Ahead of the friendly match between Uruguay and Japan, interim coach Forlán attended a press conference. Regarding the team's elimination in the group stage of the World Cup, he stated that the team had very good periods of performance across all three matches. Going forward, Uruguay's objective is to win and return to the level where they belong.

About Japan

Japan is a beautiful country with remarkable culture, and Japanese football is equally fascinating. I spent nearly two years at Cerezo Osaka and greatly enjoyed my time there. It was only in 2018 that I had the opportunity to return to Japan. At that time, I represented Kitchee SC from Hong Kong in the AFC Champions League against Kashiwa Reysol. That was my last visit to Japan. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to play in this country.

We heard from the news that you later participated in professional tennis matches. Can you tell us about your experience playing tennis and your journey from then until becoming a football coach?

No, I was already a football coach by then. I obtained my coaching qualification in 2019. Tennis is a sport I've loved since childhood and continue to enjoy. During periods when I wasn't coaching a club team, I had the opportunity to participate in professional tennis events, and I thoroughly enjoyed that experience. Now, I also enjoy the opportunity to serve as head coach of Uruguay's national team. It's an honor that makes me proud.

First, I'd like to ask, when does your contract with Uruguay's national team end? We heard it runs until March next year, is that correct?

Yes, that's correct. I am the interim head coach of Uruguay's senior national team until March. Additionally, I'm also the head coach of Uruguay's U20 national team. Next January, we will participate in the South American U20 Championship. The tournament venue hasn't been determined yet, but we already have our obligations in this official competition.

We heard that your meeting with the players today ran quite long, which is why the press conference started a bit late. What did you discuss with the players before tomorrow's match against Japan? What kind of match do you expect tomorrow? We imagine it might be very intense.

One player hasn't arrived yet. This is also our first time working together as a national team, so today we held an official meeting with the entire squad. We scheduled time to welcome the players and communicate with everyone, and then we did some preparation work. We wanted to use this time to get to know each other and prepare for tomorrow's match.

The Japanese team has many excellent players and is very strong. Some play in Japan, and many play in Europe, with quite a few reaching high levels in international competitions. We know tomorrow's match will be difficult. When I played against Japan in the past, the matches were always challenging. I think this will be an outstanding match. The fans will come, and the stadium will be full. I believe this will be a high-level match.

At the World Cup, Uruguay's team, coached by Bielsa, was eliminated in the group stage. For Uruguay, this was an extraordinary result. From my personal observation, the team seemed to lack cohesion in both attack and defense, playing in a way that made people wonder what went wrong. How do you analyze that World Cup performance? What do you plan to do next to revive the team?

From now on, it's about winning, plain and simple. We Uruguayans have the responsibility to bring the national team back to the level where it belongs, and that's what matters most. Winning is also what we love and enjoy most.

Regarding the World Cup, unfortunately, across the three matches, we were somewhat unlucky, conceding some unexpected goals. However, the team also had very good periods of performance in all three of those matches. Ultimately, failing to advance is a result that neither the players nor anyone wanted. As fans, we hoped to see Uruguay advance from the group stage, continue competing, and even have a chance to fight for the championship. That's something we all dreamed of and looked forward to.

What kind of team do you think Uruguay's current squad is? What are the team's strengths? For tomorrow's match, within the limits of what you can share, what is your game plan?

Unfortunately, I can't reveal the game plan here. The characteristics that Uruguay's team will display largely depend on the characteristics of the players on the field. We have players with excellent technical skills, players who are good at scoring goals, and players who are equally skilled in defense. The team has various top-class players with different characteristics, and I feel very fortunate to coach them.

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