<Match Review>
Finally, Albert Tokyo has welcomed the day of its debut at Ajinomoto Stadium. It has been about three months since the last home game. The stadium was filled with the warm weather announcing the arrival of spring and the anticipation of the packed fans and supporters as they took the first step.
Takuya AOKI will be replaced by Yasuki KIMOTO, who will take the anchor position, while Henrique TREVISAN, who will be making his first appearance since the opening match, will partner with Masato MORISHIGE in the center back position.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima took control in the early stages. From kickoff, they pressed aggressively from the front, disrupting Tokyo's build-up play. Faced with the opponent's sharp pressing, Tokyo struggled to move the ball effectively, and until the middle of the first half, they repeatedly faced threats near their goal following ball losses. The momentum began to shift around the 25th minute of the first half. At the 27th minute, Kuryu MATSUKI intercepted an opponent's pass. Passing to Diego OLIVEIRA, they launched a quick counterattack. Diego passed into space on the left side, involving Adailton. Adailton broke free and took a powerful shot from an angle on the left side of the goal, but the shot narrowly missed to the right of the goal. At the 33rd minute, during a midfield battle, Tokyo regained possession as the opponent was moving forward. Diego, while being challenged by an opponent, managed to keep the ball, which Adailton picked up and quickly switched play to the right side. Kazuya KONNO, running into the space, took a one-touch vertical run and shot with his right foot. The shot was blocked by the opposing defender, and the rebound was pushed again by KONNO with his left foot, but this too failed to find the net. The match went into halftime scoreless.
Tokyo, wanting to make a change, started moving from the beginning of the second half. Hirotaka MITA was sent onto the pitch in place of Henrique, and Yuto NAGATOMO was sent onto the pitch in place of Ryoma WATANABE.
Tokyo wanted to take control of the game after the substitutions, but the match changed with a set piece. In the 15th minute of the second half, Mita took a free kick from the left, and Morishige won the header at the far side. The ball, which went over the opposing goalkeeper's head, was drawn into the upper left corner of the goal, giving Tokyo the opening goal. Tokyo, riding the momentum, was unstoppable. Just after the goal, in the 16th minute of the second half, Diego received a pass from Mita and made a through pass. Shuto ABE broke into the penalty area and took a shot from slightly right of center. This was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper, but Adailton calmly slotted the rebound into the lower right corner of the goal, pulling ahead of Hiroshima in one fell swoop.
After taking the lead, Tokyo faced continued pressure from Hiroshima. In the 29th minute of the second half, they encountered a free kick near the penalty area, but the shot aimed at the top of the goal was saved by Jakub SLOWIK, who reacted sharply. Tokyo had been holding on, but in the 29th minute of the second half, they were caught off guard for a moment. A through pass was sent behind the last line, and Shun AYUKAWA broke free and scored in a one-on-one against SLOWIK, bringing the score to 1-1.
While continuing to face the opponent's momentum, we tried to find a breakthrough by making substitutions, but we couldn't reach the point of controlling the game with ball possession. However, in a critical moment, the defense, led by Jakub SLOWIK, held firm, maintaining a one-point lead and securing a significant three points in our home debut.
[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]]
Q, please review the game.
A, we started in a situation where it was quite difficult to break through Hiroshima's intense pressing. It was very challenging to overcome the defense of a team that applied pressing almost like man-marking.
From kickoff to 10 and 15 minutes, we struggled to break through, and perhaps because of that, we couldn't start the game with a good feeling. After that, although we didn't necessarily play well, we gradually improved to be able to play more calmly to some extent.
There were many simple mistakes in the attacking part, and at the same time, our pressing was often slow in defense, resulting in a first half where we could not play well.
We made adjustments at halftime and changed the formation to something like 4-2-3-1 from the start of the second half. Kimoto played as a lone defensive midfielder for the first time in a while, but since he showed signs of fatigue, we switched to a double defensive midfield. We also brought in Yuto NAGATOMO on the right side of defense to improve the defense with his experience. Additionally, to calm the game down a bit more, we introduced Mita into the midfield, aiming to utilize his technical skills and decision-making ability.
