<Match Review>
Finally, Albert Tokyo made his debut at Ajinomoto Stadium. It was the first home game in about 3 months. They took their first step in a stadium filled with warm weather announcing the arrival of spring and the expectations of fans and supporters.
Takuya AOKI was suspended and Yasuki KIMOTO was chosen as the anchor, while Henrique TREVISAN, who has not played since the opening game, formed a partnership with Masato MORISHIGE at center back.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima took control of the early stages. From the kick-off, they put pressure on Tokyo's build-up play. Unable to effectively move the ball against their sharp pressing, Tokyo found themselves under pressure in front of goal. The tide began to turn after the 25th minute of the first half. In the 27th minute, Kuryu MATSUKI intercepted an opponent's pass and launched a short counter-attack, passing to Diego OLIVEIRA. Diego then played a pass into the space on the left side, utilizing Adailton. Adailton broke through and took a powerful shot from the left diagonal position, but unfortunately it missed just to the right of the goal. In the 33rd minute, they won back the ball in midfield and Diego, while being tackled by an opponent, managed to keep possession and pass it to Adailton. Adailton then made a big run down the right side. Kazuya KONNO, who had made a run into the box, received the ball and took a shot with his right foot after a one-touch pass. The shot was blocked by a defender, and KONNO tried again with his left foot, but was unable to find the back of the net. The first half ended with a scoreless draw.
Tokyo, who wants to change the game, starts moving from the beginning of the second half. They send Hirotaka MITA in place of Henrique and Ryoma WATANABE in place of Yuto NAGATOMO onto the pitch.
Tokyo, who wanted to take the lead with a substitution, but the game moved with a set play. In the 15th minute of the second half, Mita kicked a free kick from the left, and Morishige won the header on the far side. The ball, which went over the opponent's goalkeeper's head, was sucked into the upper left corner of the goal, and Tokyo took the lead. Tokyo, who was on a roll, didn't stop. In the 16th minute of the second half, just after the goal, Diego received a pass from Mita and made a through pass. Shuto ABE broke through into the penalty area and shot from the center slightly to the right. This was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper's offense and defense, but Adailton followed up on the rebound and calmly slid it into the bottom right corner, leaving Hiroshima behind in one go.
After taking the lead, there were continuous scenes of Hiroshima pushing forward. In the 29th minute of the second half, they faced a free kick danger near the penalty area, but the shot aimed at the top of the goal was saved by player Jakub SLOWIK's sharp reaction. Tokyo held on, but in the 29th minute of the second half, they were caught off guard for a moment. A through pass was sent behind the final line, and player Shun AYUKAWA broke through and scored a one-on-one against SLOWIK, bringing the score to 1-1.
While the opponent's momentum continued, we tried to break through by making substitution cards, but we were unable to control the game by holding onto the ball. However, in critical moments, the defense, led by player Jakub SLOWIK, held on and secured a big 3 points in our first home game.
[Coach Albert Interview]
Q, please review the game.
A, we started in a way that was difficult to break through Hiroshima's intense press. It was very difficult to break through the defense of the team that pressed almost like a man-to-man marking.
10 minutes after kickoff, we were unable to break through and as a result, we were unable to start the game with a good feeling. After that, we were not able to make good plays, but we were able to improve and play with a certain level of composure.
There were many simple mistakes in the attacking part, and at the same time, our pressing was often delayed in defense, making it a poor first half where we couldn't make good plays.
At halftime, we made adjustments and changed our formation to a 4-2-3-1. Kimoto played as a lone defensive midfielder for the first time in a while, but he seemed tired so we changed to a double pivot. We also brought in Yuto NAGATOMO on the right side to improve our defense with his experience. And to calm the game down a bit, we also brought in Mita in the midfield to utilize his technical ability and decision-making skills.
In such a flow, it was great to be able to score the opening goal from a set piece. It was also a plus to be able to score an additional goal from a quick transition of attack and defense after taking the lead. While leading the game 2-0, it was unfortunate that we lost the ball due to our mistake and conceded a goal from a short counter attack.
In the second half, there were times when we were able to control the game to some extent, but it was not consistent and unfortunately we were unable to control the game throughout the 90 minutes.
The team has just started to grow and build. Henrique also returned to the official game after a long time. It is possible that Kimoto did not function well when he played as a defensive midfielder for the first time, as it is the start of the season. Instead of being satisfied with today's game result, it is important to focus on ourselves. This season, it is most important to continue to work hard and grow. And it is also necessary for players to give their all on the pitch, just like today. The next game is coming soon, so I want to focus on preparing well in a short amount of time.
Q, What do you think was the reason for struggling even though you were expecting the opponent's press?
A, they pressed with the same number of players as the opponent's defense line, and the front line also pressed with the same number of players. I think their defense is a risk that comes with such a numerical equality.
If we were able to successfully break through the opponent's high press, we could have created multiple decisive chances. However, we were not able to do so today. When we were unable to do so, we lost control of the game.
Since Aoki was sent off in the previous game, Kimoto was chosen to play in a position he used to play in before, which is not his usual position in Tokyo. This may have affected the team's performance today.
Q, I think it is commendable to follow the coach's instructions and focus on winning.
A, I am happy that we were able to get 3 points, but I think there is more need for self-reflection when we win. The players have high quality. The team is still in a growth stage. I think there will be games that don't go well, like today. However, this is the first time in the fourth game of the season that we couldn't play with a good feeling from the start of the game.
Q, Please explain the reason for choosing Morishige as captain and your evaluation of his performance.
