Match Preview
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The 30th year of the J.League begins. Teruhito NAKAGAWA from Yokohama F.Marinos, Kei KOIZUMI from Sagan Tosu, Shuhei TOKUMOTO from Fagiano Okayama, and PEROTTI from Brazil's Chapecoense have joined the team. Additionally, two university graduates and five high school graduates have also joined as rookies. In the second year of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's regime, we will continue and evolve the positional play that we have been working on since last season, focusing on maintaining possession of the ball ourselves.
The theme is to break down the opponent's defense in the attacking third and open up pathways to the goal. During the preseason, we have been trying out new attacking patterns that utilize the spaces on both sides of the penalty area to create shooting opportunities. The coach feels that the team's progress is going smoothly in a good direction.
What is even more reassuring for Tokyo is the lively presence of Diego OLIVEIRA. Last season, he struggled with hip pain, but now he smiles, saying, "I can practice and play without any pain." It's not just the fans and supporters who are looking forward to the complete comeback of the ace, who possesses overwhelming power and speed. He himself is also eagerly anticipating the opening match, saying, "I think the Diego you all know will return again."
Among the new players, Nakagawa and Koizumi have quickly fit into the team and shown their presence. Additionally, expectations for young players, led by second-year Matsuki, are higher than ever. High school graduates like Naoki Kumata, Kota Tawaratsumida, and Yuta Arai have continued to make strong impressions during the preseason, and their proactive attitude in trying to absorb a lot from their seniors has stood out. Their ability to challenge for key player positions will be an important point as we fight through the long season.
With great expectations, we welcome the opening match against Urawa Reds. Urawa has appointed Maciej SKORZA, who has four league championships in the Polish league, as their new manager this season. Shinzo KOROKI has returned from Sapporo, and they have acquired Norwegian defender Marius HOIBRATEN. The new manager advocates for an aggressive style that places more emphasis on the forward position than last season, making it crucial for Tokyo to see if they can maintain possession and take control of the game.
Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA said, "While continuing our style, we want to fight with a focus on winning." Captain Masato MORISHIGE, who is in his 18th professional year, also stated, "Our biggest enemy is ourselves." The commitment to uphold our style remains unchanged this season. In this memorial season, how will Tokyo depict their football on the pitch? A match that indicates this will kick off.
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q: It has been six weeks since the start date. What do you think about the team's situation?
A, we were able to spend the preseason in a good way. Of course, even if you have a good feeling, football is a sport where you can still lose matches, but that feeling is important. However, since matches involve various factors intertwined, each match is like a different world. The team is currently growing well. The new players have quickly integrated into the team, and the young new players are also contributing to maintaining a balanced competition within the team by being involved in the battle for positions in a good way. Of course, the path to further improving completeness is still steep. As I have commented before, what I want to aim for this season is to thoroughly build on last season’s progress and turn it firmly into victories. I want to establish FC Tokyo’s unique style and connect it to winning. Rather than imitating other clubs’ styles, I want to establish Tokyo’s own style. And I want to pursue this while being conscious that the ball itself is the main actor.
Q: I think we were able to play our own style of soccer in the practice matches during camp, regardless of the opponent, and we were able to be aggressive.
A. In terms of offense, we aim to level up one step beyond last season. Of course, we want the team to develop into one that can press the opponent, but we also expect to break through by connecting short passes and through passes into the space behind defenders. We want to become a team that excels at high pressing, and we also want to make quick transitions between offense and defense after winning the ball a key strength. Naturally, we want to maintain high ball possession and create numerical advantages near the ball holder. However, we want to make runs into space as well as focus on close control. What I want to say is that we want to further improve various elements and establish a unique Tokyo style.
Q: Who are you looking forward to among the players?
A, a positive aspect for the team this season is that the players' skill levels are well balanced, making it difficult to prioritize.
Q: Players are strongly told about the importance of winning the upcoming match, is it because they want them to have a strong desire to win?
