Guido Buchwald says Urawa's preseason plans have been thrown into chaos by the scheduling of Japan's World Cup warmup matches, but the German is still confident of leading the Reds to the J. League title.
Shinji Ono holds the ball from Gamba's Fernandinho during their Xerox Super Cup match on Feb. 25. Ono returned to Urawa from Feyenoord in the close season and will be leading the Reds' charge for their first-ever J. Lleague title.
The Saitama giants are overwhelming favorites to go one better than last year's second place finish and clinch the J1 championship for the first time in the club's history, but manager Buchwald says the national team's recent friendlies against the United States, Finland and Bosnia and Herzegovina have come slap bang in the middle of vital strategy sessions.