It was great to score the opening goal from a set piece in such a flow. After the opening goal, when the opponent pressed forward, it was also a plus that we were able to quickly switch between offense and defense after winning the ball and score an additional goal. While leading the match 2-0, it was unfortunate that we lost the ball due to our mistake and conceded a goal on a short counterattack.
In the second half, there were periods when we were able to control the match to some extent, but it was not consistent, and ultimately, it is regrettable that we were unable to maintain control of the game throughout the full 90 minutes.
The team is still just beginning to grow and build. Henrique has also returned to official matches for the first time in a while. It is understandable that Kimoto, playing as a defensive midfielder for the first time, did not function well; this can happen at the start of the season. Rather than being satisfied with today's match result, I think it is important to turn the focus inward. This season, the most important thing is to make daily efforts and continue to grow. Also, it is necessary for players to give their all on the pitch, as they did today. The next match will come soon, so I want to concentrate on preparing thoroughly in the short time available.
Q: I think you anticipated the opponent's press, but what do you think were the factors that caused you to struggle despite that?
A pressed with equal numbers both at the opponent's defensive line and in the front line. I think their defense involves such a risk of equal numbers.
I believe that if we had been able to skillfully break through the opponent's high press while they took risks, we could have created multiple decisive chances from there. However, we were not able to do that well today. When we couldn't do that effectively, we lost control of the match.
Since Aoki was sent off in the previous match, we played Kimoto, who has previously played as a defensive midfielder. However, the team situation meant he had no choice but to play in an unusual position for Tokyo as a defensive midfielder, which I believe also affected today's performance.
Q, among them, I think it is commendable that the coach is focused on the strategy he has instructed.
A, I am truly happy that we were able to earn 3 points, but I also believe that it is especially when we win that we need to turn the criticism inward and reflect more. The players have high quality. The team is still in a growth phase. I think there will be matches like today that do not go well. However, considering this is only the fourth match since the season started, it was the first time we were unable to play with a good feeling right from the start of the game.
Q: Please explain the reason for choosing Morishige as captain again and your evaluation of his performance.
First, I evaluated him as a player who represents the team, so I chose him as the captain. He is one of the players highly regarded by his teammates. I also appreciated that he has continued to play for this club for a long time. I see him as someone who will carry this club even after retirement. I am grateful that this season, he has provided many things to the team as captain. He has consistently acted appropriately as captain. Together with Diego, the 2nd captain, he is leading the team in the right direction. Additionally, I selected four veteran players as 3rd captains, and I am proud and thankful that they, including him, are guiding the team positively.
[Player Interview]
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q: It was the long-awaited home opener. I think the first half was a tough match.
A, it was a tough match. I am happy that we won the game, but since the content did not match, I feel there is still much to be done.
Q: With Aoki absent, what specific defensive aspects were you paying attention to?
A, what needed to be done was simple, so I thought it was important to carry it out without major mistakes. Within that, I feel that our variations and ideas were somewhat lacking.
Q: This season's first goal was a result of a pass from player Mita. What was the feeling like?
A, I could only manage to hit it with my head, so it was a situation where it luckily flew to a good spot.
Q: In a rather difficult situation, looking back, how do you think you could have broken through Hiroshima's press?
A, I felt that we were too fixated on what we had been doing, so I think it would have been better to be a bit more flexible with our positioning and to change our stance or positioning as well.
Q: It seemed that Coach Albert was observing the situation in the first half. What kind of communication did the players have on the pitch to break through the opponent?
A, we were also unsure about which approach to take. After today's match, I want to have a thorough discussion with the coach to align our thoughts and work towards the next game.
It is a good thing for the team to grow while winning, so regarding today, it is good that we were able to secure the minimum 3 points, but we want to keep in mind that we need to improve the quality of our play ourselves and prepare accordingly.
<Adailton>
Q: There were times when you couldn't grasp the rhythm of the attack, what were you conscious of during those moments?
A, from the start, the opponent was able to defend as an organized unit, making it difficult to attack. However, regarding today's match, I was focused on fighting, and I wanted to play thoroughly with that in mind.
Q: I think Adailton's additional goal showed his quality. How do you feel about it in retrospect?
