Director Moriyasu, desperate for cooperation, has room for improvement in Korea and Japan...Need support
Jul 15, 2025
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This is the words of Hajime Moriyasu, manager of the Japanese men's soccer A team.
Japan beat South Korea 1-0 in the final match of the 2025 East Asian Football Confederation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) held at Mir Stadium in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on the 15th. Japan came out on top with three wins. Japan has won two consecutive championships following 2022.
After the game, Moriyasu said, `I think the players' attitude to grow every day was excellent. Players were obsessed with victory even within a short period of time, changing everything they had every day and challenging future growth. In training and practice, players think that their commitment to victory and participation in the competition led to great growth and achievement. The players were excellent, but the coaching staff's efforts to support them were also great. Both teams were very intense, fierce, and high-quality. Not only us, but also Hong Myung-bo has played against a great team building in the World Cup qualifiers. I think the Korean team is also outstanding."
Then "It's the third East Asian Cup for me personally. In the first competition, he lost to South Korea and missed the championship. I'm well aware of the media's constant frenzy about the two teams' showdowns. If you lose, sometimes you're under criticism. I was also criticized for losing the first tournament. As a professional and national team member, I am prepared for criticism. But whether you win or lose, there are achievements and tasks, including fostering. Even if we win or lose, there is always room for improvement. This means that there is room for improvement not only in Korea but also in Japan. Therefore, it is not just a simple criticism, but I hope that the media will also support the improvement of both countries."
The following is a Q&A session with Moriyasu.
- a general review of the game.
▶I did my best for a short period of time, aiming to win every game to win the tournament. During this period, I shared with the players that I want to grow and focus and go further and overcome. Making it was the main task of this tournament. There was certainly an idea that each player wanted to show his presence. However, for Japan, I think it led to victory and victory because the players practiced this tournament and this game with Japan's pride as a representative of Japan. The game was very difficult from the beginning, and under pressure from South Korea, the players fought fiercely, fiercely, but persistently in each situation. Both teams have come to demonstrate the quality they have with each other. There were times when they were attacked, but our players did not forget to try to attack while defending. I think our team has outperformed the individual abilities of the Korean team and its power as a team while demonstrating resilience.
I think this is a great competition. With most of the Korean and Japanese national teams playing in Europe, how we could watch the growth of domestic players. The players who are performing well in each league played today in very tense, intense, intense, and top quality in Asia. I think it's a good tournament because this can lead to the growth of the players and confirm their presence.
- It was a similar lineup to the first game. Is there anything that has changed over the past two weeks.
▶I think the players' attitude to grow every day was excellent. Players were obsessed with victory even within a short period of time, changing everything they had every day and challenging future growth. In training and practice, players think that their commitment to victory and participation in the competition led to great growth and achievement. The players were excellent, but the coaching staff's efforts to support them were also great. The way the coaches delivered their roles was so clear that players could play without hesitation. I think this is also a big factor in success. As for today's game, it wasn't strange for any team to win. It was a very intense, fierce, high-quality game. Not only us, but also Hong Myung-bo has played against a great team building in the World Cup qualifiers. I think the Korean team is also outstanding.
- The players aim for the World Cup.
▶ Through this competition, players have become realistic goals for the World Cup. I am happy that I have sincerely developed my dream of the World Cup through my career in the national team and instilled my desire to go to the World Cup. Our coaching staff also demanded high standards from the players convened this time based on the world's best standards. I think it created an opportunity for players to truly move toward their goals as they felt that they could grow and were growing while responding to this demand. As a member of the coaching team, I'm happy to have this kind of heart. Even when the players return to the J League, I hope they will think about what they can do in the team with such strong will and show extraordinary plays.
- Director Hong Myung-bo mentioned Japan's system.
▶ As for Coach Hong Myung-bo, I also realize that the best team alone does not produce results as a professional, J-League-turned-manager and head coach of the A national team. Japan has a player development system that fosters grass roots and leads to the best team. Several leaders are training their players passionately. I think the efforts made by not only our leaders, but also by many officials called 'football families' including children and parents who help the players grow up, led to the top team. We are focusing on the results of how to nurture it, sharing with great dreams and hopes to win in the world. He also values the part of the process and fosters players.
- It won three games in a row against South Korea.
▶This tournament was played against not only coach Hong Myung-bo but also the national team led by other coaches. When I was a player, I also faced the best teams in Asia as a representative of each age. Given this experience, the Korean team is a very strong team physically. I think it's a strength that South Korea can use strong plays and demonstrate techniques. There is nothing else to say about weaknesses. We won today, won three in a row, but it was no wonder who won today. I want to think of each other's strengths as the best in the world and continue to fight faster and more intensely.
▶This is the third East Asian Cup for me personally. In the first competition, he lost to South Korea and missed the championship. I'm well aware of the media's constant frenzy about the two teams' showdowns. If you lose, sometimes you're under criticism. I was also criticized for losing the first tournament. As a professional and national team member, I am prepared for criticism. But whether you win or lose, there are achievements and tasks, including fostering. Even if we win or lose, there is always room for improvement. This means that there is room for improvement not only in Korea but also in Japan. Therefore, it is not just a simple criticism, but I hope that the media will also support the two countries to improve.
▶ Lastly, it is becoming quite difficult to hold friendly matches with the world's strongest teams. As good rivals and colleagues, I think Japan and Korea should cooperate with each other in order to lead Asia and win the world. Through this match, we hope to be competitive and challenge each other to the world.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
