Участник:"I have no regrets at all."
The Japanese national soccer team has also been in conflict between the coach and the player since the 2023 AFC Qatar Asian Cup. Morita, who asked Japanese coach Moriyasu Hajime to give more detailed tactical instructions after he was eliminated from the tournament, insisted that he did not regret his remarks.
After failing to qualify for the quarterfinal match against Iran in Qatar's Asian Cup last year, Morita told reporters without hesitation that Moriyasu had not done anything at a time when his team was in crisis. Morita said, "I don't think we were able to share the concept so that the players could overcome the given situation. In the end, I couldn't really correct the weaknesses I was exposed to in the Iraq match in a real sense. Frankly, I wanted some advice from outside." He claims that he had to take the situation of the game sensitively on the bench and come up with a countermeasure, but he failed to do so.
This comment was one of the reasons that Moriyasu faced huge criticism. However, Morita, who left a critical comment in public, also gained the image of a player who rebelled against the coach.
Still, Morita hinted that she has not changed her mind. "I have no regrets about that remark. I want to grow more than I do now," Morita said, adding, "Some people seem to give up on the way, and sometimes I feel that way. So, I have no regrets about that remark. I really want to win every game," she said, expressing her theory that she should play hard, pledging to win every game not only on the players but also on the bench.
Meanwhile, Japan is scheduled to play games in March, which is as burdensome as Korea. Japan will play against North Korea in the third round of the second Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-Central America World Cup at home on March 21, and North Korea in Pyongyang on March 26.