<Match Preview>
We welcome the last game of the season, which is marked by transformation.
The current ranking after finishing 33 league matches is 6th. Compared to last season's 9th place, the performance has improved, but it can be said that this year has been one where growth has been more consciously recognized than the numbers suggest. Kuryu MATSUKI, who has participated in 30 matches so far, reflects on the team's changes throughout the season.
"Before the opening, we were in a situation where we couldn't move the ball from the back to the front. Now we are able to maintain possession while also executing quick vertical short counters."
"Love the ball" is the style of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, and it has gradually and steadily taken root. There are still many challenges, but each player has begun to feel a sense of growth within the team.
This week's opponent is Kawasaki, with whom we have a good rivalry across the Tamagawa River. Having lost 0-1 in the opening match of this season, they are the perfect opponent to measure the team's growth. Although the opponent is in a situation where they are vying for the championship, Matsuki stated, "It has nothing to do with us," positioning this Tamagawa Classico as a match that will show what kind of football we will display from next season onward.
Towards the future, Tokyo will showcase the culmination of this season.
The matchday program is here
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q: Today is the last press conference of the year, thank you for this season.
A, I am the one who should be grateful. As the phrase 'traveling together' suggests, traveling together means including everyone, so it is important for us that you warmly welcome us. Your articles are a very important part of the club. In that sense, I truly want to express my gratitude to all of you.
Q. I have seen the team’s daily efforts, and this past year felt like it flew by. How was it for you as the coach?
A, it feels short now, but when you are there, you do feel that it is a long season. I think the three seasons during the COVID period were difficult for everyone. The reason it feels like time has passed quickly at this moment is because the players have steadily grown. Because I could feel the players' growth every day, I felt joy and happiness, and looking back, it feels like time passed quickly as a result.
Q: I think tomorrow's match will be the culmination of the year.
As I mentioned the other day, when limited to a single match, the outcome can change due to various factors. That is why, for better or worse, we should not consider just that one match as the summary of the entire season. I believe everyone has witnessed the team's gradual growth throughout this season. For example, in the recent match against Nagoya, the team was able to show signs of improvement, although we lost the game. However, even in defeat, people felt that the team was growing, and among Nagoya's fans and supporters, there were probably some who, despite winning, did not feel entirely satisfied. Also, the Tokyo fans and supporters who came to cheer us on away from home, even though we lost, gave warm support and sang after the match, which I believe was because they also witnessed the team's growth. Therefore, I would be happy if the team can once again demonstrate the progress made this season on the pitch in tomorrow's game, but even if that does not happen, there is no doubt that the team has grown.
Q. I think this season was a challenging year for Tokyo. Looking back, what are your thoughts?
First of all, I think it was a positive season. If we had won the match against Nagoya, the game against Kawasaki would have been a match to move up to 3rd place, so I believe we are in a decent position. However, I want to focus not on the match results, but on the quality of the football. I want to emphasize to everyone once again that it is by no means easy for the players to have grown in such a short period of time.
Q, the other day you mentioned that you reached 60% regarding the team's growth level; was that within your expectations?
First, when I say 100% completeness, I mean a mindset of a winner, playing with the expectation that winning every match is the norm, and proving it both in content and results—that is what 100% completeness means to me. With that image in mind, I started this season with the prediction and hope that if the team could raise its completeness to about 40-60% by the end of the season, that would be satisfactory. And as a result, thanks to the players' contributions, we were able to raise the completeness to the best expected level of 60%, within the 40-60% range I anticipated. Now, for next season, if we can reach 80% completeness by the end of the season, I believe that would be worthy of success. Filling the remaining 20% from 60% to 80% will become increasingly difficult. The players joining the team will become important, and naturally, including the current players, it will be crucial for us to demand a lot from the players in every training session next season as we did this season. When they clear those demands, we will give them even more challenging tasks, preparing an environment where players have no choice but to grow. This season started from zero at the beginning of preseason. Next season, we can start with 60% completeness, so the starting point is completely different. The ability of new players to quickly adapt well to the team and express their talents within the team is included in that 20% growth. I want to work hard every day with the expectation that by the end of next season, we will have reached 80%. We can talk about how to fill the gap from 80% to 100% next year. One thing we must not forget to raise the team's completeness is to keep fighting with a focus on winning. That is an essential part we must not forget. The closer the completeness gets to 100% beyond 80%, the more naturally the team will be able to focus on winning and express that on the pitch. If we can do that, I believe we can compete in the top ranks.