A, the premise is that we want to focus on each and every match. However, I do not possess any magic that can instantly transform the team within 24 hours to achieve that. This club has also accumulated over 20 years of history. Even in this long history, we have not achieved a league championship. To aim for that, we feel we are on the right path. The reason why we want to focus on winning each match is that, for example, if I say we aim to win the league in the way everyone expects, and then we lose two consecutive matches in the opening game and Sec. 2, there is a risk of easily making people nervous, wondering, "What is going on with these two losses after saying we aim to win the championship?" On the other hand, if we grow into a club with a management scale that ranks in the top three and newly strengthen the team with five or six players who can play in the starting lineup, then more than 40,000 fans and supporters will fill the stadium at every home game. Also, when everyone living in Tokyo becomes aware that Tokyo is our club, I believe we will be in a position worthy of declaring that we aim for titles. However, none of what I just said exists in reality yet. If the current situation is not yet ready, I think what we should do is to move forward step by step.
Q: What is your evaluation of Kashif BANGNAGANDE?
A, his continuous growth is remarkable. I believe the essential quality a player must have is the ability to learn. Players with the ability to learn like him are unpredictable in how far they can grow. He still needs to grow more and has room for improvement. I think he is a player worthy of expecting further growth. The same goes for Nakamura. He has grown dramatically over the course of one year.
Q: What are your thoughts as we approach the opening match?
A, I feel very confident heading into the opening. I am confident that my team can play with a strong focus on winning against any opponent. However, the J1 League is a very competitive league. While it is difficult to predict the outcome, I can clearly feel the players' confidence.
[Player Interview]
<Diego OLIVEIRA>
Q: This is your sixth year in Tokyo, and the opening match of the season is approaching this weekend. Please tell us your current feelings.
A, this is our 6th season, and every year around this time, every team thinks about making a "good start dash." This opening match is at home, and since the opponent is Urawa Reds, I believe the stadium will have a wonderful atmosphere. We want to do what we can and start off on a good note.
Q: Does excitement build up before the season starts? Or is there some anxiety?
Of course, every match is important, and it's natural for us to be highly motivated for them, but the opening match raises our spirits even more. As I mentioned earlier, our opponent this time is very tough, so I want to keep my focus and tighten my resolve.I want to maintain that mindset.
Q, "This season, I feel that we have been able to prepare smoothly since camp," said Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, but how is the current condition?
A, this season is the second year for coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, and the players understand the style he aims for. I believe starting from this point has various advantages, and including the camp, we have been training with very high intensity so far, so I think we can enter the opening match in good shape. Personally, last season I had many periods where I couldn't play at my best due to injuries, but now I am pain-free and in very good condition. However, since it is the opening match, I want to stay focused and prepared.
Q: I have heard that new players like Teruhito NAKAGAWA and Kei KOIZUMI are also adapting well to the team. From Diego TABA's perspective, do you think the new players have potential?
<div>A. I think this year's new players are also very wonderful and reliable players. Besides the two mentioned, including young players and those promoted from the U-18 team, they are all very high-quality players, so I believe they will be an asset to the team. PEROTTI has also joined, and Nakagawa and Koizumi are players with proven records in the J.League, so I think they will be a plus for the team. Although it has only been a few months since we started playing together in Tokyo, I feel that they are able to demonstrate their abilities, and including their combination, they have adapted well to the team, which I believe will be very beneficial for us. The other new players besides those two also have great ability, so I feel that the overall team strength has been raised.
Q: Please tell us your goals for this season.
A, I want to make it a great season throughout the year. Of course, I have the desire to win the title, but to achieve that, I believe it is important to fight hard in each match in front of us and get good results. The opening match against Urawa will be tough, so first, I am focusing on preparing for that. I hope that by winning each match one by one, we will ultimately achieve good results. We aim to win the title, but first, we want to value each match carefully.
