SPECIAL INTERVIEW
Prince League Kanto Champions & Premier League Promoted!
Kashima Antlers Youth Manager Atsushi Yanagisawa
Kashima Antlers Youth won the Prince League Kanto and secured promotion to the Premier League.
Manager Atsushi Yanagisawa, who led the team, reflects on the team's growth as they pursued their goals.
Equipped with mental and physical toughness and strength
―Congratulations on winning the Prince League Kanto and earning promotion to the Premier League. First, please reflect on the efforts made over the past year.
“This year began with the addition of experienced player Satouchi to the team as a physical advisor, and we held a team-wide meeting centered on the theme of “training.” At first, the players may have found the training more demanding than before, but as they continued to train, they began to notice changes in their bodies and consequently started to recognize the importance of training. I believe that being able to fight so hard and tough even in the final stages of the season is the result of the cumulative efforts made over the past year.”
―What areas, in particular, do you feel the team has grown in?
“Until last year, we struggled to beat teams that could reach the promotion playoffs, and this year, we also lost to Reds and Verdy in the first half of the league, so I felt that we would never move up unless we could beat opponents like that. That is partly why we focused on “training” so that we could become players who could run and fight better than our opponents, but the truth is that we still couldn't produce results in the first half of the league. Even so, thanks to the work centered around Technical Advisor Ogawara, we were able to establish a common understanding of defense, such as going out from the back to win the ball, and I feel that this gave us a sense of accomplishment in establishing our style of linking that into good attacks. I believe that continuing this, centered around the third-year players, led to our scoring ability this season.”
―If you were to mention any memorable matches in the Prince League Kanto?
“It would be the Urawa Reds Youth match (Round 11, △2-2) and the Tokyo Verdy Youth match (Round 15, △2-2) in the second half of the league. As I mentioned earlier, until that point, we hadn't been able to beat top-contending teams like these two, so at the midpoint of the season, I told the players that we wouldn't move up unless we could beat top teams. In these two matches, although there were points to reflect on, such as conceding the opening goal easily or conceding from our own mistakes, we were still able to catch up at the very last moment and secure draws. Although we didn't win, in the Verdy match, even when we were down 0-2, we maintained our attitude of never giving up until the very end and managed to catch up for the equalizer. I felt the players' mental growth in that attitude. Because we worked under the theme of “training,” we became mentally tough and equipped with physical toughness and strength, which is why I think we were able to secure one point in those two matches even when facing a disadvantageous situation. If we had dropped those points, we wouldn't have been able to take first place. As symbolized by those two matches, I believe that being able to fight without giving up until the very end was also a major factor in winning the Prince League Kanto.”
They showed us a wonderful match at the very last moment
―How was the playoff experience as the Prince League Kanto champions?
“Before the playoffs, we listened to the stories of experienced players, which was helpful for our preparations. For example, things like accommodation and meals are also very important elements to prepare for. Also, because it is a short-term battle in the same location, or rather, a regulation where you have to win consecutively in back-to-back matches with only one day of rest, it is important to approach those two matches in the best possible condition, including the players' condition and the team's unity. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to win. In any case, since it was our first time experiencing the playoffs, we made sure to prepare thoroughly in the less than a week period after the final match of the Prince League Kanto.”
―Looking back at the Round 1 match against Setouchi High School (○5-1)?
“Although there were difficulties that came with our first experience, we were conscious of entering the match with a strong determination to overcome nervousness and pressure and say, “Let's do this.” We rarely get such a chance, so we decided to take on these two matches without forgetting the fighting spirit and the enjoyment. In the Setouchi High School match, we had to win this match first to advance to the promotion playoff, so we aimed to win the match while firmly doing what we had to do. Although we conceded the opening goal, it was good that we were able to withstand it and not concede consecutively. Being able to score multiple goals also brought out our good points. I think the reason for our victory was that we were able to continue the game calmly even after conceding the opening goal.”
―In the Setouchi High School match, younger players Haruto Matsumoto (2nd year), Yugo Okawa (1st year), and Makoto Tokuda (2nd year) scored goals.
“I think “competition” is what makes younger players shine, and that is something I wanted to emphasize even more this year. Of course, there is no doubt that the third-year players were the core of the team, and when the players who should score goals do so, it gives the team momentum. Like Tokuda's goal, it is also an ideal development for forwards to score goals.”
―Wasn't the Vegalta Sendai Youth match (○7-0), which was tied to promotion to the Premier League, an ideal development, including forward Hayato Mae's hat trick?
“Yes, the players showed us a truly wonderful match at the very last moment. Defense, attack, the desire to win, the attitude of going out to win the ball, the attitude of running more than the opponent—everything was excellent. It was a match that expressed everything we had envisioned, bringing everyone's feelings together and uniting us, creating exactly this kind of team.”
―What kind of group were the third-year players who became the core of the team and won promotion to the Premier League?
“Compared to previous years, there were only 10 players, but I think they were a generation that was united in a good way. I had the impression that this was having a good influence on the younger players. I think they were a group that expressed not only their own goals but also what they should do for the team. It is also true that there were players who couldn't play in many matches, but when they did play, they perfectly fulfilled their roles and fought hard without a single complaint despite having to endure. They really fought well.”
―Finally, please tell us your determination for the 2024 Premier League season.
“We will fight with a sense of gratitude first toward the wonderful stage that the third-year players left behind. In order to fight in the Premier League, it will be difficult unless we become tougher and stronger. Therefore, we still need to train the players. I recognize that it is a tough league where you will be relegated again quickly if you don't continue to grow as a team throughout the year, so we want to create an environment where everyone can fight as one.”
