Albert, Tokyo, betray me more and more!
I was greatly surprised from the opening match. Of course, in a good way.
As we look forward to Albert Pobor's debut in Tokyo, there was a great deal of expectation about "what kind of changes will be brought," but there was also an equal amount of anxiety.
During the announcement of the new structure, it was clearly stated that "the first six months of building the style may involve some struggles." Additionally, whether during the camp in Okinawa or after returning to Tokyo, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA repeatedly mentioned comments indicating that it takes time, such as "we are still in the foundation stage" and "we have only been working on this style for just one month."
Furthermore, in the press conference leading up to the opening match, it was clear that there was a genuine acknowledgment of the high level of completion of Kawasaki Frontale, and it seemed that there were not many expectations.
That premonition was realized almost immediately after the opening match began. From the moment of kickoff, everyone was flustered, and even when trying to build up play, the ball wouldn't move forward. Instead, Kawasaki took advantage of the moments when we lost our balance, repeatedly exploiting the spaces behind our defensive line and putting us in danger. By the 15-minute mark, that premonition had turned into anxiety, and I was starting to feel overwhelmed.
However, the major betrayal began from here. After about 15 minutes, we started to regain some composure, and after the 25th minute, we took control of the flow. The ball began to roll forward at a good tempo.
One of the factors is that Takuya AOKI, who played the anchor position, and the two full-backs, Ryoya OGAWA and Ryoma WATANABE, increased their number of touches on the ball.
During the period from the 15th to the 25th minute when they made a comeback, it felt like Diego OLIVEIRA, Leandro, and Kensuke NAGAI, the three players in the front line, were pushing back strongly with their speed and power. They were moving too quickly vertically for those around them to keep up, but Aoki maintained the overall balance while spreading passes wide. Ogawa and Watanabe, with their excellent game-making ability, skillfully positioned themselves while observing both teammates and opponents, adding sharpness to the buildup.
As a result, the time spent playing in the opponent's territory naturally increases, leading to a more robust attack and pushing Kawasaki back, creating a continuous positive cycle. It can be said that we completely dominated the game during the 45 minutes of the second half. Shuto ABE and Kuryu MATSUKI, playing as inside midfielders, spent most of their time facing the goal of Kawasaki, and the fierce attack they displayed in the final stages was unlike anything seen before.
Match Highlights
Considering that this is still the opening match, the fact that we created many scoring opportunities but couldn't shake the goal net, and that we couldn't even bring home a single point, we will set that aside for now. More importantly, it was clearly conveyed that under Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, FC Tokyo is heading in the right direction, walking the right path, and trying to change in this first 90 minutes of the season.
Despite making such "weak" statements, the content he presented was impressive, which made me think that Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is a true "director".
After the match, the passionate scene of the blue-red fans and supporters gathering in front of the visitor seats was notable. During the camp, the players were encouraged to liken the ball to a lover as they worked on their tactics. Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA skillfully manipulates actions and words, attracting people and motivating those around him. Considering this, it might have been part of the plan to consistently lower expectations from the preseason and then surprise everyone with the performance in the opening match.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's passion displayed in front of fans and supporters after the match
Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, who has consistently maintained a cautious approach without being greedy or hasty, has one more thing he has been saying as the season begins.
"No matter the match, no matter the opponent, it is important to stick to our style."
The football displayed at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium, which was the stage for the start of the 2022 season, filled many people with expectations and hope. Right now, what I strongly feel is that I want to experience that at our home, Ajinomoto Stadium. I can't wait to see the next 90 minutes orchestrated by Albert PUIG ORTONEDA.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golazo, FC Tokyo Correspondent)
