<Match Review>
The calendar has entered April, and this match against Vissel Kobe is finally the second home game for Tokyo in the 2022 season of the J1 League. It is the second match in a series of three games in a row within three days against three clubs participating in the AFC Champions League (ACL). After suffering a narrow defeat by one goal in the previous match against Yokohama F.Marinos, Tokyo aims to show its growth as a team and secure three points at home at Ajinomoto Stadium.
In this match, Kuryu MATSUKI was suspended, and Keigo HIGASHI was used as an inside half. Up front, Kensuke NAGAI was used as a starter for the first time since the opening match of the league. In the defense line, Ryoma WATANABE played as the right side back, and Yuto NAGATOMO played as the left side back.
The opponent Vissel Kobe has Andres INIESTA starting in the lineup, and Kento HASHIMOTO is included as a substitute member.
From the start, Tokyo, who maintained possession of the ball, was pressured in front of the goal as the space behind the side backs was targeted. In the 5th minute of the first half, they penetrated deep into the right side and delivered a cross, which was met by Yuya OSAKO's header, but it went wide to the left of the goal. While unable to maintain possession, they were again pressured in front of the goal from the right side in the 12th minute, where Jakub SLOWIK made a big save in a one-on-one situation. However, the ball spilled in front of the goal and was pushed in by Hotaru YAMAGUCHI, allowing the first goal to be conceded.
Tokyo, chasing a goal, gradually began to hold the ball and press the opponent immediately after conceding. In the 27th minute of the first half, they moved the ball wide, and Watanabe passed it to Shuto ABE, who positioned himself near the right side of the penalty area. When ABE delivered a cross with his left foot, Higashi controlled the ball with one touch on the far side, and Nagai, entering the penalty area, struck with his left foot, but the shot went over the goal. Immediately after, in the 28th minute of the first half, by applying high pressure to force a mistake from the opponent, Higashi played a through pass behind Kobe’s defensive line as they tried to launch an attack. Diego OLIVEIRA, rushing into the space, took a carefully aimed shot while watching the opposing goalkeeper’s position, but this too narrowly missed to the left of the goal. There was another big chance in the 40th minute of the first half. Kimoto delivered a sharp mid-range pass to the right side. Watanabe sent in an early cross at a quick timing, and Nagai connected, but was stopped by the opposing goalkeeper’s defense.
Tokyo, increasing their offensive pressure from the start of the second half, saw Nagai break into the right space inside the penalty area in the 6th minute, delivering a backward pass along the goal line. Watanabe, who rushed in at the near post, connected with the ball in front of the opposing defender, but the shot went just to the right of the goal. Continuing to create chances from the right side, in the 10th minute, Watanabe made a pass that slipped through the legs of his marker, sending Nagai running into space. Once Nagai broke free and drew the defender towards the near post, he delivered a high pass to the far side, which Adailton, who was lurking in front of the goal, headed in to equalize.
Tokyo's momentum is unstoppable. In the 12th minute of the second half, Watanabe, who had the ball on the left side, dribbled past Andres INIESTA and made a pass to the near side in front of the goal. Nagai, who ran in, flicked it with his heel, and then Adailton connected it to Diego TABA, who received the ball in front of the goal. Masato MORISHIGE then struck the ball powerfully, shaking the net and successfully turning the game around.
In the 21st minute of the second half, Nagatomo received a wedge pass just outside the penalty area and flicked the ball towards the goal. The ball spilled in front of Diego TABA after the opposing defender failed to clear it. The opposing goalkeeper also advanced to close the distance, but Diego calmly slotted the ball into the left corner of the goal, allowing Tokyo to pull ahead of Kobe.
In the final stages of the match, Keita YAMASHITA, who was brought on as a substitute, was involved in several chances in quick succession. In the 44th minute, he broke free in front of the goal and struck with his left foot from a position diagonally to the left of the goal, but the shot narrowly missed to the right. Just before the end of the match, Hirotaka MITA connected with a diving header to a cross from the left, which seemed to be a goal, but it was disallowed due to a handball decision supported by VAR. Nevertheless, the team maintained their offensive momentum from the start of the second half until the final whistle, leaving a strong impact of attacking football at Ajinomoto Stadium in that 45 minutes.
Albert's journey in Tokyo has just begun. With a three-day gap, he is preparing for the final match against Urawa Reds, a club participating in the ACL. On April 10th, he aims to leave an even greater impact of attacking football at Ajinomoto Stadium than today, and will continue to grow little by little in training starting tomorrow.
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q, please review the game.
A, we couldn't start the match well and struggled during the 10 to 15 minute period. Then, we conceded a goal due to our mistake. After that, I think we managed to get into the game well. We created several clear chances in the first half, so it would have been good if we could have converted one of those into a goal, but it didn't go that smoothly.
