This season marks the entry of Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies into the WE League. Prior to the league's kickoff, they competed in the WE League Cup, where they achieved 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, totaling 10 points and finishing 2nd in Group A. Although they narrowly missed advancing to the final, they left an incredible impression with their performance. Throughout all 5 matches, Miyu Yakata and Tomoko Tanaka led the attack as the two-up-top. Yakata scored 3 goals, and Tanaka contributed with 3 assists, both playing a pivotal role in leading the team. The pair also contributed significantly to the team’s defensive from the front. They embody the team's aggressive offensive and defensive style. In the interview, both players, Satoki Uejo and Sato Kitano, who often work together in the men's team, extensively discussed their respective teams, the movements they focus on as strikers, and their dreams and aspirations at Cerezo Osaka.(Date of interview: September 26, 2023)

Is this the first time you are all together for a discussion?

Uejo：I’ve talked with Ms. Yakata several times. This is my first time meeting with Ms. Tanaka.

Kitano：For me, I watch them quite often. it's the first meeting with both of them.

Yakata & Tanaka：Nice to meet you.

Do you watch each other's team's games?

Yakata：I watch them quite often.

Kitano：I watch highlights.

What is your impression of the men's team, Ms. Yakata?

Yakata：Their coordinated pressure from the front line is powerful and interesting to watch. Mr. Uejo often scores from assists by Mr. Maikuma, both of whom work great together, and Mr. Kitano scored the decisive third goal in the recent match against Nagoya (J1 Matchweek 25), coming off the bench.

Kitano：You scored two goals in the recent game against Sendai (WE League Cup Matchweek 4 against Mynavi Sendai Ladies), right, Ms. Yakata?

Yakata：Yes (laughs).

Kitano：I thought they were very good goals.

Uejo：You scored with a header, right?

Yakata：Yes. Since playing in the WE League, I've increased my headers. I feel now that no matter where the ball hits my body, as long as I get it into the goal, that’s what counts.

Uejo：I haven't scored with a header since joining Cerezo, so I thought that was amazing.

You assisted those two goals, didn't you, Ms. Tanaka?

Tanaka：Yes. Currently, play two-up-top with Ms. Yakata, and I like passing and assisting. The pass that led to the second goal is my favorite kind.

Stylistically, both teams are similar, aren't they?

Uejo：Coach (Akio) Kogiku's style demands pressing from the front, and everyone does a great job at it. It's Cerezo's biggest strength, and I feel that we respond well to the switch from defense to attack. Everyone is skilled with their feet and we have all sorts of players. Including those who come on as substitutes, I think our team has depth.

Yakata：Like the men's team, it's important for the Ladies to also press from the front. In the WE League Cup, there were matches where substitutes came on and scored to win. It's a strength of the ladies' team that everyone is involved.

Kitano：As Joe (Mr. Uejo) said, everyone being super mobile is a strength of our current team.

Tanaka：Mobility is also the women’s team’s strength, and we focused on defending from the front as well.

Except for Mr. Uejo, the other three players started at the Cerezo Osaka Academy. What are the advantages of the Cerezo Academy, which starts from junior high school (from elementary school for Mr. Kitano, including the academy's school), and what aspects of training from that time are still useful today? Also, for Mr. Uejo, who became a professional at J3's FC Ryukyu and went through J2's Fagiano Okayama before reaching a J1 club, what is Cerezo like to him?

Mr. Kitano, Ms. Yakata, and Ms. Tanaka, you are all products of the Cerezo Academy. Can you tell us what prompted you to join?
What do you think are the strengths of the Cerezo Academy?

Yakata：I joined in junior high. I was playing in a girls' football team during elementary school, and my coach introduced me to Cerezo. I joined as part of the third group. Initially, I was only 4 foot 6, so my junior high school days were tough, but by the end of my third year, I started playing in more matches and discovered the joy of football.

Tanaka：I also joined in junior high. A friend invited me to try out, and that was my start. It was tough initially, but it quickly became enjoyable.

Kitano：I was very small when I joined the junior youth team in junior high, but my coach at the time told me, "If you're small, you just need to develop your skills," and that has stayed with me. Cerezo's academy has a great environment. There are excellent instructors and peers to compete and grow with. The club invests in development, so I'm grateful to have joined Cerezo.

