A decisive play is required in the match; I want to practice more than anyone else and build confidence
Kyosuke TAGAWA took on many expectations as he donned the red and blue uniform. Although he was forced to leave the field due to injury in May, he diligently worked through it as a source of growth and made a comeback stronger than before. We delve into the mindset of this attacker, who is expected to bring even more momentum to Tokyo with his dynamic play.
Achieving results in Tokyo is all I can think about right now
――How is your current condition?
"My body is moving well, and I feel sharp; my condition is very good."
――This is the first return since the U-20 World Cup in May.
"The rehabilitation period was tough. Especially the physical training menu just before returning was hard. It was my first experience of a long-term absence since becoming a professional, but mentally I didn't feel too much hardship. However, Tokyo has been in great form all season, so I felt a bit impatient about not being able to join in."
――How did you overcome that impatience?
"I built confidence through repetitive practice to eliminate such frustrations. That is something I am still conscious of today."
――Scored a goal in the second leg of the Levain Cup quarterfinals against G Osaka on September 8.
"The coach told me, 'Go out there and score,' so I went onto the pitch. At the moment of the goal, when Yojiro TAKAHAGI sent a long ball, I saw Diego OLIVEIRA running, so I tried to avoid the ball, but it hit my back. However, that actually turned out well. It connected smoothly, and since I had practiced one-on-one situations with the goalkeeper, I was able to shoot naturally."
――Was the shooting course as planned?
"Looking at the GK's position, I thought there was only that course. It was a difficult scene to outsmart the GK, but it was good that I created an angle with the first touch. If you don't create an angle, the course disappears. It was a scene where everything went well. I was confident because I had done repetitive practice, and I was able to kick calmly even in a tense situation. I'm glad I was able to show the results of my training."
――This was your first goal in a cup match in Tokyo.
"I felt relieved, and since I hadn't been able to deliver results despite having chances until now, I was honestly happy."
――After scoring, he headed to the bench.
"I somehow end up going there (laughs). I always naturally head to the bench (laughs)."
— With Tagawa's goal, we took the lead temporarily, but then conceded a goal and were eliminated from the Levain Cup due to the away goals rule.
"I regret that if I had coordinated more with Kiichi YAJIMA and applied pressure from the front line in defense, we could have prevented conceding a goal."
―― Also made a substitute appearance in the J1 Sec. 26 match against Kashima on September 14.
"We entered the pitch with a focus on defending from the front line, which was an issue in the Levain Cup, and playing aggressively. There were moments when we succeeded, but the overall impression is that we still fall short, so I feel we need to be mindful and work on this from practice."
――What do you think are the reasons Tokyo has been maintaining good form this season?
"When things go wrong, everyone talks together and we can fix it immediately, so we don't have losing streaks. I think that's the main reason."
―― Do you have any thoughts when you see your teammates and rivals such as Diego OLIVEIRA, Kensuke NAGAI, and Jael?
"They have things I need to learn, so watching them is educational. However, I always think about what I need to do to get playing time in matches, and there are aspects where I believe I am not inferior to them, so continuing is important."
――Specifically, which parts do you think are not lacking?
"I believe we are not inferior when it comes to speed once we get going and dynamic play. We want to emphasize that."
――What is your most effective scoring pattern?
"The goal I scored in the second leg of the Levain Cup quarterfinals was in a style I am good at. While continuing that, I want to further improve the accuracy inside the box, especially the finishing accuracy, which I believe is a current challenge."
――It has been more than half a year since joining Tokyo. Do you feel that you are growing?
"Of course there are. When I first joined, my mind was full of the team's tactics, but now I understand what I need to do, and I have also found new challenges. I am training with the awareness of overcoming those challenges."
――Next year, the Tokyo Olympics will be held.
"Of course, I have the desire to aim for that, but honestly, right now I want to focus on scoring goals here in Tokyo. At the moment, I can only think about delivering results here."
I want to practice harder than anyone else and gain confidence
The team is playing consecutive away matches.
"Of course, there are difficult aspects such as accumulated fatigue, but given the current team situation, there is not much concern, and I don't think anyone is worried."
――I think there is also the difficulty of adjusting condition due to continuous travel.
"Sitting for a long time makes my body stiff, and sometimes it affects me the next day. I make sure to stretch and take walks consciously to prevent that."
――On October 5th, there is an away game against my former team, Tosu.
"Tosu is a team I have a strong attachment to, and I want to show a more mature version of myself. To do that, I have to work hard in practice. I will be conscious of that in order to survive. Myung Hwi KIM is my mentor from my youth days, so I want to score goals and show my growth to the coach who took care of me and to the fans and supporters of Tosu."
— When Kenta HASEGAWA was appointed as the manager, he said, "To win the championship, it is necessary to have a lucky boy who brings momentum." I believe there are such expectations for player Tagawa.
"That's right. We've been playing away games continuously, and as the league enters its final stages, anything can happen. Players coming on as substitutes are expected to make game-changing plays, so I want to practice harder than anyone else and build more confidence to achieve results."
――I believe scoring goals becomes important to gain confidence.
"I especially feel that way when I watch player Nagai. When he returned from national team activities, he seemed like a completely different person (laughs). He builds confidence through repetitive practice, which leads to scoring goals, and that further boosts his confidence. I really think it's a great cycle. Since there are gaps between matches, I want to make the most of that time."
――Please give a message to the fans and supporters.
"The away battles are still ongoing, and I know it’s tough for all the fans and supporters, but I want as many people as possible to see the players fighting together as one team. Personally, my desire to share the joy of scoring goals has grown even stronger, so I hope you will come to the stadium to cheer us on. Please continue to give us your passionate support!"
