The 2022 season is finally down to the last match. How far has the new playing style been integrated and developed? And what kind of growth do we envision for the future of Tokyo? With sports writer Atsushi Iio as the interviewer, we asked Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA to summarize this season.
Q: The first season of adventure in Tokyo is coming to an end. Currently, we are in 6th place in the league before the final match. What kind of feedback or feeling are you getting?
A major theme was to revive the team, and my job was to instill a clearly different style from before. I believed that changes needed to be made with as little struggle as possible. This is because if drastic changes were demanded from the start of the season and points were not earned, the players could become nervous. Therefore, I aimed for gradual changes. Thanks to the players' high abilities and dedicated efforts, and the warm support from fans and supporters who understood that this process was not easy, I believe we were able to implement changes more smoothly than expected.
Q, while achieving a season double against top teams like Kashima Antlers, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Cerezo Osaka, showing strength and competitiveness, there were also unstable moments, such as losses to lower-ranked teams like Shonan Bellmare and Vissel Kobe.
It is true that we were able to fight proudly in the matches against Kashima, Hiroshima, and C Osaka. However, I believe we should not take a simplistic view that we played well against top teams but struggled against lower-ranked teams. Kobe recently achieved five consecutive wins. Shonan achieved a season double against Kawasaki Frontale. Focusing on specific parts can make you miss other aspects. For example, Sagan Tosu's club size is by no means large, but they have shown excellent performance this season, haven't they? The league leaders Yokohama F.Marinos suffered consecutive defeats against Gamba Osaka and Júbilo Iwata, who are fighting to avoid relegation. The J1 League is an exceptionally competitive league worldwide. Since we are a developing team, it is natural to have some instability. Even so, looking at the season as a whole, I think we have grown steadily and been able to compete consistently.
Q, indeed, we only suffered two consecutive losses twice.
A, as I mentioned before, I am a realist. I am the type who keeps moving forward aiming for what can realistically be achieved. When I previously led Albirex Niigata, there were many pessimists, so I had to be an optimist. However, here, idealists appear who say things like "We might be able to win the AFC Champions League" just after winning a few matches (laughs). Maybe the personalities differ between people from regional cities and those from the capital. But, I repeat, I am a realist. This club has not yet reached a position where it can win many titles. That is why I believe we should focus on steady effort and building a solid foundation. I am calling for "let's travel together," but first, we must know where we are and where we want to go. Our management scale is by no means at the top in J1, and our highest league position in the past has been 2nd place. Understanding that reality will clarify where we need to aim and fight.
Q: Considering that it is a competitive league and that you tried to change your style, after the heavy defeats against Avispa Fukuoka (Sec. 11 on May 3) and Tosu (Sec. 18 on June 26), there was a risk of continuing to decline. What do you think were the factors that allowed you to hold your ground and move forward again?
<div>A. I believe the players' unity was significant. The attitude of the leaders who took on the role of organizers was remarkable. Experienced players like Morige (Masato MORISHIGE), (Yuto) NAGATOMO, and (Keigo) HIGASHI not only brought the team together but also adapted to the new style and delivered great performances. Although he is no longer with us, we must also appreciate the leadership of (Yojiro) Takahagi. When the team faced difficult situations, their encouragement and positive support were crucial. The dedication of the foreign players to the team is also noteworthy. The growth of the younger players was a tailwind for us. (Kuryu) MATSUKI joined the team at 18 years old and has grown into a key player. The presence of the three players acquired in the summer (Luiz PHELLYPE, Koki TSUKAGAWA, Seiji KIMURA) was also significant. I believe the combination of all these factors is why we avoided being caught in a relegation battle.
Q: Before the season started, I couldn't imagine that young players Kuryu MATSUKI and Kashif BANGNAGANDE, along with the more experienced Ryoma WATANABE, would perform this well.
A, it's not just them. Hotaka NAKAMURA has also achieved remarkable growth. Shuto ABE and Kazuya KONNO have both improved significantly. Seiji KIMURA is also growing a lot. I believe the young players in their growth phase and the experienced veterans have blended well and led the team in a positive direction.
Q: I think it was also significant that Tsukakawa, who was acquired during the season, fit smoothly into the team. After his acquisition, I remember it being mentioned that "Tsukakawa's playing style has changed from before."