Yakata：During our academy days, I think we ran more than any other team. Building our physical strength then has contributed to our current style of play, like pressing from the front. I'm glad we ran so much back then (laughs). As Mr. Kitano mentioned, the academy’s environment is wonderful. For women's football, it's rare to have natural grass fields to play on, so I'm truly thankful for that.

Kitano：My memory of my first year in high school is mostly of just running (laughs).

Tanaka：The strengths of the academy are as they said, but also, being at Cerezo, I naturally learned proper behavior and manners, such as using polite language, from the coaches and senior players.

Mr. Uejo, you joined Cerezo after playing for FC Ryukyu and Fagiano Okayama.
How do you perceive the appeal and strengths of Cerezo?

Uejo：Before transferring, I had an image of Osaka as an intimidating big city, but once I joined, everyone was kind, and the coach communicated well with the players, so I had a good impression of the club right from the start. The supporters are warm-hearted, and the atmosphere at our stadium, dedicated to football, is incredible. The club's facilities, including the clubhouse, are fantastic. Sometimes youth players join the top team's practice, and their skills are comparable to those in the top team. I think this is partly thanks to Mr. Yahiro Kazama's (Technical Director of Cerezo Osaka Sports Club) teachings. That was a surprise to me.

Kitano：The academy's focus on global standards in coaching is a strength. No matter the situation, we were always told to "always strive for higher goals," and they never let us be complacent.

The main theme of this discussion is Striker Theory. Satoki Uejo and Miyu Yakata excel with their speed and ability to break behind defenses, Sota Kitano works with surrounding players to create opportunities, while Tomoko Tanaka previously played midfield and enjoys passing and assisting. Each has their strengths, but a common trait is their dedication to defensive play and contributing to the team through hard work upfront. We delve into the ideal striker these four players embody, functioning as a switch from defense to offense and vice versa.

All four of you currently play as forwards. Since when have you been playing in this position?

Uejo：When I was in elementary, I started as a center back (smiles). I had a strong kick, so I occasionally scored from the back. I started playing forward around fifth grade. Since then, I've been in attacking positions, including on the wings.

Kitano：I've basically always played forward since elementary school. I was fast, which I used to score. Every coach I've had said my strength is in goal-oriented plays. I've always felt a strong joy in scoring.

Yakata：I played as a winger in elementary school and became a forward in junior high after joining Cerezo. I remained a forward, but in 2021, after moving to Mynavi Sendai Ladies, I returned to playing as a winger. But I always felt I’d rather be a forward. Scoring is the most fun, and I've always wanted to be near the goal.

Tanaka：Until I moved up to the Ladies, I played central midfield. I only started playing forward after moving up. So, for me, it's not just about scoring but also setting up the game.

What are the plays you consciously make as forwards?

Uejo：Before coming to Cerezo, I only thought about scoring. But here, my mindset has changed. Under the coach's guidance, while aiming for goals, I've become more conscious of starting with solid defense. I wasn't good at defending in Ryukyu or Okayama, but I've learned quite a bit about dedication and hard work since joining Cerezo.

Tanaka：I'm not good at defending either, but I do it thinking about the team. I focus on relentlessly going towards the opponent and playing with all my might.

Yakata：As a forward, it's most important to go in for the score to lift the whole team up. On top of that, I try to switch on defense and make it predictable for the backline. Sometimes pressing the opponent leads to their making mistakes and our scoring, which has become a strength for the women's team.

Kitano：Of course, defense is indispensable when playing for Cerezo, but as a forward, my job is to score, and I keep that in mind.

Do you have a favorite goal scoring pattern or something you do to set it up?

Yakata：I'm good at scoring from behind the defense. But as defenders are often fast, I try to outsmart them during the game, like stopping then starting again.

Kitano：You’re also good at breaking behind, right, Joe?

Uejo：Thanks (laughs). But in J2, you have more time to shoot, unlike in J1. That was a struggle last year. I'm always thinking about how to score despite quick defensive pressure. Mostly, I play by feeling rather than thinking during the game. As we discussed earlier, Cerezo focuses on good defense leading to good offense, so I always look for my surroundings after we regain possession. Lately, I try to balance my energy between attack and defense so I don't exhaust myself defensively and fail to shoot when attacking.

