Ryota Morioka (Anderlecht) interview Vol.2 "confidence confronted in Europe"
Ryota Morioka who started his professional career at Vissel Kobe in J League. After that I played in Poland, this season I gained 15 points and 13 assists in the Belgian league. I have heard plenty of stories about the days fighting on the back of Belgium's prestigious Anderlecht's back number 10 on the commitment to the spikes that support the feet in the European land.
Koike Kikuchi
|
2018/05/20
Vol.1 from here
――Does Belgian football suit the Japanese?
MoriokaI think you are right. Even if it is not at the level of Germany or the five major leagues, the technical part is very high. There are many young players with high technical level.
――Do you meet Japanese players from other teams?
MoriokaI see Yuya (Yuya Kubo) often. I also met Toyokawa (Yuta Toyokawa). Tomi (Takehiro Tomiyasu) also sees me from time to time.
There are quite a few Japanese people here who can help you in various ways. I met people who were married to locals, so I introduced them to Tomi and others.
When I first came here, Yuya introduced me and helped me a lot. I think it's a good environment to have a Japanese person who can help you.
- Now you're with your family. Your family also needs a Japanese network.
MoriokaThe local Japanese people have a lot of information, so it is reassuring to know that they have experienced what to do when this kind of problem occurs.
――Please tell us about the essential spikes you are wearing now. I asked a Japanese player who plays in Europe, but the ground is loose.
In Japan, I only wear fixed type spikes, but here are a lot of players wearing a mix, how is Morioka-san?
MoriokaIn Japan it was fixed.
--Fixed unless it's a very heavy rain?
MoriokaI agree. In Japan, we didn't really use mixes.
――Is it a mix now?
MoriokaNow I wear mixes when I play. Fixed during practice. I don't have a complete replacement formula.
――After all, the looseness of the ground makes a big difference, doesn’t it?
MoriokaNot at all. Japan is perfectly organized.
――Do you have Hopeiro?
Moriokais. However, all spikes are managed by myself. In Japan, they polish it, but here we manage it ourselves. I'm taking care of it and putting it in the clubhouse.
――Next, please tell us about the World Cup.
The manager has changed, but you were also selected for the most recent expeditions (against the Mali national team and the Ukraine national team). How do you perceive the World Cup?
MoriokaOf course, I want to go to the World Cup together, play together, and make history as a national team, and I really want to go to Russia as a member of that team.
In order to get there, I have no choice but to play an active part in the team, so until the end of the season, I really want to do my best in the next match and each match, and I think I will be there.
―― The first time you were selected as a representative was when you were active in Kobe. When I was in Poland, I was no longer invited, but when I came to Belgium and produced results, I was called again. The first time was in Kobe, but you're much more confident than you were back then, right?
MoriokaI agree.
――You are confident because you are competing fiercely with players from various countries and types every day, right?
MoriokaCompared to when I played in Kobe, my decision-making and passing speed have gotten much faster, so I'm confident.
――Please tell us about your debut match for the Japanese national team. Did you get nervous while carrying the Hinomaru on your back?
MoriokaNo, I get nervous even if the Hinomaru is not included (laughs). The debut match was against Uruguay. I was nervous when I started playing, but after I started playing, I was able to relax.
--It's the same game once it's started! Do you feel like
MoriokaFor the time being, I was like, ``I have no choice but to do it!
――After that, there was a period when you struggled in Poland, but after playing an active role in Belgium, did you enter the pitch with the thought, “I can do better than that time!” in the most recent national team match?
MoriokaRather than saying, "I can do better than that time!" entered the ground.
――You will play against Poland in the third World Cup match, right? Mr. Morioka is currently the only player in the Japanese national team who plays in the Polish league.
Moriokathat's right.
――Are the players of the Polish national team playing abroad and not many in the domestic league?
MoriokaNot zero, but less.
--Belgium is the same.
MoriokaIt's not as many as in Belgium, but in the end, if we end up with 11 players instead of 23, I think almost all of Poland will be in the overseas group.
Follow Vol.3
Interview picture: Kohei Kikuchi
――Does Belgian football suit the Japanese?
MoriokaI think you are right. Even if it is not at the level of Germany or the five major leagues, the technical part is very high. There are many young players with high technical level.
――Do you meet Japanese players from other teams?
MoriokaI see Yuya (Yuya Kubo) often. I also met Toyokawa (Yuta Toyokawa). Tomi (Takehiro Tomiyasu) also sees me from time to time.
There are quite a few Japanese people here who can help you in various ways. I met people who were married to locals, so I introduced them to Tomi and others.
When I first came here, Yuya introduced me and helped me a lot. I think it's a good environment to have a Japanese person who can help you.
- Now you're with your family. Your family also needs a Japanese network.
MoriokaThe local Japanese people have a lot of information, so it is reassuring to know that they have experienced what to do when this kind of problem occurs.
――Please tell us about the essential spikes you are wearing now. I asked a Japanese player who plays in Europe, but the ground is loose.
In Japan, I only wear fixed type spikes, but here are a lot of players wearing a mix, how is Morioka-san?
MoriokaIn Japan it was fixed.
--Fixed unless it's a very heavy rain?
MoriokaI agree. In Japan, we didn't really use mixes.
――Is it a mix now?
MoriokaNow I wear mixes when I play. Fixed during practice. I don't have a complete replacement formula.
――After all, the looseness of the ground makes a big difference, doesn’t it?
MoriokaNot at all. Japan is perfectly organized.
――Do you have Hopeiro?
Moriokais. However, all spikes are managed by myself. In Japan, they polish it, but here we manage it ourselves. I'm taking care of it and putting it in the clubhouse.
――Next, please tell us about the World Cup.
The manager has changed, but you were also selected for the most recent expeditions (against the Mali national team and the Ukraine national team). How do you perceive the World Cup?
MoriokaOf course, I want to go to the World Cup together, play together, and make history as a national team, and I really want to go to Russia as a member of that team.
In order to get there, I have no choice but to play an active part in the team, so until the end of the season, I really want to do my best in the next match and each match, and I think I will be there.
―― The first time you were selected as a representative was when you were active in Kobe. When I was in Poland, I was no longer invited, but when I came to Belgium and produced results, I was called again. The first time was in Kobe, but you're much more confident than you were back then, right?
MoriokaI agree.
――You are confident because you are competing fiercely with players from various countries and types every day, right?
MoriokaCompared to when I played in Kobe, my decision-making and passing speed have gotten much faster, so I'm confident.
――Please tell us about your debut match for the Japanese national team. Did you get nervous while carrying the Hinomaru on your back?
MoriokaNo, I get nervous even if the Hinomaru is not included (laughs). The debut match was against Uruguay. I was nervous when I started playing, but after I started playing, I was able to relax.
--It's the same game once it's started! Do you feel like
MoriokaFor the time being, I was like, ``I have no choice but to do it!
――After that, there was a period when you struggled in Poland, but after playing an active role in Belgium, did you enter the pitch with the thought, “I can do better than that time!” in the most recent national team match?
MoriokaRather than saying, "I can do better than that time!" entered the ground.
――You will play against Poland in the third World Cup match, right? Mr. Morioka is currently the only player in the Japanese national team who plays in the Polish league.
Moriokathat's right.
――Are the players of the Polish national team playing abroad and not many in the domestic league?
MoriokaNot zero, but less.
--Belgium is the same.
MoriokaIt's not as many as in Belgium, but in the end, if we end up with 11 players instead of 23, I think almost all of Poland will be in the overseas group.
Follow Vol.3
Interview picture: Kohei Kikuchi