I believe what decided the match was maintaining a fast tempo. Because of that, I think we were able to control the game overall. In the second half, our pressing from the front was effective overall, and I think we maintained a good balance between keeping possession and actively moving towards the goal. Also, I am pleased that we created many decisive chances in the second half and were able to score multiple goals from them, and I am happy that the team has continued to grow.
Q: The right side was particularly effective in the second half, and it seemed like you were allowing Nagai to take width. Please evaluate the right side.
A, I believe it is true that our right side was functioning well. However, what is interesting is that on the same side, from the opponent's left side, they were also making good attacks. On the same side, our right side and their left side, there was good offense and defense. They created goals from there, and we also created multiple decisive chances. It is an interesting point that many chances for both teams were born on that side. Regarding the second half, I think we were able to attack well not only from the right side but also from the left side.
Q: You are particular about player positioning in your football style. How do you feel about the current players' positioning?
A, overall, good positioning was achieved, and attacks from the sides were possible, but I think attacks from the center were still lacking. Even though good positioning was maintained, it will take a little more time to build attacks from the center. Naturally, this is an area that must continue to improve throughout the season. However, side attacks have been established. As I always say, I want to enhance the team's completeness as we play more matches.
Q: In the last match, you mentioned that there were points on the wings rather than the tempo of the play. How was it in this match?
A, I think there were two key points regarding today. The first was which team could better express their own playing style. The second was how well we could maintain a fast playing tempo. I believed that would lead to victory. Kobe is strong in attacking through the center. On the other hand, we are better at attacking from the sides rather than the center. In that flow, at the start of the match, we struggled to respond to their build-up of attacks through the center. After that, we found our rhythm and were able to build effective side attacks. Today, intensity and playing strength were more important than playing speed. I think the key to victory was maintaining a high level of playing intensity in the second half as well. Not only in today's match but also in practice, we have been able to play with high intensity, and our physical condition has been well maintained, which I believe led to the victory.
[Player Interview]]
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q, please review the scoring scene.
A, since it was a set play, I took a position where I could strike the ball if it spilled, and when the ball came, I was able to finish it well.
Q, is it more accurate to say that the ball came to you because you were in that position, rather than you called the ball to you?
A, since there was no one in that position, I made sure not to allow a counterattack and took a position where I could collect any loose balls.
Q: After conceding the first goal, it seemed that Kobe didn't attack much. Was there a difficulty for the team during the periods before and after conceding the first goal?
A, what we need to do remains unchanged, and since Kobe did not defend from the front line, we had many opportunities to carry the ball into the opponent's territory. I think it would have been better if we had aimed for the goal while moving the ball.
Q: It seems that emotions were expressed during the goal scene, what do you think?
A, you have to put your emotions on the front line in every match, and the players in the back need to energize the team, otherwise the team will sink. I believe I must be in a position to deliver a wake-up call to the team while maintaining stable play.
Q: You have fallen behind in two consecutive matches, but especially today, it felt like you steadily turned the game around. How do you feel about the overall game management throughout the 90 minutes?
A, there are still many areas that need improvement, and since Kobe is a team that doesn't apply much pressure from the front line, I think it would have been better if we could have moved the ball more quickly. I also want to continue discussing with everyone to make things better.
Q: After the match against Hiroshima on March 12, there was talk about still having more to achieve. Has today's performance shown a slight improvement in that regard?
A, I believe we are making progress, but the accuracy of conceding goals and ball circulation was not satisfactory during the match, so both individually and as a team, we want to continue to grow.
Q: It seems that the team has had a poor start in the matches so far. From your perspective at the back, what do you think is the cause?
A: Until now, FC Tokyo has been playing a style of football that starts with defense to gain rhythm, but this season we are challenging ourselves to create rhythm by connecting the ball. Throughout the matches, I feel we are a bit stiff, but I believe that by continuing to challenge ourselves to circulate the ball with a sense of tension, we can make further progress.
<Diego OLIVEIRA>
Q: I think there were long periods in the first half where we were on the back foot with the ball. What are your thoughts on that?
A, we knew that Kobe was originally a high-quality team, so it was somewhat within our expectations that they started the match with a good rhythm and a strong entrance. In the second half, on the other hand, we were able to demonstrate our own quality and maintain possession of the ball, which I believe was the key factor in our improvement and showed that we were able to learn from the first half's reflections.
Q: I think there was a period when the ball didn't come to the front line. What kind of preparations were you making?
