Jubilo Iwata Faces French Powerhouse Stade de Reims in Thrilling Preseason Match

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Today, a preseason match will be held at Yamaha Stadium against Stade de Reims. Stade de Reims is a club belonging to Ligue 1 in France. It was founded in 1911 and adopted its current name in 1931. The team is a strong one, having won the league title six times in the past, along with various other titles. It is a valuable opportunity to play against a European club. The Jubilo players intend to fully demonstrate their strengths on the pitch and carry the momentum into the upcoming league matches.

The starting eleven includes GK Koki Sugimoto, DF Kazuki Kawasaki, Keita Takahata, Hassan Hill, Ricardo Grassa, MF Daiki Yamada, Kotaro Fujikawa, who celebrates his 26th birthday today, Masaya Matsumoto, Jordi Cluques, Rei Hirakawa, and FW Weverton.
Newly signed center-back Hassan will make his debut for Jubilo, and fellow new signing Cluques will also start. Additionally, the bench includes special designated players Koji Sumi and Rusei Yoshimura, along with GK Kaito Nakajima, who has returned from a developmental loan.

On the other hand, Stade de Reims features Japanese national team players Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura. We look forward to seeing the high-level performances of these two players, who are fighting under the Japanese flag.
Incidentally, the home of Stade de Reims, Reims, is located in the northeastern part of France, in the Champagne region, approximately 130 km from the capital, Paris. The city is rich in historical significance, with many heritage-listed buildings and champagne breweries, with the Notre-Dame Cathedral in the city center being an important spot historically, as it was where the coronation ceremonies of French kings were held.

Kickoff is at 19:30. The weather around Yamaha Stadium is clear. Many fans and supporters have already gathered in the square before the match.

Akinori Yokouchi, Coach

— Match Summary
Today’s game was a preseason match, and it was a great opportunity for us to gain valuable experience by playing against a strong European team. In that context, we started with players who had not had much playing time before. Some players were not in their usual positions, but I believe they understood what we aimed to do today and played accordingly. We took the lead but conceded a goal from a set piece, which was a bit disappointing; we were pressured when we conceded. This is something we need to learn from, as it happened last time as well. Although we didn’t concede any more goals afterward, we need to improve our mentality when we do concede. I believe similar situations will arise in the league, so we need to find a way to shake them off and motivate the team to earn points, becoming a strong group in the process. We had chances later, but it was disappointing not to take the lead. Overall, I think the players did really well throughout the match.

— What did you find worked well and what are the challenges while facing an overseas club?
I think we did well in being courageous in our build-up play. However, the players from Stade de Reims have high individual ability, and even when we slipped up, they had many quick players, which put us under a lot of pressure. Still, I believe we played without fear. I think it was good that we managed to move the ball under this level of pressure. The challenge lies in what happens after we lose the ball; if the opponents become fully conditioned, I think they will exploit us with vertical and forward movements. When we were pressed, we weren’t able to contain that, so we need to be more persistent in such situations.

— Regarding the play of the two Japanese players from Stade de Reims
They’re both well-known players, so I don’t need to say much, but they have speed and shooting power. However, from watching them, I felt they might not be at their full condition yet. Normally, they exhibit a higher level of play, so in that sense, they might still be working towards their top condition.

— I felt that the match had an extra sense of dynamism. While it may be more difficult in league matches when the opponent analyzes you, how do you plan to maintain that dynamism in league play?
The fact that you felt that way gives us a lot of confidence, and as you said, opponents will analyze us in league matches to neutralize our strengths. Nevertheless, we plan to continue fighting in a similar manner to today, making sure to earn points and improve our quality as we advance.

Kazuki Kawasaki, Player

— Reflecting on today’s match
Since we took the lead, I wanted to secure a win, but given that my playing time has been limited, I still have challenges. However, I think I was able to showcase many aspects of my game.

— Do you think you were able to take on the challenge?
Yes. “Showcasing” was the theme. I personally have nothing to lose now. I aimed to take on various challenges for my growth, focusing on improving quality in training so that it would lead to the team’s results. I approached the match with the mindset to fully express myself.

— Coach Yokouchi mentioned that he wanted you to experience battling on a global level. How was it to face overseas players?
I was really impressed by the high quality of each play. I particularly felt their speed; they had a lot of power.

— It seemed like Jubilo started to pick up momentum after the water break in the first half. Did you have any discussions?
After a break in play, it’s common for everyone to lose focus, so we centered around our defensive leader, Rika (Ricardo Grassa), and discussed getting back into focus from the start.

— What do you think was particularly good today in terms of expressing yourself?
Whenever I received the ball in the vital area, I aimed to take a shot. If I didn’t get a chance to shoot, I considered my next options based on my initiative. I had many opportunities to do that today, and I felt that I was able to grow from the experience. It was a good match for me.