Q: In the final match of the 2019 season, when Tokyo was close to winning a title, and in the 2020 Levain Cup final, Diego was not on the pitch. I believe the fans and supporters want to win a title together with Diego. Considering those expectations, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
A, I have also been in Tokyo for a long time, and since I arrived, I have been warmly welcomed by fans, supporters, team staff, and many others. I want to express my gratitude once again. I was injured just before those two matches and couldn't play, which was very disappointing. However, injuries are part of football, and although it was unfortunate not to participate in those games, it was unavoidable. The fans and supporters are a great source of strength for us, and because of them, we feel motivated to "run" and "win." This season as well, I want to fight together with the fans and supporters' cheers. Once again, thank you very much for supporting us so far. From now on, I hope you will continue to give us strength as you have until now, even more than before. We also want to achieve the team's goals together for you and for ourselves, so please continue to support us this season.
Q: The opening match will allow vocal support, and Ajinomoto Stadium will return with cheers for the first time in a while. In that sense, are the expectations for fans and supporters also high?
A, I am really looking forward to experiencing that atmosphere again after such a long time. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, many fans and supporters have come to the stadium, but due to regulations, we were unable to cheer out loud. However, this time I think we will be able to shout freely, so I believe we will receive even more energy than before. I understand that the match against Urawa will be tough, but I am focusing my mind on the game and I believe many people will come to support us. Of course, we are the ones fighting on the pitch, but together with the fans and supporters cheering us on, we will do our best to achieve a good result. We still have several days of tough training ahead, so I want to keep working hard to deliver a good outcome.
Q: Will you show us the "strongest Diego" again this year?
A, of course, every season I hope to make it a good one, and I carry that feeling with me. There are times when I can score goals or make good plays, and times when I cannot. However, within that, I never forget to do what I can and what is best for the team. I have always done so, and I want to continue doing so going forward. Last season was very tough for me, including injuries, so this year I want to approach the season aiming to have it go well.
<Keigo HIGASHI>
Q: The J League is finally starting. How do you feel the day before?
A, Every season, the time from the start of camp to the opening feels like it passes quickly. Thinking that the long season begins tomorrow, I am really looking forward to it. I believe there are many aspects that can change depending on us.
Q: All the players say they feel a sense of achievement.
A, first of all, you need to have confidence, and confidence is necessary to win. However, I think many things will happen during the long season. There are injuries and the impact of COVID-19, but I believe that beyond overcoming such situations, there will be a good outcome. So, I think tomorrow's match is important, and I want to win each and every game.
Q: Where do you feel the accumulation?
Since the appointment of Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, we have clearly been able to challenge ourselves to play football where we take the initiative, and we feel positive about that. However, regardless of the tactics, I believe that attention to detail is what determines the outcome in crucial moments. This season, being able to focus on those details is very important.
Q: When it comes to attention to detail, I think it's about scoring goals, and I've heard that you've been focusing on this during practice.
A, it is necessary to win. However, there may be matches where it is impossible to break through. In such cases, I think it is important to somehow defend and earn 1 point, and since you cannot aim higher without accumulating points, I believe it is necessary to challenge that as well.
Q: I think this season's opening will be significantly different from last season. Do you have any thoughts on that?
A, I have been playing as an anchor since last season, and there are still challenges and many uncertainties. In that situation, I need to build confidence that I can perform by practicing repeatedly and approach matches with that confidence, and I believe this is a daily process. In that sense, since I was able to prepare well from the camp, I want to play with confidence.
Q: Please tell us your thoughts on the opening match.
A, I think they are the opponents we have to defeat. Of course, we have some difficulties against them, but we have to win against such opponents as well. I'm very excited and a bit anxious, but I hope we both play a good match and that the J.League becomes more exciting.
Q: What is your impression of Urawa?
A, I haven't seen the matches or the players' performances, and I don't have information about the team, so there are some difficult aspects, but I think the members haven't changed much from last season. The coach has changed, so the expectations are probably different, but I hope to adjust while playing. Since I won't be able to watch the match footage at the start of the season, I think what happens during the match itself will be important.