A, rather than the difficulty of not being able to receive the ball upfront, I felt the difficulty of the opponent pulling back and solidifying their defensive block. Since we missed the scoring opportunity that came in the first half, I was playing while thinking about scoring as soon as possible as a team and turning the game around. In that context, I think it was good to be able to score in a more difficult situation than in the first half.
Q: There were many situations where we were able to break through with one or two touches.
In the second half, we were able to express the attacking patterns and rhythm that we usually practice, and because the opposing team couldn't keep up, our rhythm surpassed theirs and we were able to score. This gave the team some leeway, and I think it was good that we could control the game at our own pace.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A, many fans and supporters came to the stadium for today's match and gave us great support. To secure 3 points and conclude the three-match series with a win in the next match against Urawa, it is important to recover well and prepare thoroughly. We hope many people will come to Ajinomoto Stadium for the next Urawa match to cheer on the team and share the victory together with all the fans and supporters.
<Adailton>
Q, please review the game.
A, the opponent is a high-quality team, so I thought it would be a difficult match from the start. In that situation, I believed that if we could bring out our own rhythm and style, we could create chances, so I am happy that we were able to score many goals and win.
Q: What adjustments did you make in the second half?
A, the first thing we corrected was intensity. It’s not that we couldn’t do it in the first half, but since we couldn’t surpass the opponent, we decided to raise the intensity once again in the second half, and I think we were able to recover.
Q, you were able to attack effectively while utilizing the sides, weren't you?
Rather than being able to attack from our own side, I think the fact that we were able to attack with a good balance from both sides led to the goals in the second half.
Q: After switching from the defeat in the last match, we can welcome the final game of the three consecutive matches against Urawa in a good way, right?
A, of course, the next match is also expected to be difficult, but since we can play at our home, Ajinomoto Stadium, we want to maintain high concentration while playing and aim to secure 3 points.
<Kensuke NAGAI>
Q, please review the scene of the first cross.
A, when I tried to raise it at the first timing, the opponent did not come close, so there was a gap and I was able to firmly confirm the position inside. I could also see Ada (Adailton)'s position, so I'm glad I was able to coordinate well.
Q: The next goal was skillfully left by Nagai to Adailton with a heel pass.
A, I clearly saw it. When I received the ball, I thought I couldn't shoot myself, so before receiving it, I checked Ada's position and chose to pass the ball to him.
Q: Both of those two points started with Watanabe's pass. In the first half, there were moments when the passes didn't connect, and the two of you were exchanging plays, but as time went on, it seemed like you started to sync up.
A, at first, even Ryoma WATANABE couldn't quite get the timing to come out, so I told him, "If you pass it to me, I'll catch up, so trust me and pass it," and he started passing it to me, which really helped me a lot. From there, I was able to create several chances, and as a result, it led to calmly connecting for the first goal.
Q: What were the factors that allowed for a successful comeback?
A, there were chances from the first half, and we talked as a team that if we could score one goal by halftime, the team could gain momentum. So, while pursuing what the coach expects, the players are also confident in their play, and I believe that ultimately led to scoring three goals in the second half.
Q: Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA says it is a season of building, but what do you think is the reason for achieving results during this time?
A, the coach himself always emphasizes the importance of having a winner's mentality during daily practice and before matches. Although it takes time, he constantly says that we should build it up by winning, so I believe the reason we are winning lies in that aspect.
Q: I think it's also important not to have consecutive losses. What do you think?
A, if we keep losing, it will be difficult to secure a spot in the ACL zone or win the title, so we were conscious of that, and since it was a home game, we talked about being more aggressive. For myself, I had two or three chances, so next time I want to score a goal and lead the team to victory.
<Keigo HIGASHI>
Q: I think the team's momentum and flow changed after scoring the first goal.
A, we had chances in the first half as well, and scoring goals is a good boost for the team, so being able to score consecutively in a good atmosphere at home really showed the Tokyo spirit, I think.
Q: I think we were able to win the ball with our coordinated defense from the second half.
A, in the second half, the opponent's activity level dropped, and since intensity is one of Tokyo's strengths, it worked well in the second half and that was good.
Q: In the first half, you struggled to convert chances, but in the second half, you were able to turn those chances into goals. What changed?
A, we have been able to create many chances, so I think that is a very good thing. If we had been able to finish when we had the opportunity in the first half, the game would have been easier. Since we are still in the growth phase, we want to keep creating many chances as a team, score goals, and secure the win.
Q, how is the penetration of the new soccer style?
A, I still think there is room for improvement. We won today, but I want to work harder on the content aspect starting from practice.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A, it is good that we did not have consecutive losses, but what is important is to have consecutive wins. Urawa is a very good team, and since the match is in three days, we want to prepare well. Personally, if I get to play in the match, I want to make an impression.
