<Match Preview>
In the first match of the group stage of the Levain Cup, we lost 0-1 to Cerezo Osaka. Although it was a disappointing start, many young players, including Ryunosuke SATO from FC Tokyo U-18, had the opportunity to play on the pitch. The 16-year-old SATO reflected positively after the match, saying, "The 60 minutes I played were the most intense of my life. I want to carry this forward to the next match."
In the second match, we welcome Kyoto Sanga F.C. at home. True to the team led by coach CHO Kwi Jae, the foundation is a style of soccer that values high pressing and strength in duels. Adding to that are the heights of Kosuke KINOSHITA and PATRIC, and after defeating Tokyo in Sec. 3 of the league, they gained momentum with three consecutive wins. For Tokyo, this is naturally an opportunity to avenge that defeat.
Kuryu MATSUKI and Naoki KUMATA, who participated in the U-20 Asian Cup as members of the Japan national team, have returned to the team. There are high expectations for KUMATA, who became the top scorer of the U-20 Asian Cup with 5 goals, as he makes his official match debut after turning professional. As Matsuki said, "If we can lead the younger players, the team will naturally become stronger," the performance of young players will surely contribute to the overall improvement of the team. To build momentum for the consecutive matches starting in April, the players will aim to secure victory with dynamic football.
The matchday program is here
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q: There is a week until the next league match, and I think we have some time to spare, but what kind of lineup will we have tomorrow?
I think not only players with limited playing opportunities but also several players who are participating in the league matches will be included. I want to give some of them a rest. Other players have had a week to prepare, so I think some will play. I want to continue giving young players chances, and I intend to keep doing so this time as well. Whether they start or come on as substitutes, I am not sure, but I want to give young players opportunities.
Q: You mentioned that players who participated in the league matches will also be used. Do you think it is better for them to play considering their condition?
A, there are parts like that and parts that are not. What you need to keep in mind is that there will be a congested schedule continuing in April. This season, there is a period of a congested schedule, but there are also times when the number of matches is very few, resulting in an irregular schedule. There are weeks without matches even in the summer. Since April has a congested schedule, we considered that when selecting this week's members.
Q: What is needed to advance from the group stage?
Regarding the first match against Cerezo Osaka, I don't think the loss was a result of deserving play. At the very least, the content of the game warranted a draw. In every match, we always aim to win. However, if we only focus on the match results, when will we be able to give opportunities to young players? To judge how much young players can grow and what they are capable of, it is necessary to let them play in official matches. As I have mentioned before, I hope the Levain Cup will establish rules that require more use of young players, making it a cup competition where young players can truly shine.
Q: It is said that there is no difference between the world and Japan until the age of 18, but is the gap that opens up three years later due to the difference in experience in official matches?
A, there are various stages of growth. I believe it is most important to allow children to play more freely until the age of 12. In that regard, I think Japan is functioning well. The junior youth generation in Japan needs to spend three years learning tactics at the academy. I also believe Japan is moving in a good direction in that aspect.
What remains as a challenge is the youth generation, which is the stage before becoming a professional. To cultivate high-level professional players, the youth, or what is referred to as the university age in Japan, is crucial. The generation from 19 to 22 years old gains experience and grows through competition. For example, how much has Matsuki grown in just one year last season? I believe he has grown tremendously. This is because he had to focus on competition and was able to participate in official matches. If he hadn't been given the opportunity, he wouldn't have grown. On the other hand, in other countries, that generation is gaining experience in high-level official matches and growing. I think Japan has room for improvement in that regard. Unless we improve that aspect, I believe it will be difficult to aim for higher levels.
To aim for a higher level, it is important to accumulate challenging match experiences in the generation around the age of 20. While I believe that sometimes wonderful players like Mitoma will emerge, I think fundamental reforms are necessary for such outstanding players to appear consistently.
It is said that central players are important in soccer. I believe that positions such as goalkeeper, center-back, defensive midfielder, and center-forward are still not at a high level in Japan. The reason for the thin player pool in Japan is that, for example, how many professional soccer club coaches would consider using a young center-forward? I think there are also few coaches who would use an 18-year-old goalkeeper in league matches. The same goes for 17-year-old center-backs. The difficulty in making the decision to use young players in central positions is the same in any country. However, in Japan, because young players are not being utilized in that zone, it has created a vicious cycle where they do not develop well.
Q: Is there a possibility that young players who have not had the opportunity to play so far will participate tomorrow?