— Looking ahead to the match against Niigata, I assume there will be inner competition within the team?
I will work hard to earn my starting spot next time. I am really looking forward to the next match, so I will prepare thoroughly in training.


Koki Sugimoto, Player

Jubilo Iwata Faces French Powerhouse Stade de Reims in Thrilling Preseason Match
— How do you reflect on the match?
It was fun, but after we scored, there were tough times, and I felt the challenge lay in how to defend during those moments. If a GK can save such pinch situations, it can shift the momentum back to the team, so I want to be more committed to each play and be more aggressive.

— I assume you were able to showcase your qualities?
Throughout the game, I think I was able to express my style well, and despite the goal we conceded, I believe I was able to work strongly in defense and collaborate with my teammates.

— Your voice was also heard well on the field.
In this heat, field players are running around for 90 minutes, so I want to be involved and, alongside the field players and GK, ensure we are all focused and vocal for the entire 90 minutes. Observing the behavior of GKs such as (Eiji) Kawashima, (Ryuuki) Miura, and Tsuboi (Yuuya Tsuboi) in J-League matches and training, I feel the importance of that, so I was conscious of it. However, I still don’t think I can support the team adequately yet; I aim to become a player who can support the team and keep the score at zero.


Shunsuke Nishikubo, Player

Shunsuke Nishikubo
— You scored a wonderful goal with your left foot.
I came on as a substitute and had a few overlaps, so I had some lactic acid built up, but I saw the opening and went for it, so I’m honestly very happy it went in.

— What was the thought process behind choosing to cut back at that moment?
At first, I thought I would shoot with my right foot, but I saw the defender’s foot coming in, so I cut back and pointed towards the far side, which opened up.

— What did you feel playing against a strong French team?
I had been watching Stade de Reims, and when actually playing against them, I noticed their intensity was really high and the pace of play was generally fast, with each player having their own strengths.

— I believe this match was also crucial for elevating the team’s overall performance.
As an individual, I often come on as a substitute in league matches, so being able to get visible numbers like goals and assists this time was a good feeling.

— How do you want to carry the experience from today’s match into the future?
I think the league is the most important, so as we enter a break before our next match against Niigata, I hope this experience helps us improve moving forward, making it a stepping stone for upward momentum.


Koji Sumi, Player

Koji Sumi
— That last shot was really close.
I really wanted to score. Even though it was a preseason match, today’s game was significant, and I wanted to prove my worth as an immediate asset, but it’s frustrating that it didn’t translate into a goal.

— You assisted Nishikubo; you were able to showcase your qualities well, weren’t you?
I was very conscious of playing aggressively in the time I was given. I’m happy to get an assist, but I feel there is still much more to come.

— How was your experience playing at Yamaha Stadium?
It was really fun. It was my first time playing in front of such a large crowd, and I enjoyed it a lot; it was a precious experience. I want to continue facing my challenges and work hard to contribute to Jubilo Iwata’s victories next time.

— I saw elements of play that can get fans excited, didn’t I?
I want to be a player who makes people excited when I have the ball, so I hope to be a player who embodies charm, including results along with the joy of the game.

— How did it feel to experience the global level?
The speed and intensity were truly at a level you don’t normally feel. While it was tough in that sense, I think it was an enjoyable experience because of the challenges.

— What was your judgment on the pass to Nishikubo?
At first, I thought about shooting, but the distance was a bit far, and (Shunsuke) Nishikubo made a great overlap at the right timing, so I trusted him and aimed to deliver a good ball. Honestly, Nishikubo’s left foot was amazing.

— It seems like you two could become a good combination.
We are close in age, and during the match, we communicated actively. I think it allows both of us to shine when Nishikubo trusts me and makes those runs, so I’m grateful to him, and I want to strive to invigorate Iwata’s attack even more.

— While your dribbling is a strong image, your off-the-ball movement was also impressive.
Individually, I leverage dribbling as a tool, but just dribbling alone is easy for opponents to defend against, so I believe it’s essential to keep multiple options like passing or shooting in mind while putting my dribbling skills to use. I’m glad I could make assists like that. All that’s left was to score. However, that frustration makes me more determined, so I want to become a player who can finish in those situations next time.

Luca Elsner, Coach of Stade de Reims

— Match Summary
Overall, I think it was an interesting game. Especially in the 20 to 25 minutes of the first half, I believe we were able to do what we wanted to do. We played with speed and high intensity. The second half became a more challenging scenario, which I think was also affected by us not being used to the heat in Japan yet. While it was not easy in the second half, I believe it’s a good point that we could equalize. By equalizing, I think we were able to showcase our mental strength as well, so overall, I am satisfied.


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