<Match Preview>
In the recent J1 League Sec. 8, we lost 1-2 to Cerezo Osaka, suffering our first home defeat of the season. After conceding the opening goal, Ryoma WATANABE equalized with a magnificent volley, but we lost balance in defense towards the end of the match and conceded another goal. Given that we had a chance to take the lead, there are still issues to address in our game management. After the match, Yasuki KIMOTO stated, "Losing can lead to a loss of confidence and feelings of doubt. However, it is important to keep moving in one direction. We want to overcome this period together without wasting it."
In this match, we welcome Gamba Osaka at home for the advancement to the prime stage of the Levain Cup. In the previous match, Tokyo challenged Gamba Osaka with a young squad and suffered a complete defeat against a fully equipped opponent. After finishing 3 matches in the group stage, we are in a situation where we have 1 win and 2 losses and cannot afford to lose.
As we enter April, Tokyo has continued to go winless in four official matches, and we hope for the emergence of fresh players to energize the team. The focus is on Naoki KUMATA, who scored five goals in the U-20 Asian Cup this March and was crowned the tournament's top scorer. He aims to score and avenge the previous match while stopping Gamba Osaka, who are at the top of Group E.
The matchday program is here
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q: What do you expect from Takuya AOKI in tomorrow's lineup, which will be centered around young players?
A: As I always say, for me, the Levain Cup is an opportunity to give players who haven't had much playing time in the league a chance to gain experience. By integrating experienced players with a lineup primarily composed of young players, we aim to promote growth while competing. Of course, we expect the experienced Matsuki to help unify the team, but since he has been away from the field for a long time, it is important for him to first regain his match sense. He will need a bit more time to restore his match awareness and the precision of his ball touches, rather than just his physical condition. I believe tomorrow's match will be an important one for him as well.
Q: With young attackers gathered in the front line, will it become difficult to be included in the league squad if we do not deepen our common understanding of defense?
A. Young players must each learn more on their own. The challenges differ depending on the player. Some players need to deepen their understanding of defense, while others need to learn more about offense. My job is to promote and manage their growth by considering each young player's challenges and situation, sometimes letting them play in matches and other times having them wait for opportunities to play. Many of the young players have trained as academy members on the artificial turf pitch next to our training ground. It is also my job to support players who have just been promoted to the top team so they can adapt well. In official matches, if a young player makes a big mistake, there is a risk that the player's future potential could be lost. I do not want such things to happen. I myself have accumulated a lot of experience so far. I want to give back that experience to Tokyo and promote the growth of young players. For example, there are players like Kuryu MATSUKI who grow with a sense of speed. However, not everyone is like that.
Q, Soma ANZAI has also joined the practice.
A, I am attracted to the way he plays with confidence. Although I have only been able to observe his play for a few days, I recognize that he has technique and a high level of skill.
Q: The group stage of the Levain Cup has reached its halfway point. How do you feel about the battles so far, the growth of the young players, and the upcoming challenges?
A, the away match against Gamba Osaka, especially the first 45 minutes of the first half, was the worst performance so far this season. Some may think that when the team cannot show good play, it is because the young players are not able to perform well, but the young players are fighting hard. To properly foster their growth, we have integrated experienced players and competed in the past three matches. The matches against Cerezo Osaka and Kyoto SANGA F.C. were good in terms of content. Although we lost to Cerezo Osaka, the performance was not necessarily bad. The Kyoto match produced many goals and was a good game both in result and content. The third match against Gamba Osaka did not go well in any aspect. For this match, we aimed to correct the poor first half in the second half by actively using more young players, who became more conscious of playing boldly. Because of this, we conceded additional goals consecutively towards the end, but we appreciate their efforts on the field.
Based on the above, it is necessary to blend young players with veteran players. Of course, I believe fans and supporters want us to win matches and secure titles. On the other hand, I think the Levain Cup is precisely the environment that creates opportunities to promote the growth of young players. This season, many young players have joined the top team. It is extremely difficult for them to grow through daily training alone. I fully understand that we are expected to advance past the group stage of the Levain Cup and achieve victories, and that I am responsible if the results do not follow. However, as I have repeatedly stated, my view remains unchanged that this is a place for young players to grow. The club is also in a situation where we must gradually proceed with generational change. If that is the case, I believe it is even more valuable to promote the growth of young players. I look forward to seeing young players become key members of the team in the not-too-distant future. Who will grow in that way? For that, it is necessary to give them opportunities. I believe growth can only be gained by playing in official matches.
Q: Kanta DOI has also joined the practice.
A, he has just recently joined the team, and since becoming a professional player at the club, he has only been able to join practice for a few days. Last season, he suffered a serious injury, so the image is that he has just rejoined the team as if starting the preseason. However, since he is a young player, I believe he will adapt to the team quickly. Because he has just returned from a major injury, I think it will take some more time before he can participate in matches.
[Player Interview]
<Soma ANZAI>
Q: If given the chance, what kind of play would you like to show?
If given the opportunity to play, I want to take a high position during attacks and have many options, such as sometimes changing positions between inside and outside. There are many skilled players in Tokyo's midfield, so how I interact with them and create rhythm is important. Regarding defense, I believe aggressiveness, including high pressing, is required, so I want to fully demonstrate my strengths.
