'the goal is to win titles,' so I'm ashamed of this result, and regarding the number of goals, my own answer is that it's 'not nearly enough.' Strikers have their own ways of thinking, but for me, I'm not aiming to score 20 goals or be the top scorer. I believe what's important is to play in a way that contributes as much as possible as a forward to achieve the team's goals. Within that, I think there's a required number of goals for a forward depending on the game situation. For example, if it's 0-1, the team would expect me to score two or more goals. Similarly, if I, as a forward, need to score 40 goals to win the league championship, regardless of whether I can achieve it, I have to score at least one goal in every match throughout the season, and I play aiming for that. In reality, if you add up all the goals Antlers expected from me in each game this season, it would probably have been about 50 goals. Compared to that, I only achieved 14 goals, which ultimately leads to the conclusion that it's 'not nearly enough.'"
── However, this season, in addition to your characteristic goal-scoring plays, you also showed your presence in various situations, such as pressing from the front and involvement in build-up.
"Following last season, I don't think my playing time was particularly long this season either. Unless I extend my time on the pitch, my chances of scoring will decrease, so I thought that a good kind of versatility was also necessary. A player whose characteristic is versatility might not be able to beat an extraordinary player. On the other hand, players who show remarkable versatility in specific plays might have limited playing opportunities. For example, players like me, Eve (Everaldo), and Matsu, who excel in extraordinariness rather than versatility, are often seen as being able to demonstrate their strengths more effectively when coming on as a substitute. That's why, if I were to be named in the starting lineup and play for a long time, I consciously worked on acquiring defensive skills and dedicated play. I thought that making the radar chart showing a player's ability values, like a pentagon or hexagon, as large as possible and having more tools in my arsenal would lead to extended playing time."
── Your play at Antlers was recognized, leading to your participation in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, and your selection for the Japan national team in November and December. Personally, weren't there aspects where you felt a sense of accomplishment?
"Honestly, I don't really have a sense of accomplishment. Both the team's results and my own play had more things that didn't go well or failures, so I can't say that I've grasped a sense of accomplishment. However, compared to a year ago, there were things I became able to do, and I think it will be a little while longer before those individual accumulations return to me and I feel a sense of accomplishment. Right now, I still feel a lack in my own play, and that's precisely why I think I can try new things for next season and beyond. Personally, after the Tokyo Olympics, I feel that I've increased the variations in how I enter the area in front of the goal. However, the more I try new ways and timings of movement, the more I see what I lack, so my desire to 'do more' and 'become more' grows. I see that feeling as a positive thing, so I want to continue to try various forms in the future and make sure that the fans and supporters who watch the games feel that 'his range of play has expanded compared to before.'"
── I'm sure the fans and supporters are also looking forward to your further growth, Ueda-san.
"If they feel that way, I'm also happy. The past few years have been a truly special situation for us; we've experienced games with zero spectators, and I myself have played in a packed Kashima Stadium. The difference is truly immense, and both the cheers of support and the boos all become our strength. More than the people who come to the stadium realize, for us, 'the presence of each and every person in the stands is our motivation.' Everyone who comes to watch the games creates the best environment for us and gives us great inspiration. For now, I hear that next season we will be able to welcome spectators without admission restrictions. I think the sight of Kashima Stadium dyed in red is one of Antlers' characteristics, and I'm already looking forward to next season's home opener."
