The U-21 J.League kicked off on August 23rd. U-21 GAMBA OSAKA played against U-21 Fagiano Okayama away from home and won 1-0.
U-21 Head Coach Daisuke MACHINAKA, who was in charge for the first time in this match, reflected after the game, saying, "Many academy players also participated, and although they seemed a little stiff at the start, they fought tenaciously until the end," and reiterated the significance of competing in the same league.

"For academy players, official matches, played in a stadium or via DAZN, are undoubtedly a stimulating experience, as they are watched and supported by many more people than in youth tournaments. Furthermore, the increased intensity of the matches compared to academy games, and the challenge of not being able to perform the plays they were used to, naturally encourages them to make quicker decisions and to take their positions earlier. We hope they will grow tougher by repeatedly trying and learning from their mistakes in this environment, while simultaneously developing stronger tactical judgments."

Going back about a month and a half, on July 23rd, it was announced that the town's youth team Head Coach would be appointed as the top team coach and U-21 Head Coach. The Head Coach is a former academy player who competed against players like Junichi INAMOTO and Toru ARAIBA, as one of the so-called "Class of '79". After retiring as a player, he started his coaching career with Gamba Junior in 2011, and since then has served as a youth coach, junior youth Head Coach, and youth Head Coach for 15 years, coaching at the youth level. This will be his first time coaching the top team.

"Having been involved in academy coaching for a long time, I've always considered developing young players to be my strength, which is why I find the role of U-21 Head Coach so rewarding. I intend to work closely with Head Coach Myojin ( Tomokazu MYOJIN ) and the other staff members, making full use of my strengths."

Before the match against U-21 Okayama, Head Coach Myojin reiterated his intentions to the team, clarifying the direction and goals that Gamba U-21 should take.

"This served as a reminder to the top team players, but I shared with the team once again what Ms. Myo has emphasized: 'Let's aim for victory and titles, and fight while being mindful of becoming the best version of ourselves.' The tactics, playing style, and individual performance will basically be based on the top team's style of football, but there will be matches where we can't use the same system depending on the lineup at the time. We plan to be flexible and adapt to those situations."

Basically, the U-21 Gamba team doesn't train as a separate unit; each player hones their skills at their respective club teams, and the selected members come together on match day to compete. The process leading up to that point, as well as the players' condition, are reportedly shared in meetings held at the beginning of the week leading up to the match by U-21 Head Coach Machinaka, youth Head Coach Shigeru YOKOTANI Shigeru, and club staff.

"Based on Head Coach's intentions, we will decide which players from the top team will be used in the U-21 league, and then select players from the academy. As the club has stated, the policy is to prioritize the U-21 league if it clashes with a youth official match, but honestly, I think we will be flexible there as well. This is because, from the perspective of strengthening the youth development generation, if a player is going to be a substitute in the U-21 league, they will get more playing time if they start in the youth league. We will work closely with the youth team to provide each player with the best possible environment."

Head Coach acknowledges that leading a team in such an environment naturally presents challenges due to the hastily assembled roster, but he is not concerned about "sharing tactics." This is because the Gamba Academy has a long history of thoroughly developing and coaching players in a way that is relevant to the current top team's style of football.

The "fast, vertical football" that Gamba has been aiming for since the special season, and the "best play selection and decision-making depending on the situation" that Mr. Myo values, are concepts that the academy has also cherished for a long time. We have always asked the players to make the fastest choice by working backward from the goal, and the definition of a "good player" remains unchanged: "a player who can quickly win the ball and quickly move towards the goal." When that choice is not possible depending on the game situation and the opponent's actions, we may connect passes or circulate the ball, but the first choice is to play fast, vertically. Of course, as I mentioned at the beginning, the intensity and speed will increase in the U-21 league, so there may be some confusion for a while, and we want them to be prepared for the intensity and rigor required to compete on a higher stage. However, I believe that the academy players will be able to adapt once they get used to it, and I expect that their growth rate will increase as they get a feel for the standards of the professional players they play with.

Head Coach Myojin also places complete trust in Coach Machinaka of the U-21 Head Coach.

Having worked as "one team" without differentiating between the top team and the U-21 team, I've ensured that Machi (U-21 Head Coach Machinaka), like the other staff, understands what I expect and the kind of football I want to play. Conversely, he shares information about the academy with me, so we're able to collaborate effectively. Therefore, I want Machi to work backward from that and coach as he sees fit, and I also want the players to understand my philosophy through Machi and make a strong impression. I don't just want them to hone their match sense and gain match experience; I want them to play with a clear vision of playing in the top team, and I want them to play in a way that conveys their determination and feelings to the fans and supporters who come to watch. Ideally, this will allow the entire team, from the top team to the academy, to grow as "GAMBA OSAKA" (Myojin)

In the U-21 league opening match against Okayama, Yuki YOSHIHARA, who had not been able to get much playing time with the top team this season, made his first appearance in an official match. His performance there led to his J1 League debut in the very next match, the 4th Sec. against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Similarly, Fujimoto Fujimoto Yoshiki, a youth player who played the full match in the U-21 league opening game, made the squad for the first time in the match against Hiroshima, and Okamoto Arata made his J1 debut, albeit for a short time, in the 5th Sec. against V-Varen Nagasaki.
Of course, this is partly due to the fact that several players have left the top team, but if the establishment of the U-21 league encourages the development of young players, it will undoubtedly be a boost for the club and become a valuable asset. We hope that fans and supporters will also look forward to discovering such "future talents" and come to the U-21 league matches.

— Interview and text by Misa Takamura