Q: I believe there is joy in being able to play at Ajinomoto as a player from the academy.
A, I think it would be a true honor to debut at Ajinomoto Stadium. After high school and university, I am happy to be able to play in front of the fans and supporters in Tokyo. Tomorrow, I want to actively show my strengths.
Q: What kind of image do you have when approaching the match?
A, I want to show my strong points while also demonstrating my fighting spirit above all. I want to show more aggression in ball contests than anyone else, my determination to run until the very end, and my fighting attitude.
Q: Since you have participated in practice after your contract was tentatively confirmed, how do you feel now?
A: About a week has passed since the announcement of my tentative contract, and things are progressing faster than I had anticipated. If given the chance, I have a strong desire to give it my all. My determination for the matches is stronger than anyone else's.
Q, please send a message to the fans and supporters.
A, if I can step onto the pitch, I want to show the fans and supporters how much I have grown since my junior high school days playing for FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa. The team is going through a tough period, but I will do my best to deliver victories. Thank you for your support.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q: How is your current condition?
A, his physical sharpness is good, and I think he has been able to maintain a good condition consistently, so I don't have much concern about that.
Q: With the U-22 Japan national team having a European expedition, there have been limited opportunities to participate in league matches. How do you perceive the current situation?
I was only included in the squad for one J1 League match, and that was when we played with a three-back formation. I was on the bench simply because three center-backs played in that game. It's frustrating that I haven't been able to get involved well so far, and I do want to be used, but I didn't score when I got chances in the Levain Cup matches against Cerezo Osaka and Gamba Osaka, and we conceded goals and lost... I think it's difficult for the coach to use players who aren't producing results, and in that regard, it's my fault, or rather, my own problem for not delivering results. The Gamba Osaka match on Wednesday is a revenge match, and I believe that firmly producing results there is a must to be involved in the league matches. I also feel a sense of urgency about not producing results, so I have to work on that.
Q: As a defender, the team's condition and the quality of coordination affect the results, so there are aspects that cannot be changed by one person's efforts, right? Do you sometimes feel like you can do more as an individual?
A, of course there is. Unlike the league matches, the Levain Cup features many young players, and since not all players are experienced, there are fewer scenes where combinations work as well as in the league matches or where each player thinks and defends individually. As a center back, including that, I have to call out from the back and move those around me. This applies to me personally as well as the whole team; it is the role of the defenders to make it easier for the team to defend, so there is no point in being dissatisfied with that. It is something I have to do, so I think I have to do my best.
Q: After a loan transfer with three teams, you returned to FC Tokyo last summer. It's been a little while since then, but do you feel any changes in yourself or the team?
Compared to the time of Kenta HASEGAWA (former coach), we don't kick the ball as much, and there is an image of wanting to somehow connect the play. The coach often emphasizes the importance of valuing the ball, and the players' awareness has improved. I think that is the biggest change.
Q: How is your adaptation to the connecting style of football as an individual player, Kimura?
A, I was never really a player good at passing, so playing a kicking style of soccer is easier for me, and even if I lose the ball, I can just focus on defense. Trying to connect passes increases the risk and is difficult, but if you can do it, I think you can adapt to any team, and it greatly contributes to my own growth. In that sense, being able to challenge with Tokyo's new style is a very positive aspect.
Q: You have played under three coaches during your loan spells at Kyoto SANGA F.C., SC Sagamihara, and Montedio Yamagata. Has that experience increased your range of play?
A, I don't think much has changed (laughs). Of course, each team has its own style, but if you ask whether there has been anything dramatically different, not really... The team I played the most for was Sagamihara, and during that time I gained confidence beyond just soccer. At Yamagata, I played a little at the start of the season, but then hardly at all afterward. However, the confidence I gained at Sagamihara gave me a rebellious spirit, or rather, the feeling of "Why aren't they using me?" So the biggest change was that I became able to have confidence. Since returning to Tokyo, I feel my footwork has improved a bit and I have become more aware of my surroundings.
Q: Defense is also an important position where confidence matters.
I think attacking players are physically more exhausted, but the defenders are always under mental pressure, so gaining confidence is quite significant.
Q: Recently, I've often heard that "Kimura's condition is good," and I've heard that he played well during the European tour. I believe the fans and supporters are eager to see him play in the league matches soon. What kind of play do you want the fans and supporters in Tokyo to see?
A, as I have always said, his selling point is his high physical ability, so I want people to see that aspect the most. Also, the build-up part that he has been working on continuously in practice should have improved compared to before, so that is something he must do in the league matches, and I want people to see him taking on that challenge.
Q: Finally, please share your enthusiasm for the match against Gamba Osaka.
A, we lost 0-3 last time, and the content was quite a mess, so there are many points to reflect on. However, I don't think we are inferior in terms of individual ability, and if we improve each point of reflection one by one, I believe we can defeat this opponent. This time, we want to keep a clean sheet and score properly to win. I myself am aiming to score from set pieces, so I hope to contribute well to the victory.