A, we are considering giving opportunities tomorrow. However, opportunities are not given as gifts; they must be earned. I have no concerns about using young players at all. But when it comes to giving chances to any young player, they must prove they have a high level of skill and possess a strong, motivated mentality to be given an opportunity. We are fully prepared to support young players to grow moving forward. However, whether they can seize the opportunity depends on themselves.
Q, Kashif BANGNAGANDE has been selected for the Japan national team.
A, I continue to expect growth from Yoshifu. The level required as a Japan national team player is very high. I think Takefusa KUBO, who is a classmate, has reached a wonderful level. My wish is for Yoshifu, Hotaka NAKAMURA, Kuryu MATSUKI, Takefusa KUBO, Naoki KUMATA, and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA to be named members of the Japan national team.
[Player Interview]
＜PEROTTI＞
Q: There was hardly any playing time in the Nagoya match, but did you feel any regret?
A, I always have the desire to participate in matches. However, there are match developments and the coach's strategies, so I understand that. Rather than feeling frustrated, I think it can't be helped. The Japanese soccer style is different from the style I have played so far. I have only recently come to Japan, and I haven't played much in matches yet. Of course, I need to adapt, so from now on, I want to play better and contribute to the team's victory.
Q: I believe you are always included in the substitute members for practice matches and league games. Do you think it's because you just joined and there are no issues yet, or do you feel that you need to score even in a short amount of time to secure a starting position? What are your thoughts on this?
A, regardless of how many minutes I play, I am preparing to score goals. Whether it's 5 minutes or 90 minutes, I believe my role is to give my best during the time I am on the field. As a forward, I always want to score every time. However, goals are not easy to come by, and I think they are not something you can get easily. Although I haven't scored yet, there may be matches where I score 2 or 3 goals. I think this depends on the flow of the game.
Q: When a good shot is made during practice, the fans are also excited, but how is your own performance and condition?
A, I always think that what we practice will lead to goals and results in the match. I want to do good practice and prepare for the game. Of course, after finishing today's practice, I plan to do even better practice tomorrow than today. I have the desire to score goals, but even if no goals are made, I hope to contribute to the team in other ways.
Q: I often see players not only from Brazil but also interacting with Japanese players, and I can feel their attitude of trying to blend into the team.
A, I hardly understand Japanese, but since coming to Japan, my teammates and staff have warmly and kindly accepted me. I am truly grateful. On the pitch, everyone comes to me and cares about me. Since my time at Chapecoense, I have had the desire to help others and a feeling of respect for people. I have always communicated with various people.
Q: Have you found any enjoyment since coming to Japan?
A, I have always had the hope of playing in Japan. Within that, I was able to achieve my dreams and goals. I thought there would be difficulties coming to Japan, but the people here, including the city itself, are truly wonderful—more than I had imagined. My wife is also enjoying life in Tokyo. I want to start from here and achieve my goals.
Q: Why did you want to come to Japan?
A, I interacted with players who played in Japan in 2017. Those players said that Japan is a very good country, including its culture, customs, and football. I also had a strong desire to go to such a country.
Q: What surprised you in Japan?
A, there are two things. The first is that I find the small children in Japan, around elementary school age, very cute. Also, I was very surprised to see elementary school children around 7 years old going to school alone, not with their parents. The second is the Shibuya scramble crossing. In my town, there aren't that many people. I was amazed by how crowded it was.
Q: Which Brazilian city is close to Tokyo?
A, if we talk about a large metropolis, it would be São Paulo. However, it is not comparable to Tokyo at all.
<Taishi Brandon NOZAWA>
Q: After experiencing a loan transfer to Iwate Grulla Morioka for a year and a half starting midway through the 2021 season, please share your feelings about returning to Tokyo this season.
The league matches have started, and one Levain Cup match has already been played. Last season, I watched Tokyo as a player from another team. Now, I am personally very happy and excited to be fighting as a member of Tokyo. Of course, I am not playing in the matches yet, but as a team, we are committed to winning every game and practicing daily. I feel that I am spending very fulfilling days.
Q: What changes do you feel in Tokyo compared to before your transfer?
Before transferring, Kenta HASEGAWA was the manager. Since last season, Albert PUIG ORTONEDA became the manager, and I think there have been significant changes. What we are working on now is a style I have never experienced before. In Iwate, we played matches with a style different from the football Tokyo is aiming for now. Returning to Tokyo, even the goalkeeper actively participates in the attack, and during defense, we focus on how to maintain concentration and prevent the few critical chances. There are many elements I have never experienced before. Adapting is a challenging task, but I find it rewarding.
Q: Are you good at a playing style that requires goalkeepers to have good foot skills?