A, when he was leading Niigata, I watched his play in Matsumoto. After that, Tsukagawa spent a year and a half at Kawasaki, where his playing style clearly changed, transforming into a player that fits our team. It is common for a team's style to help players grow. The players who played under me in Niigata also changed their preferred playing styles. For example, Akito FUKUTA, who is now playing at Tosu. By mastering a style that values ball possession in Niigata, he now contributes not only defensively but also offensively. I believe the same thing is happening in Tokyo. I heard that Yuto was viewed with skepticism last season. However, this season, I don't think anyone criticizes his performance. Moreover, he is playing not on his familiar left side but on the right side. Furthermore, although he is a side back, he plays like a midfielder in the center of the pitch. He proves that growth is encouraged by the attitude toward effort, regardless of age. Keigo is the same, right? After all, soccer players grow together with the soccer ball. I believe there is no other way. And the soccer ball cooperates with players who strongly desire to grow.
Q, that's a nice phrase. Now, please tell me about the phases. Starting from the first half matches against Shimizu S-Pulse (May 25, Sec. 15) and Kashima (May 29, Sec. 16), the team has now entered a phase where they are "holding the ball and moving towards the goal." Is the timing of this phase transition according to plan?
Thanks to the high quality of the players and their efforts, we have been able to move to the next phase faster than I expected. However, that does not mean we can win every match or definitely secure the title next season. What is important is to build a solid foundation, and that foundation building is progressing well now.
Q: Can we say that a solid foundation has been built over the past year?
A, the base I am referring to is whether our players understand what our style is like. For example, in cooking, it is important to understand what ingredients to use and how to prepare them. That is the base. Regarding that, we have built it. However, in cooking, if the quality of the ingredients improves, the quality of the dish also upgrades. Similarly, if the quality of the players in a soccer team improves, the quality of the play they can express also rises. That is why both Manchester City and Liverpool always try to acquire better players.
Q: Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA often talks about "why it is important to maintain possession of the ball" and it seems that the players' understanding has deepened.
A, that's right. I have talked many times to help them understand, and showed videos to deepen their understanding. However, no matter how much I explain the style of football we aim for in words and they understand it, if we cannot accumulate points, everyone will feel anxious and start to doubt. In that sense, being able to accumulate points while progressing through the process this season is a positive aspect heading into the second year.
Q: What phase will the team enter in the future?
Phase A is "dominating the game in a more perfect way." However, I do not envision dominating the game with an extremely high ball possession rate. It is not just about keeping the ball. I want to aim to control the game by maintaining possession in an appropriate way and winning the match. Continuously playing with the ball to boost the players' confidence—that is what I believe leads to growth and game control. But before that, we must first have the new players understand our style and adapt to the team. On the other hand, what I absolutely will not do is adopt a typically Japanese style.
Q: What do you mean by a Japanese-style?
A, "We aim to win the championship" and "We will achieve the treble," making bold claims (laughs).
Q, I see, is that so? (wry smile).
A. What I firmly believe without doubt is that clear ideas and daily accumulated efforts lead to success. I do not guarantee results. For me, success is not about what I am doing now, but what I leave behind. This season, Niigata achieved victory in the J2 League and secured their return to the J1 League. President Yukio Nakano, Strengthening Director Yoshito Terakawa, and Manager Rikizo MATSUHASHI have all achieved success. After I left, it was they who brought continuity to the team. Thanks to their continued efforts, my conviction that appropriate ideas and sustained effort lead to success has grown stronger. I want to accomplish the same thing in Tokyo. Niigata's next goal will be to become a team that can stay in the J1 League for a long time. Meanwhile, Tokyo aims to consistently rank among the top 3 to 4 teams every year and always be involved in the championship race. I am currently challenging myself to build that foundation. Efforts on the ground alone are not enough. We must acquire high-quality players every year and gradually expand the scale of management. We also need to gradually increase the number of fans and supporters filling the stadium. It is important for everyone to cooperate and make efforts to move in the same direction.
Q: This weekend, the Tamagawa Classico against Kawasaki will finally be the last game of the season. Since we also faced Kawasaki in the opening match, it will be a game to confirm our growth this season.
A, I am looking forward to a wonderful match. I hope both teams will play offensively and it will be an exciting game to watch. And since it is the final home game, it would be great if we could bring great joy to the fans and supporters. However, I don't think we should evaluate the team's growth by comparing the opening game and this match. This is because the performance and result of a match are influenced by various factors. It could be our mistake or Kawasaki's mistake. Many factors affect the flow and content of the game. Therefore, I want everyone to enjoy this last game of the season separately from the opening match.
Text by Atsushi Iio (Sports Writer)
