GAMBA OSAKA U-21 has a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in their first three matches of the season. They continue to play with an awareness of both victory and growth. This time, we spoke with ZHANG Ao Lin from the top team, who has been playing in the league, and two players from the youth team, about what they have felt while actually playing in the U-21 J.League and their goals for the future.

ZHANG Ao Lin

"This is my third season since being promoted to the top team, but in the past two seasons I haven't had the chance to play in an official match, so being able to gain experience in an official match in the U-21 J.League is a huge boost. In fact, I've started in two of the three matches so far, but in the opening match (against U-21 Fagiano Okayama), it was only my second time playing a full match, including practice matches, so I had the feeling of "Was the pitch always this big?" and even as the clock ticked by, there were times when the 90 minutes felt incredibly long. Especially in the second half, I couldn't get the power to go for the ball, and I was surprised by things I hadn't experienced in practice or practice matches, like "Huh?"... I think that was clearly a feeling that arose because I had been away from playing matches for so long."

What I realized again during that experience is that practice matches are, after all, just practice matches. Neither the opposing team nor anyone else is slacking off, but I felt that the unique tension of a real match can only be experienced in an official game. In particular, the U-21 J.League is broadcast on DAZN, so playing in an environment where you are being watched by fans also contributes to a good sense of tension.

However, while the U-21 J.League offers many opportunities for youth players to take to the pitch, and playing in a higher category will undoubtedly be a great experience for them, as a 21-year-old in my third year as a professional, I don't think I should be satisfied with just playing there. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, gaining match experience in official games is definitely a plus, but I can't be complacent just because I'm playing here, and I need to use my performance at this stage to help me succeed in the top team. In fact, as the season was about to begin, I thought, "If I can't get results here, I won't be able to succeed in the top team," and I intend to continue playing in the U-21 J.League with that awareness.

Within that context, I believe that keeping a clean sheet in the matches I play is the bare minimum I can do. Of course, it's difficult to put together a team on the fly every time, but players who came up through the academy have a lot in common, and even if there are some minor discrepancies in awareness during the match, we can communicate and correct them quickly, so I don't worry about it too much. Ultimately, as long as the defense, including myself, doesn't concede goals, we won't lose, so I always strive for a clean sheet in every match.

Fujimoto Yoshiki

"From the very first match of the U-21 J.League, we've seen a lot of fans come to the stadium, and with the matches being streamed on DAZN, I've felt a different kind of tension compared to youth tournaments. I feel like I've gained a lot of experience through activities like the U-17 Japan national team, but I'm having yet another new experience. In particular, I often feel that the intensity of the pressing and the speed of the passes are different from matches and tournaments with my peers. My academy seniors, like Ritsu DOAN, have gone on to play overseas and for the Japanese national team after going through this stage, which is a great goal for me. I want to become a player who can dominate on this stage, play well in the J.League, and eventually go overseas."

What I focus on when playing a match is keeping my voice, which is one of my defining characteristics. When I stood on the same pitch as Shota-kun (Fukuoka) from the top team in the opening match, I was impressed that he kept his voice going throughout the match, in the locker room before the game, during warm-ups, and throughout the game. I realized that this is something anyone can do regardless of age, so I wanted to do the same. Even though the team members are put together on the fly for each match, I want to play a part in helping us come together as one strong team.

Also, personally, I think I'm the type of player who can calmly approach a match and think about how to deal with the opponent, so I want to become a stronger, more formidable player by strengthening my physical aspects, such as the stamina to run for the full 90 minutes. As Machi-san (Daisuke MACHINAKA, U-21 Head Coach) said, our goal is to win the championship. I'm extremely competitive, so I pride myself on having a stronger desire than anyone else to put into each and every match in front of me, and I want to become a player who can lead the team by spreading that feeling to the other players.

Shirosaka Koki

"I was happy to score the first goal for GAMBA OSAKA U-21 in the opening match of the U-21 J.League. Just three months ago, I was only playing in B team matches for the youth team, but I continued to believe in what Yoko-san (Youth Head Coach Shigeru YOKOTANI ) kept telling me, "If you prepare and keep getting results, you can move up," and I think that's what's leading to me scoring goals in the Premier League and the U-21 J.League."
While scoring a goal certainly boosts confidence, if that confidence becomes too great, it can easily turn into overconfidence. Therefore, I will try not to get carried away and instead use the fact that I scored as motivation to move forward in the next match and translate that into results.

To achieve that, there are still many areas that need improvement. In fact, while I felt that my ideas and quality in front of goal might be effective in the U-21 J.League, I also feel that I need to be much quicker in making decisions leading up to those goals. In the youth league, there were times when I could stop the ball and have enough time, but in the U-21 J.League, one or two opposing DF would often close in on me the moment I received the ball, causing me to lose possession frequently. That's why I want to make sure I look around more before receiving the ball and anticipate what's going to happen before I move.

I also need to get used to the tension of playing in front of so many more people than in youth matches. In the 2nd Sec. match against Vissel Kobe U-21, I played at Panasonic Stadium Suita for the first time, and while I was happy to be able to stand on my dream stage, I also felt a heightened sense of tension knowing that top players play here all the time. There were many times when I realized that plays I had envisioned when watching the matches from above were not so easy once I was actually on the pitch. In that respect as well, I intend to continue to grow by making the most of this experience.

— Interview and text by Misa Takamura