A, I am not particularly skilled at it, but that does not mean I lack confidence. After all, the most important thing as a goalkeeper is to protect the goal. This is where the greatest responsibility lies, so I coordinate closely with the coach and the goalkeeper, but the most important factor is to avoid risks and eliminate mistakes. I don't think it is necessary to be exceptionally good with footwork to achieve this. I believe there is no problem as long as you can do the basic things properly and naturally.
Q, please review the game. I have continuously stood on the pitch as the starting GK for Iwate Grulla Morioka and have also experienced promotion from J3 to J2. Please reflect on the past year and a half.
A、I believe I have learned the responsibility of participating in matches. Of course, the team has several goalkeepers, and only one can play in a match. I have been thinking about representing all those who support Iwate Grulla Morioka, including the sponsors that sustain the team, the staff, fans and supporters, and the local community.
Although I was allowed to participate in the match, I felt that my behavior was not suitable for a player on the field. Therefore, I learned that I really need to do more, to have more confidence and courage, and to take responsibility to stand on the pitch to help the team win. That was the most significant thing for me.
I have returned to Tokyo, and while I still need to grow technically, I have also gained confidence from learning about responsibility. I feel that I have much more composure on the pitch compared to before my transfer to Iwate, and I can make decisions more calmly. In that sense, I am truly grateful for the year and a half I spent in Iwate.
Q: This season, I started in the Levain Cup match against Cerezo Osaka. Although we lost 0-1 due to a late goal, I believe I felt both a sense of achievement and identified areas for improvement. How do you reflect on your performance?
A, just remembering it brings up feelings of frustration and anger. For me, it was very important how I expressed myself in the few opportunities I had to play, but I feel anger that it ended with such a result.
If you truly demand strictness from yourself, you must feel that you need to win even in matches like that. Looking at it calmly and from a distance, I think we were performing well until around the 86th minute. Of course, there were mistakes, and there were things we could improve as a team, but up until that point, we were pushing the opponent back and applying pressure, which left me with the impression that I was able to play calmly without panicking. Therefore, I am not too pessimistic and have switched my mindset to 'next time.'
Q: Not only Kashif BANGNAGANDE, who has been selected for the national team, but also young players like Kuryu MATSUKI, Naoki KUMATA, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA in his first year as a professional, and Yuta ARAI are gaining attention in Tokyo. How do you feel about the situation where young players are becoming a topic of discussion?
A, certainly Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is a coach who greatly respects young players and lets them play. Tokyo has many great players, and these veterans practice together with the young players every day. In that sense, I believe the veteran and experienced players play a key role in effectively supporting and uplifting the younger players. Of course, it is also true that each young player has high ability. It is encouraging for the team to have a promising future, but young players must understand that if they want to improve their own evaluation, it is difficult unless the team's evaluation also improves.
Therefore, rather than thinking that it's because I'm young, I believe that I need to consider what I can do for the team to win, and think backwards from there. This is not just about being young; experienced players also think about what they can do for the team to win on a regular basis, so I want to make sure that I don't create any discrepancies in that regard.
Q: Isn't it a happy thing for Nozawa to see players from the academy succeed?
A, that's right. It's something that makes both the team and the fans/supporters happy.
Q: Since there is only one position for a goalkeeper on the team, I think it is difficult to get opportunities and make an appeal. What are your goals for this season, and what do you plan to showcase?
A. As something I remind myself of daily, it is of course important that each and every goalkeeping skill is solid and excellent. However, more than anything, it is crucial to be a player who helps the team win and provides a sense of security. Every day, I think about what I can do to achieve that. I believe it is not something I can accomplish alone, so I rely on various people. This includes my teammates as well as listening to various advice from the goalkeeping coach. Since there are many amazing players, I am very curious about how they think. I want to spend each day valuing it and not wasting a single moment.
Of course, I'm not currently the first choice to play in matches, but I am thinking about what is important now to become a goalkeeper who will lead Tokyo to victory on the pitch someday. While I seem to be looking ahead, I always put positive pressure on myself, thinking that it would be best if I could do that now. This season, I want to express my fighting spirit until the very end.
Q: Finally, please share your enthusiasm for the Levain Cup match against Kyoto with the supporters.
A, of course it is not a league match, but each one of us on the team is hungry for titles. We want to take what we can get, and I personally feel that way. I want to inspire that feeling and stand on the pitch with confidence. I really want this weekend to be one where the team secures 3 points and gains momentum for the next league match. I am looking forward to standing on the pitch at Ajinomoto.