First of all, I evaluated him as a player who represents the team, so I chose him as the captain. He is one of the players highly valued by his teammates. I also appreciate that he has been playing for this club for a long time. I see him as someone who will continue to carry this club even after retirement. And this season, I am grateful for all the contributions he has made to the team as the captain. He has continued to act appropriately as the captain. Along with (2nd captain) Diego, he has been leading the team in the right direction. And as the 3rd captain, I have chosen four other veteran players, and I am proud and grateful that they are all leading the team in a positive direction.
[Player Interview]
Masato MORISHIGE
Q, it was the long-awaited home opening game. I think the first half was a tough one.
A, it was a tough game. I am happy that we won, but I feel that there is still a lot to do because the content was not up to par.
Q, Without Aoki, what were you particularly paying attention to on the defensive side?
A, I thought that the things we needed to do were simple, so I believed that we could do them without any major mistakes. However, I feel that we may have lacked variations and ideas within that.
Q, The first goal of this season was in the form of a ball that was matched by player Mita. What was the feeling like?
A, it was the best I could do to hit it with my head, so luckily it flew to a good spot.
Q, Looking back at the difficult situation, how do you feel Hiroshima's press was able to break through?
A, I felt like we were too fixated on what we had been doing, so maybe it would have been better to be a little more flexible and change our positioning or something like that.
Q, Coach Albert Puig Ortoneda also seemed to be observing the game situation in the first half. What kind of communication were the players using on the pitch to break down the opponent?
A, There were also times when we were unsure of how we should proceed. After today's match, we will have a thorough discussion with the coach and work together towards the next game.
It's a good thing that the team can grow while winning, so for today, it's a good thing that we were able to get 3 points, but we want to keep in mind that we need to improve our game even more and prepare for it.
Adailton Player
Q, there were times when we couldn't get into a rhythm on the attack, what were you conscious of during those times?
A, it was difficult to attack because the opponent was able to defend as an organized unit from the start. However, in today's match, we were conscious of fighting and we wanted to play with that in mind.
Q, How was it looking back on Adailton's additional point, which showed his strength?
A, I was able to calmly decide while watching the opponent's goalkeeper's position against the ball that had spilled over.
Q, Why is the team able to fight without conceding even in a situation where the situation as a team is getting worse?
A, the game plan that the coach is seeking is to reduce the number of goals conceded and dominate the game to win. Although it doesn't always go well, I hope to gain strength as we continue to practice. We aim to reduce the number of goals conceded and dominate the game.
Q, do you want to continue defending at a high position, including the goal, and be able to quickly launch a counterattack by stealing the ball?
A, Soccer that connects to the counter by defending from the front line and taking it away is one of the attacking patterns, so I want to improve the quality in order to connect to the goal.
<Shuto ABE>
Q, I think there was information that the opponent would come pressing from the front, but it seemed like we were able to receive it properly from the start.
A, The opponent's strength was also high, and we ended the first half without knowing how to break through while being pushed. There were some parts that we were able to fix during halftime, but overall, we couldn't play the kind of soccer we were aiming for.
Q, In the middle of the first half, there were scenes where we were able to take the ball in a high position and create chances from short counters. Was the first half still unsatisfactory?
A, taking the lead from the beginning was also our intention, so it went as planned, but on the other hand, it felt like we were only able to play the soccer we aimed for. We really wanted to break through the press, control the ball, and push the opponent back to advance the game.
Q, How was the communication on the pitch in terms of improving during the game?
A, Today, the distance between the players was far, so when the center back passed to the side back, it was in a situation where it would fit, so we were trying to improve by getting closer, but it was still difficult to play.
Q: What was the reason for the slight improvement in the second half?
A, I changed my position and formation a little, so there were some places where I fit in, but the only good time was when I could take the goal, so if I could hold the ball for a longer time, I think the game would have been more settled.
Q, I think we are in a stage of growth through trial and error as we work on a new style. Do you have any points for improvement to grow for the next game?
When facing high pressure from the front with a strong intensity, we need to think about how to release the ball. Otherwise, it will be the same in both the Levain Cup match against Iwata and the league match against Kyoto. We need to be more fluid and observe the opponent's movements while thinking about how to play, rather than sticking to a specific style. Otherwise, it will become difficult to maintain possession of the ball.
Q, Is it more about improving as a team tactic rather than individual tactics?
A, it is necessary to also aim for the back, not just the feet, because there is always a need to create a triangle, so you have to determine whether it is a place to connect or a place to push the ball forward.
Q, but isn't it okay to evaluate the part where we won?
A, The coach also said that although the content was not good after the game, it was important to take 3 points, so even if the content was bad, it was a harvest to win, so I think it's okay to take it positively.
<Hirotaka MITA>
Q, How was it to play in the second half?
A, although we were able to show some good parts, we spent a lot of time defending, so I wish I could have made plays that could have helped the team more.
Q, What did you keep in mind when playing in the game?
A, I was watching the first half and the ball was in a restless situation, so I wanted to change the flow when I entered. There were some parts that I could do, but after taking the lead, there were a lot of long balls and I didn't get the ball as much, so I'm not satisfied with myself.
Q, I wanted to play a more active role in the ball.
Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA also told me, but I wanted to calm the game down by touching the ball more. It was a game of half and half, things that could be done and things that couldn't be done.
Q, The opening goal was a goal that created the team's momentum in a difficult situation, but was the assist for the first goal as planned?
Player Mori Shige is not aiming for it, butI am glad that the goal was scored because I have been practicing to pass the ball quickly.
Q, how was it as the starting point of the attack for the second goal?
I think that being able to defend from a high position instead of drawing immediately after the first goal led to the score. I hope we can combine holding the ball and breaking through with a quick attack.
Q, Could we have had a calmer game development?
A, I think we can do it. Since it is still a new style and the period is short, we should not be satisfied with this content. I think the fans and supporters were happy with the victory, but I am not satisfied with the game content, so I want to keep that in mind and continue to work hard from practice.