Q: How is the newly joined Teruhito NAKAGAWA?
He is an experienced player, and I think he also understands what kind of play we each do. In that context, I believe there will be an accent that wasn't there last season. Of course, there are many good existing players, but I think I am in a position to support from behind to some extent. Since there are players with various characteristics, I want to bring out everyone's strengths, and I also want to be brought out.
Q: As the number 10 for Tokyo, what kind of play do you want to showcase? A: The content of my play does not change because of the jersey number, but since I am participating in the match, I must take responsibility and I am thinking about playing with a strong desire to win.
Q: Tomorrow's match will be 100% full capacity, and cheering is allowed in all seats. What kind of power do the voices of fans and supporters have?
A, it’s the privilege of a home game, and although Urawa also has a lot of supporters, the voices of fans and supporters can put pressure on the opponent, so I think it’s important. It’s been a long time since we played a match where cheering was allowed in all seats, so we have forgotten that environment. I think there will be cheers from the warm-up, so I want to savor that and put my feelings into each play.
Q: Are you aiming for a goal in the opening match?
A, I think there isn't much of a goal image since we spend a lot of time defending, but of course, if there is a chance, I want to aim for it. I don't think scoring a goal alone can lead the team to victory, and I want to contribute to the team in other ways, so I want to fulfill my role anyway.
Q: Do you feel any changes in your second year with Matsuki?
A, I believe Matsuki has been playing with a truly strong determination since last season, and I think that remains unchanged this season as well. I think there is pressure with everyone's expectations, and since there is an age difference where I can support him, I hope to support him well. I want him to play freely once he's on the pitch. There is much to learn from him, and he is a wonderful player.
<Kuryu MATSUKI> 
Q: The J League is finally starting. How do you feel about it?
A, I am very excited. We have become a good team heading into the opening, and I am also in good form, so I want to focus on winning the match against Urawa and do my best. I am really looking forward to many fans and supporters coming to Ajinomoto Stadium.
Q: Tokyo has not been able to win against Urawa in the past few seasons. What is your impression of that?
A, Urawa has changed their coach, and I think they will come at us with strong determination. However, I believe their tactics are not yet settled, so I hope we can take advantage of that as an opportunity.
Q: How is the condition of the team and individuals? Also, what kind of play do you want to perform as an anchor?
A, we want to quickly switch between offense and defense and win the battles for second balls. Throughout the camp, we have increased the variety of our scoring methods. I believe we have been able to level up while maintaining our strengths such as passing play and short counters, which are our characteristics. I think we have strengthened plays that calm the game and movements entering the goal area, so I want you to watch those aspects.
Q: Do you feel that you are growing day by day during practice?
A, I have to keep growing, and I understand that better than anyone. Without looking too far ahead, I want to stay grounded and grow significantly through each match.
Q: I think the addition of new players has strengthened the squad. How do you feel about the competition for positions and the atmosphere of the team's training?
A: I believe that no matter who plays in the matches this season, the team can play good soccer. Compared to last season, the player roster is deeper this season, and I hope we can win with full confidence and 100 percent effort from the start, relying on the team's strength.
Q, I believe that many fans and supporters will visit Ajinomoto Stadium as vocal support is fully permitted.
A, I think many fans and supporters will come, so I want to win the home game and make the fans and supporters happy. I want to play confidently to entertain a large audience, and since I am the type who gets more fired up the more fans and supporters there are, I am really looking forward to it.
Q: As you enter your second season, what kind of presence do you want to have in the team?
A, last season, I was given the opportunity to play many matches, and I was able to deeply understand Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's football. I want to spread that throughout the team. Also, I want to prove that I can fight the most for the team and achieve results. The ultimate goal is to win the championship. As the coach says, everyone shares the common understanding of winning the upcoming matches, so for now, we are only focused on beating Urawa.