Do you also think about the balance between attack and defense during matches, Ms. Yakata and Ms. Tanaka?

Yakata & Tanaka：We just think about running as much as our stamina allows (laughs).

Uejo：The relationship between the two of you is also important during defense, right?

Yakata：I’d say so. Ms. Tanaka and I constantly communicate to decide who will be the 1st defender based on where the ball is.

Uejo：When I pair up with Sota as the two up top, we always maintain eye contact. Whether attacking or defending, I'm always aware of where Sota is. During the match, it's important to maintain our distance so the opponent can't predict and avoid overlapping movements.

Yakata：I'm conscious of that too. Coach Nobuhito Toriizuka always says to value your immediate connection, and your connection with people. After receiving a pass, I have to think about where to pass next. Whether it's a one-touch or creating space, I play while thinking ahead. Of course, you need to go for the score if you’re right in front of the goal, but I also make play choices based on the probability of scoring.

Kitano：I'm not the type to do things alone, so using teammates effectively is important. Even if my shooting path is blocked, having a passing option gives me two choices. In that sense, assists are my second priority after scoring. But if I think too much, I get confused, so I mostly play based on feeling (laughs).

Tanaka：I also express what I feel at the moment rather than thinking too much (laughs). I used to play midfield, so I like passing and always look for teammates around me. I feel better when a pass goes well than when I go for the score myself.

Kitano：I can see you’re a former midfielder (laughs).

Tanaka：I like the strategizing and playmaking in front of the goal. There's a joy in breaking through the defense and executing plays as planned.

The closing topic of the discussion was "Cerezo Osaka and the Future as They See It." The two players from the women’s squad discussed their ambitions for the upcoming WE League (beginning in November), which the team will compete in for the first time. The men from the top team shared their hopes at Cerezo. Lastly, they were asked about what drives them, and their answers had a common theme, rooted in their origins.

Cerezo Osaka is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Of course, the club will continue to thrive, and particularly for the women’s team, it's a significant year as they enter the WE League this season.
What are your aspirations for the club going forward?

Yakata：It's our first year in the WE League, and it's exciting to see how far we can go as many people will be watching us. Our team's goal is to finish in the top five, but we aim to break into the top three. We want to make this year one where many people watch us, get to know us, and love Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies.

Tanaka：I want us to be a team that gives it our all, works hard, wins, and is supported by many people.

Uejo：I definitely want to win titles. I want to win championships with Cerezo. With the Ladies entering the WE League this season, it would be great if both men's and women's teams could win the league. I want to contribute to that. The club has many great players in the academy, and if they keep coming up, the team will become stronger. There are many players like Sota who aspire to play abroad, so it's exciting.

Kitano：I want to win too, especially a league title the club hasn't won yet. Performing well as an academy graduate and helping the club win titles would be a way to repay my coaches. Like Joe said, I want to win together with the Ladies.

What is your driving force as you continue to aim higher in football?

Uejo：For me, it's my father. I grew up in a father-only household, where he raised my brother, sister, and me. I'm grateful to him. Before I getting an offer from Ryukyu and going pro, I was at a point where I was about to quit football, but my father encouraged me to continue, so I joined Ryukyu. Without his words, I wouldn't be playing football now. Repaying him is my biggest motivation. Even now, talking to him gives me strength when things aren't going well. So, my family is my biggest reason.

Yakata：For me, it's also my family. I started playing football because of my brother, and initially, my father was against it, but I persisted. My father, who was initially against it, now supports me. He drives to away games to cheer for me, so I want to win and make my parents happy. They sense when I'm having a tough time and always reach out. They always send a word of encouragement before a game. I'm grateful and want to repay them.

Tanaka：It's my family for me too. They supported me through junior high school, even when it was expensive due to traveling. They would wait up late for me and eat dinner with me. They put me through high school and university, so I'm also able to have a life outside of football because of them. I'm grateful and want to play well to make them happy.

Uejo：Hey, Sota, how about an answer that isn’t family? (laughs).

Everyone：Haha (laughs).

Kitano：Of course, playing on the big stage as a footballer is a source of motivation, but I have a strong desire to work hard for my family, friends, supporters, and everyone who has been supportive of me. For them, I want to aim even higher.