Q. I think both teams have changed since the opening match. What are your thoughts?
A, once again, I think tomorrow's match is one where either team could win. What I envision for tomorrow is that, as we approach the final round of this season, our team is already prepared to step onto the pitch without fear against any team, whether it's Kawasaki, Yokohama F.Marinos, or others. Of course, there is a possibility that we might lose tomorrow. However, I am confident that the players will be able to step onto the pitch tomorrow knowing they can compete on equal terms with them. On the other hand, at the beginning of the season, hearing the names of opposing teams made us a bit nervous, but tomorrow, even against Kawasaki, that will no longer be the case. I believe that is the big difference. That is the foundation we have.
[Player Interview]
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q: The final match of the season is approaching. How do you feel about the team's growth over the past year?
A,I feel that by positively embracing the challenge of new football and continuing to work at it, we are starting to see a direction, and as we approach the end, the players seem to be gaining confidence to play in matches little by little. There are still challenges, but I feel that a good cycle is being created as the players actively work to solve these challenges.
Q. Looking back on the season, there were times when results did not come easily. As the captain, what mindset did you have when facing the team?
A,I understood that it would take time to see results, so even when things weren't going well, I made a conscious effort to stay focused on the direction we are aiming for and to engage in soccer. I feel that we are gradually getting closer to our ideal group. We are able to train together in a fun yet rigorous manner while discussing soccer. I believe that the attitudes of players like Yuto NAGATOMO and Keigo HIGASHI have a significant positive influence on the younger players.
Q. This season, there were many scenes where players talked with each other after practice.
A, The "ball-loving" soccer that Tokyo is working on offers many options for play, so there are endless dilemmas. Many issues cannot be resolved without players discussing them with each other, but perhaps it is precisely because this process is enjoyable that they can engage proactively in soccer.
Q. What kind of team do you want to build for Tokyo next season?
A,I believe that exciting and enjoyable football is ideal. To achieve that, we need to aim for a more attacking style of play that can score more goals. I think this season has required a lot of patience from our fans and supporters, but I believe that next season will be a year where you can enjoy it even more. In this match, I will do my best to make it a game that connects to next season, so that everyone can look forward to it.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, After winning the high school soccer championship, your next opponent was the team that won the J-League the previous year. What was your impression before facing them?
A, I think this is definitely the reigning champion team in recent years. Although the members have changed somewhat, I thought it was a very good team when watching their matches.
Q. You made your professional debut and first start. What instructions did you receive from Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA?
It was my first time playing soccer on a professional stage, and the coach also encouraged me by saying that I would be fine as long as I played calmly. Diego TABA also talked to me, creating an environment where I could easily blend into the pitch.
Q: How did you feel when you were selected to be in the starting lineup?
A, I thought it would be fun.
Q: You actually stood on the pitch and faced players like Leandro DAMIAO and Akihiro IENAGA, who are at a level not seen in high school soccer. How did you feel about that? Are there any players that left a strong impression on you?
In addition to A, Ienaga, and Leandro DAMIAO, I felt that the level of all the players was high. I just turned professional from high school, and the speed of the game was completely different, so at first I couldn't imagine it, but as I got used to it, I think I was able to play matches that could compete with those players. Leandro DAMIAO's winning goal made me realize what it means to be a professional.
Q. In that game, you made a strong impact with a powerful long-range shot that was narrowly saved by the opposing goalkeeper. Now that we are in the final stages of the season, if Matsuki were to play in that match again, would what he can do change?
A, I think what I do in today's soccer is different from the previous match. Since I have been continuously playing in matches and gaining experience, I believe there are more things I can do now than at the opening game.
Q. What are the differences between soccer in the past and soccer now?
A, I believe that applying pressure from the front has not changed since the opening match, but the way we build up has changed.
Q. After spending one year as a professional, has your way of thinking changed? Also, please tell us the points where you feel you have grown.
Since Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA became the coach, I have learned the importance of "loving the ball," and that has contributed to my own growth.In terms of playing style, progressing towards the goal while maintaining possession is an area where I have grown.
Q. Tokyo has not won the Tamagawa Clasico since the 2018 season when Matsuki was in junior high school. Do you feel any special atmosphere?
A, I did not feel that kind of atmosphere during the opening match. I don't have the feeling that it's because it's a Clasico, but I am determined to absolutely win the match in front of me. However, considering the fact that we haven't been able to win, the desire to win in the final round comes up.