A, calmly scored while watching the opponent's keeper's position against the spilled ball.
Q: Why is the team able to fight without conceding goals even when the situation worsens?
A, reducing goals conceded and controlling the game to secure victory is the game plan the coach demands. There are times when things don't go well, but we hope to improve our strength through continuous practice. We aim to reduce goals conceded and dominate the match.
Q: You are defending high up the pitch, winning the ball, and transitioning to quick attacks, but do you want to continue this approach?
A, playing defense by completely taking the ball from the front line and connecting to counterattacks is one pattern of attack, so we want to improve the quality to lead to goals.
<Shuto ABE>
Q: I believe there was information that the opponent is a team that applies pressure from the front, but it seemed like we took that on directly from the start.
A, the opponent's intensity was high, and the first half ended without knowing how to break through while being quite trapped. There were some parts we were able to adjust well during halftime, but overall, the impression is that we couldn't play the kind of football we were aiming for.
Q: In the middle of the first half, there were scenes where we stole the ball high up the pitch and created chances from short counters. Still, were you unsatisfied with the first half?
A, taking the ball from the front is also our intention, so that part went as planned, but on the other hand, it felt like that was the only style of football we could play. Ideally, we wanted to break the press, control the ball firmly, and push the opponent back to advance the game.
Q: How was the communication on the pitch in terms of making improvements during the match?
A, today the distance between players was too far apart, and when the center back had the ball and passed it to the side back, it didn't work well, so we were calling out to improve by bringing the distance closer, but even that didn't work very well during play.
Q: What factors contributed to the improvement in the second half?
A, rather than just positioning, we also changed the formation somewhat, so there were parts that fit well, but the good moments were only when we managed to score goals. I think if we could have maintained possession of the ball for a longer time, the game would have developed more calmly.
Q, I think we are in a stage of growth through trial and error while working on a new style. Are there any areas for improvement to grow for the next match?
When the intensity is high and we face man-to-man pressure from the front, we need to think about how to get past it. Otherwise, the same issues will occur in the Levain Cup match against Iwata and the league match against Kyoto. We feel that if we don't move fluidly without sticking too rigidly to our patterns and carefully observe the opponent's approach while playing, it will become difficult to maintain a style of keeping possession of the ball.
Q, is it an improvement in team tactics rather than individual tactics?
A, there is always the idea of creating a triangle, so it is necessary not only to focus on the feet but also to aim for the space behind. You have to discern whether it is a place to connect or a place to push the ball forward and act accordingly.
Q: Isn't it fair to evaluate the fact that they won?
A, the coach said after the match that although the content was not good, it was significant to have earned 3 points, so even though the performance was poor, winning is a positive outcome, and I think it's okay to view it positively.
<Hirotaka MITA>
Q: You came on in the second half, how do you feel about it in retrospect?
A, we showed some good parts, but since we spent a long time chasing defense, it would have been better if I could have played in a way that helped the team more.
Q: What did you keep in mind when participating in the match?
A, watching the first half, the ball situation was unsettled, so I wanted to change the flow when I entered the game. There were some parts where I was able to do that to some extent, but after taking the lead, there were many long balls and I often didn't get the ball, so I am not satisfied with my own performance.
Q, you wanted to be more involved with the ball and play a role, right?
Also, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA told me that I wanted to calm the game down more while touching the ball. It was a match where I did half of what I could and half of what I couldn't.
Q: The opening goal was a score that created momentum for the team in a difficult situation, but was the assist for the first goal as you intended?
A, Morishige is not aiming for it, butit was good to score since we had been working on flowing in fast balls during practice.
Q: You were also the starting point for the second goal; how was that?
I think the fact that we were able to defend from a high position instead of retreating immediately after the first goal led to scoring. I hope we can successfully combine breaking down the defense while maintaining possession with launching quick counterattacks.
Q. Could the match have developed in a more composed manner?
A, I think it is possible. Since the new style has only been in place for a short time, we should not be satisfied with this content. Although I believe the fans were pleased with the victory, we are not satisfied with the match performance, so we want to keep that in mind and work hard from practice onward.
