<Match Review>
The J1 League, which had a three-week interval due to the national team activities, is finally resuming. This match marks the halfway point of the season, with a total of 34 matches to be played in the year. We faced Shonan Bellmare away. We have already played against Shonan twice this season in the Levain Cup, with one win and one loss, resulting in an even record. However, unlike the Levain Cup, where young players were actively utilized, we will compete in the league with our best lineup. Most of the injured players have returned, and except for Kuryu MATSUKI, who is participating in the U-21 Japan national team overseas expedition, we approached this match with nearly our best squad.
The Tokyo squad composition is based on the previous match against Kashima Antlers before the break. Yuto NAGATOMO, who just returned from national team duty, took a rest, and Hotaka NAKAMURA stepped in as the right back. In the absence of Matsuki in the inside midfield, Ryoma WATANABE and Shuto ABE were lined up. Enrique Trevisan, who returned from injury, and Leandro also made the bench. Although there are some effects from national team activities, Coach Alber chose today's eleven as the best option at the moment.
After kickoff, under difficult conditions with rain intensifying as the match progressed, both teams disrupted ball possession by pressing from the front line and coordinated sliding toward the ball side in midfield. In the early stages, Tokyo used a mix of short passes and mid-range passes to push Shonan back and approach the goal, but they could not get a shot on target. Conversely, in the 12th minute of the first half, players were drawn into the penalty area, allowing a free mid-range shot from a backward pass. In the 14th minute, Shonan threatened the goal again with a close-range shot following a midfield ball loss. Then, in the 26th minute, after Tokyo became ball watchers while appealing for a handball, a lobbed pass behind the defensive line was played, and Masaki IKEDA scored a looping shot over Jakub SLOWIK’s head to take the lead. As Shonan decisively filled the space in their own half, Tokyo struggled to find attacking opportunities. Even with the speed of Kensuke NAGAI and Adailton, the lack of space behind made it difficult. While moving the ball and searching for openings, Tokyo repeatedly suffered counterattacks from mistakes and were pushed back, ending the first half in that pattern.
Tokyo, eager to counterattack, in the 5th minute of the second half, Nagai received a side change pass from Ryoya OGAWA and launched an attack, crossing the ball in front of the goal, where Adailton came flying in with a header. Although the shot missed the target, after struggling to break through the narrow area in the first half, they created a chance with a simple attack from a wide play. However, after that, they struggled to bring the ball into shooting positions, and in the 14th minute of the second half, they made three substitutions at once. Kashif BANGNAGANDE came on for Nakamura, Keigo AZUMA replaced Takuya AOKI, and Leandro replaced Nagai. Immediately after, the substitutes got involved with the ball and created scenes approaching the opponent’s goal, showing signs of change. On the right side, Leandro held the ball high and challenged, while on the left side, Kashif BANGNAGANDE did the same, delivering sharp balls in front of the goal. However, before regaining control, they conceded from a corner kick in the 25th minute of the second half, extending the deficit.
Tokyo continued their counterattack without losing momentum. In the 31st minute of the second half, Adailton broke free from a long feed and approached the Shonan goal, but his shot was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper's excellent save. In the 39th minute of the second half, Kazuya KONNO, who came on as a substitute, delivered an early cross into the goal area, and once again Adailton dove in to take a header, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. Tokyo attacked while changing sides significantly. In the 41st minute of the second half, Yasuki KIMOTO received the ball deep on the left side and sent a pinpoint fast ball to Diego OLIVEIRA, who had made a run into the center of the goal. Diego made a one-touch attempt, but it also went over the goal. In the 45+5th minute of the second half, they created a situation where many players entered the opponent's penalty area starting from the left side, but the ball that Yasuki KIMOTO connected with near the goal could not find the target.
Despite launching a fierce attack towards the end, they were unable to counterattack, resulting in a frustrating defeat in the last match of the first half. They will face V-Varen Nagasaki in the 3rd Round of the Emperor's Cup in three days, and then in another three days, they will head into the first match of the second half of the J1 League against Sagan Tosu.
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q, please review the game.
First, I would like to commend Shonan, today's opponent. Although the match kicked off in the rain, from the start, we had to show an attitude focused on winning, but I think Shonan demonstrated an even stronger determination to win this game than we did.
Throughout the first half, especially in the first 20 minutes, we did not play well. The intensity, particularly in terms of defensive strength, was not at the level we expect. This allowed the opponent to create chances. I believe that conceding a goal at that point significantly affected the flow of the game afterwards.
After that, Shonan solidified their defense. Therefore, they made three substitutions early in the second half, bringing in more attacking players who could play in tighter spaces. I think there was improvement in the second half. However, they conceded an additional goal from a corner kick, making the match even more difficult.
This season, I think the J1 League is a very competitive league. If you are outmatched in intensity even a little, results like today's can happen in this season's J1 League.
There were times when we played well in terms of the quality of soccer. However, I think it was a match where we couldn't properly express one of our characteristics, which is intensity and defensive fierceness.
This season, the team must continue to grow, including in mentality. Our playing style also needs to evolve, and I believe we must change the mentality of the entire club, including not just the players but also our staff, to a winning mentality. To become a club that consistently competes at the top, improving the quality of our football and changing our mentality are both crucial. The second half of the season begins next week, and I want to ensure we develop both of these aspects effectively.
The playing style is gradually improving. I am very satisfied with that aspect. I want to further stabilize the winner's mentality and grow to be able to express a mentality that is committed to winning. If we are satisfied with the current ranking, we cannot aim higher. We must have a winner's mentality that always strives to be at the top. I have conveyed this to the players as well, but including myself, we must turn the criticism inward and reflect on today's match. This season, in order to establish a foundational style and winner's mentality for this club, we must learn from today's match.