Q. What kind of football do you think Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's coaching style is?
A is a style of soccer where the team aims for the goal while maintaining possession of the ball, and I believe it requires each player to adapt their play accordingly. While connecting passes, if there is space ahead, the team can also attack with sharp counters, making it a highly adaptable and strong team.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm.
Playing the final match at home is a big deal for us, and we want to finish the game well and carry that momentum into next season.
<Koki TSUKAGAWA>
Q: At the time of the opening match, Tsukakawa was a player for Kawasaki Frontale. What was the atmosphere like for the opening match for a team that has won back-to-back championships?
Although we had won two consecutive championships, we considered this a fresh start from zero. For Kawasaki Frontale, the first match is a crucial game to see if we can build momentum or not. No one was thinking about the two consecutive titles; everyone was fully focused and fighting with strong determination as the first match of this season.
Q. The opponent, Tokyo, has just changed to a new head coach. How did you scout them, and what kind of countermeasures were planned?
A, since it is the historic Tamagawa Clasico, everyone felt that it was not just an ordinary match. We viewed this battle as one that would affect the team's motivation going forward, whether we win or lose. As for Tokyo's new approach and countermeasures, I think it will take a lot of time, and we believed there would be some openings somewhere, so we fought with that in mind. From the start of the match, I think we planned to steadily apply pressure from the front and take control of the game.
Q. You entered the pitch in the 63rd minute as a substitute for Chanathip. What specific mission was assigned to Tsukagawa? What were you feeling while playing?
A, since it was the first match, whether we win or lose would affect our momentum, so we prepared to win for the team and entered the game with the determination to win. The situation was 0-0, so the message to go win was conveyed. In the end, we were able to win 1-0, so I accomplished the task given by the coach, but personally, I remember it being a frustrating match with remaining challenges.
Q. Were there any FC Tokyo players you were paying attention to?
A, Diego TABA is a player who can control the ball and has a sense of scoring in front of the goal, so I was personally cautious about the possibility of him scoring there.
Q. Was there anything regarding Matsuki?
A, after graduating from high school, I remember thinking, "Is he really a high school student?" as he confidently played against Kawasaki in the opening match.
Q. What do you think is the strength of Kawasaki?
There are many factors, but I think it’s always about thinking about soccer. There are many stoic players, and Kawasaki’s achievement of consecutive championships, which is quite rare, is related to not getting too elated or depressed. What surprised me was that even when they win, the only time they celebrate is immediately after the match in the locker room, and by the time they leave the stadium, they have already switched their mindset. In the teams I have been with before, the joy often carried over to the next match, but Kawasaki switches gears after a win, and winning is taken as a given in that team. I think that mentality was also amazing.
Q: As an FC Tokyo player, you will be facing your former team. From your position, which players do you need to be cautious of, and what kind of play do you want to focus on? Also, how do you feel about this?
A, I think the player to watch out for is Akihiro IENAGA. IENAGA can create the game on his own and change the flow. However, if we can contain IENAGA, I believe we can make it difficult for Kawasaki to play the style of football they want. If we give him free time, Kawasaki will find their rhythm. I'm not sure if our positions will overlap, but I want to be conscious and stop IENAGA to prevent the opponent's flow.
Q. How do you feel about facing Kawasaki after transferring mid-season?
A, I am honestly very excited. It was a team that took great care of me, and all the players are wonderful people. Although it was a tough time for me, I have many more good memories. I am really looking forward to fighting on the pitch with the teammates who supported me.
Q. What kind of football do you think Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA plays? It is said to be "connecting football," but what are the differences compared to Coach Oniki?
Rather than the difference between Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA and Coach Oniki, I think it is more about what kind of players there are and who will play. Playing possession-based football means you have to handle the ball skillfully and be aware of your surroundings. Within that, I believe each team has its own style. Kawasaki can maintain possession thanks to player Ienaga creating time for the team. Tokyo, while having that aspect as well, has stronger individual players up front, so we want to make good use of that.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm.
A, I knew that the final match would be against Kawasaki Frontale at the time of my transfer. If I don't earn my position, I won't be able to participate in this match, and I want to fight on this pitch with the teammates who have battled alongside me for a year and a half. I have worked hard to earn the right to stand on this pitch, so I want to be firmly on the pitch in the final match and win.
