――You're currently in first place. Looking back at the season so far, what are your thoughts?
Shoji: It's not just us, but Cerezo Osaka, Kawasaki Frontale, Kashiwa Reysol... I think it was a first half where any team could have broken away. When we had a chance to pull ahead, we'd lose. We kept repeating that, and it made the J.League a tight race.
――It could be said that it's an exciting league with evenly matched teams.
Shoji: Yes, it really has made the J.League exciting. In fact, even teams fighting to avoid relegation are strong, and I feel it's difficult to play against them. Any team could win. That's the appeal, but I always want Antlers to be the team that wins in the end.
――How about you personally, Shoji?
Shoji: We had a big goal with the AFC Champions League (ACL), but we were eliminated. Antlers' style is to aim for all titles. We wanted to overcome the tight schedule, win the ACL, Levain Cup, and Emperor's Cup, and dominate the league, making people say, "It's impossible to beat Kashima anymore." The biggest regret was not being able to achieve that.
――There was also the difficult period of a coaching change.
Shoji: I think every player felt responsible. In the end, it's the players who perform. If the players don't change even with a new coach, it's meaningless. As a club, Antlers, a coaching change is something to be ashamed of, and I think everyone understands that, which is why we're in first place now. It's natural for player selection and tactics to change with a new coach. Tsuyoshi-san (O-iwa, the coach) was a center-back, so he has a good sense for defense, and I think that's why Kento (Misao Kento) is being used.
――Do you watch DAZN after matches to check your own play?
Shoji: When I first started playing regularly, I used to review the entire match. Now, it's just the moments that catch my attention. Sometimes I rewatch moments where I felt I performed well, and I also try to watch plays where I felt I didn't do well at least once. I feel like if I don't check, I'll make the same mistake again. I watch it once, and then that's it. I switch gears completely.
――It sounds more like confirmation than researching the opponent's play.
Shoji: In the past, I used to research the opposing team's forwards for the next match. But now that I've gained a lot of experience, post-match review has become more about confirmation.
――Do you check it immediately after the match on your phone or tablet?
Shoji: No, I want to check it on a big screen, so I watch it on my TV at home.
――Were there any plays that caught your attention recently?
Shoji: Everyone mentioned it, but it was Dudu's play in the match against Kofu. I lost the ball, but the distance to Dudu on the pitch felt completely different from when I watched it on TV. I thought he was far away, but when I saw it on TV, I realized, "Wow, he was so close!" By checking that, next time I can recognize, "Even if he's there, he'll get close in an instant, so he is close." Also, when I was looking at him, he was moving slowly, but the moment I looked away, he suddenly started moving quickly.
――Do you watch soccer from overseas leagues other than the J.League?
Shoji: Yes, I do! Recently, I watched Gaku (Shibasaki, Getafe)'s match. The highlight feature is really helpful. I also try to watch Maya-kun (Yoshida, Southampton) and Oka-chan (Okazaki, Leicester)'s matches quickly. Even without Japanese players, I can watch Paris Saint-Germain matches, and if I'm even a little interested, I can watch it right away, so it's really convenient.
――Now, the league season is finally nearing its end, and expectations for a consecutive championship are high. With matches against top teams remaining, it's going to be exciting.
Shoji: I want everyone to see Antlers' commitment to winning. I've never considered a draw, only victory. I think that's where we have the most commitment in the J.League. No matter the opponent, no matter the conditions, we absolutely go for the win. I want people to see that attitude.
――The final match is against Iwata, but it's an away game. Do you strongly wish to win at home?
Shoji: Yes, I do. I want to put as much distance as possible between us and second place and win the championship. Of course, I want to share the joy with many supporters at home, and I want to win as a dominant team. When Zico visited the clubhouse at the end of August, he said, "It means nothing if you're not in first place at the end." He also said, "Just win. Antlers as a club cannot exist without winning." I truly believe that. He's always been unwavering. That steadfastness, which has been firmly passed down, is the strength of this club. At the end of the season, I want to show that strength and win the championship again this year.
