18-year-old Japanese goalkeeper Rui Araki was interviewed by Real Sports, where he discussed his goals for the national team and other topics.

On Zion Suzuki

"My weight is increasing steadily right now, around 88kg to 89kg. But Zion's weight is around 100kg, and he's so big yet so mobile. I also want to be a goalkeeper who can move freely, maintaining my mobility while building muscle. I hope to move in a way that doesn't make people feel my 195cm height."

On being below 170cm tall after elementary school graduation

"Although I was considered tall back then, after entering high school, my height grew rapidly during my growth spurt. To be honest, my parents' genetics played a major role."

"Both my parents are quite tall. My father played a bit of volleyball; we're not really an athletic family."

"Besides genetics, I really slept a lot."

"It was really excessive in high school. I was always very sleepy and frequently dozed off during class. Including naps, I slept quite a lot overall. I think people grow more easily when they're lying down, so increasing the time I spent lying down should help with height growth. On top of that, I consciously ate a lot of rice. Quantity is key, I think. I'm the type who prioritizes quantity over quality."

"Anyway, I train hard and sleep during my breaks. With training and school, I try to sleep as much as possible, but at most, it's about 10 hours a day. Of course, I sleep more on holidays."

On the first half of the season

"For goalkeepers, match experience is really everything. Although it's only been 7 matches, accumulating experience in the J.League Centennial Youth Division is very important, and experiencing the pressure of AFC Champions League 2 competition is invaluable."

On Gamba Osaka's goalkeeper squad

"Higashi-san's (Masaaki Higashiguchi) mobility is definitely top-tier in the J1. If I, at 195cm, could move like Higashi-san, that would be an even greater strength. In terms of footwork, Jun-san (Jun Ichimori) is very solid, and Orin-kun, who is tall like me, also has his qualities. I want to learn from these strengths and make them my own; I'm sure I'll grow even more that way."

"From a young age, Shusaku Nishikawa has been a top player, and I deeply respect him. The same goes for Higashi-san; I can only say he's amazing. He must have a secret to staying at the top for so long."

On Koto Horio (Nagoya Grampus)

"I'm simply happy to have a goalkeeper from my generation on the opposing team, and it's great motivation."

On goals

"I want to make the national team this season, and to do that, I need to perform well at Gamba Osaka."

"The Olympic team coach will also be the national team coach, so I believe performing well at the Olympic level is the fastest path to the national team."

On Zion Suzuki

"Zion is more of someone I respect than a goal, but in the future, he will definitely be a competitor for the national team. I strongly feel I can't lose to him now."

"To surpass Zion in the future, I also hope to get the opportunity to play abroad. I hope to go soon—the sooner the better. For that, I need to perform at Gamba Osaka—how should I put it, not just play, but also focus on the quality of my performances."

On the difference between him and Zion Suzuki

"I don't think the difference is particularly large. Of course, Zion is still superior in many ways. Actually, he has very few weaknesses; his physical ability is excellent, his leg strength is powerful, and his close-range saves are extremely advantageous. In terms of defending, that's also my strength, and I feel I'm not inferior to him. So, I want to continue working hard in those areas while also addressing my shortcomings one by one."

"I don't think age is an issue. First and foremost, I hope to contribute to the team winning the championship this season."

Traduzido por IA.

O site do AF já está online! Acesse notícias completas, comentários, detalhes de partidas e estatísticas no seu computador. Acesse: www.allfootballapp.com