Q: There were scenes that seemed to show frustration with the decisions.
A, I have not seen the footage, but regarding the scene where a handball was appealed, the VAR check concluded that it was not a handball. I believe that is the case. I do not think the referee influenced the outcome of today's match. Regarding today's match result, I think we should direct our focus inward. If the opponent is fighting fiercely, we must show an equal or greater fighting spirit.
This is the scene where I received a yellow card. The ball went out, and the assistant referee raised the flag indicating it was out. However, the ball curved and came back inside the pitch. It was by no means an important action.
Q: Does the playing style compatibility with Shonan affect the results?
A, I think soccer is very simple. At the very least, you have to compete with the same level of intensity as your opponent. Regardless of the system or playing style, first and foremost, if the intensity is not equal or higher, you cannot compete. If the same intensity is demonstrated, then we can talk about tactics and strategies related to soccer systems, but today was not such a situation. To achieve success in the future, these two aspects must be developed.
Our team has expressed a winner's mentality so far, but if we talk about expressing it consistently, the situation is still unstable. Sometimes we played with high intensity but ended up losing the match in the final moments. Regarding today's match, I analyze that we lost due to a lack of intensity. The rain may have also had an impact. In any case, I believe we were not able to compete in an appropriate manner today.
[Player Interview]]
＜Ryoya OGAWA＞
Q, please review today's game.
A, We made many mistakes ourselves, so the tempo couldn't pick up, resulting in a game like this, and we couldn't push up the defensive line. We also ended with no goals on the offensive side, so we must take this match as a lesson and apply it to the next game.
Q. What factors contributed to our inability to express our uniqueness?
A, in the part of connecting after taking the ball, the pass was off where it usually wouldn't be, and the ball quickly went back to the opponent, increasing the time spent defending, and we gradually wore ourselves out. I feel that we allowed the opponent to play the way they wanted.
Q: Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has taken office and the first half of the season has ended with today's match. Although we lost today, how do you feel about the progress and results so far?
A, I believe there are definitely areas where we are growing, and although we can't say every match was good, there were some with good content and others, like today, where we still have a long way to go. This season, the coach has said it is a season for building up, so we need to be patient and keep going. While it is very frustrating, we must continue without wavering in what we want to do.
Q, there have been fewer league matches for you at FC Tokyo.
A, I still don't quite feel it yet, but the match at Ajinomoto Stadium is over, and I was able to give a speech in front of everyone. I am determined to take on the challenge overseas. The next match will be my last league game with FC Tokyo, so I want to win it firmly.
Q: What kind of play do you want to show in that final match?
A, Tosu is a very aggressive team, and they are a team with a poor head-to-head record against us. We want to counter their style of play with our own football, increase our ball possession time, and win in a way that satisfies us. If possible, I would like to repay them with goals or assists, but more than that, I want to express the feelings I have built up over seven and a half seasons playing for FC Tokyo by helping the team win.
<Shuto ABE>
Q: I felt that it was difficult to carry the ball to the finish.
A, I think there were many simple mistakes. There were also scenes where we conceded counterattacks after losing the ball. I believe that directly affected the result.
Q: There was a period without matches, but did you feel like the ball wasn't sticking to your feet?
A, the whole team seemed sluggish and I felt we weren't moving much. As preparation for the match, we need to work harder on warming up properly, otherwise our body sharpness won't come out and the game will unfold like this. So next time, I want to be more conscious of this.
Q: The opponent has reportedly been preparing quite a bit since losing in the Levain Cup. Did you feel their enthusiasm and the areas they have improved upon?
A, simply put, I think the opponent had a stronger determination for today's match. We lost in the crucial moments around the ball, and if you can't win there, it reflects in the match result. We lost in a very simple aspect, and the opponent was also stronger mentally.
<Kazuya KONNO>
Q: How did you feel watching the match from the bench?
A, I felt that we struggled to find our own pace from the first half. Even so, I thought the opponent's (work rate) would drop in the second half, so I was thinking about what I could do when I entered the pitch in that situation.
Q: It felt like the momentum changed with the player substitutions, but we were unable to score.
A, I think we were able to create our own flow and had many chances. However, if we don't score goals, it means nothing, so I felt that we need to fine-tune the final part. I want to build on that even a little for the next match.
Q: Today's match marked the halfway point of the league. Please share your enthusiasm for the second half of the season.
A, none of us are satisfied with our current ranking. From here, we want to build up from practice to avoid matches like this and aim to move up higher.
<Kensuke NAGAI>
Q, please review the game. How was it?
A, there were many easy mistakes, and the way we lost the ball was poor. Because of that, I feel the burden on the defense increased significantly. I believe there are many things we need to do and areas to improve from now on.
Q: What specific points do you feel did not go well?
<div>A, throughout the game, we made mistakes just when the momentum was about to shift in our favor, and we couldn't seize the flow, which led to conceding goals. Towards the end of the first half, there were times when we pressed forward, but there were few crosses and shots, and I felt that unless we increase those numbers, we won't be able to score. We want to work on committing more players to those opportunities and eliminating mistakes.
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q, please review the game.
A, we lost possession of the ball many times throughout the match. We wore ourselves out physically.
Q: It was a chasing game, but what was the team focused on in order to turn the game around?
A, it would have been good to push into the opponent's territory, but the ball was taken away before that. As a result, the players in the back had to cover a wider area. I think the mistakes in the build-up were everything today.
Q: What preparations are you making for the next match?
A, I think we have no choice but to improve the accuracy of our play. Since we play soccer aiming for the goal while maintaining possession of the ball, if we lose the ball due to simple mistakes before heading towards the goal, it becomes physically tough. Personally, I think today we ended up strangling ourselves, and that led to the result.
