On Saturday, March 1st local time, we spoke with Fukudome Keimi, who plays for Milano Women's Football Club in the Italian Serie A.
On this day, Milan played the final match of the regular season away against Chieri. Milan defeated Chieri, who were cheered by a huge home crowd, 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-20, 25-17), and finished the regular season in second place.
However, libero Fukudome did not play in the game that day. At the beginning of the season, he was used as a starting libero in most games, but since the beginning of the new year, he has been out of the starting lineup and has been relegated to the reserves.
In the match before the final round, he played the full game against Scandicci, who were also competing for the ranking, and contributed to the victory. It was thought that he would be given a chance to play in this match as well, but Fukudome did not take to the court.
Even in such a difficult situation, she answered questions with a smile after the match.
T: Today's game marked the end of the regular season. How do you feel looking back on this season so far?
Fukudome: As far as I'm concerned, I do have a lot of regrets, but I also feel like I'm growing little by little. With the next playoffs coming up, I think I'll have a chance to play, so I'd like to do my best to contribute to the team.
T: Your playing opportunities have decreased especially since the second half of the regular season. What happened?
Fukudome: After the match at the beginning of the year, the libero starting position was changed. I felt frustrated because the starting position was suddenly changed, and I had a lot of emotions, like "Why did I come (to Italy)...", so it was difficult. I got sick again, but it gave me time to think properly. Now I don't start often, but when I do, I want to make sure I can perform well, and I think I'm doing a high level of practice, so I'm working hard at practice, thinking of it as a place where I can grow.
T: Are you feeling better now?
Fukudome: Yes, it's fine.
T: From now on there will be many important matches, both in the playoffs and the Champions League, but what are some of the areas you would like to work hard on?
Fukudome: There are still many areas I need to improve in, so I don't have anything in particular, but I feel like I need to work hard on everything. As a team, we are aiming to win the championship, so I want to improve my play and communication skills so that I can go home having grown.
T: To win, you'll have to beat the currently undefeated Conegliano (affiliated with Nanami Seki), but how do you think you should fight to win?
Fukudome: As we saw in today's match, if things aren't going well, we will end up conceding consecutive points. If we show that side of ourselves when playing against Conegliano, they will immediately exploit that and we will end up conceding many consecutive points. On the other hand, I think our opponents are a team that doesn't concede consecutive points like that, so if we can be patient and keep taking points one by one, I think we can take them one set at a time.
T: Good luck. Thank you.
Photo: Verovolley
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