Kenta HASEGAWA, the former manager, is returning to Ajinomoto. As a formidable opponent leading Nagoya --.
"Complicated? Difficult to do?"
No, no, it's really rude to think about such trivial matters. We have been together for four years since 2018.
"Give it your all in every match."
That must have been the football etiquette taught by Kenta. Without creating an escape route, always challenge head-on. The victory achieved is the player's effort, and the defeat is the coach's responsibility. That is what a sincere competitor has always said.
That is why, as the coach of Nagoya, I will come with all my strength to defeat Tokyo, with that passionate soccer. This is what I said when I first took on the role of coach for FC Tokyo.
"Many people understand what kind of football it will be if I become the coach. The football we aim for will not change."
As a coach, I have walked that one path relentlessly. To continue winning, I have tasted defeat many times. I am still immersed in the ball game called soccer, which I have spent most of my life dedicated to. Since childhood, I have walked the star-studded path of Japanese soccer, shining as both a player and a coach. Even if the club I lead changes, my soccer style, which utilizes intense local battles and vertical momentum, will likely remain the same.
Immediately after taking office as the coach of Nagoya, he said this.
"I want to play exciting football after all. I hope that watching such football will make everyone excited and happy. I believe we are entrusted with the expectation of winning, so I want to fight for the league championship and the cup championship."
The commander spoke of his "most cherished memory" at FC Tokyo, which was that day at Ajinomoto, filled with spectators in blue and red.
"In the 2019 season, an average of over 30,000 fans and supporters came to Ajinomoto. Being able to lead in front of that large crowd will be a lifelong memory for me. The matches at Ajinomoto that were sold out truly stirred my heart, and I felt a level of excitement I had never experienced before. That sight was the best experience that words cannot express. We competed for the championship until the end, and the players began to feel that winning the league might be a realistic goal. I believe that the fans and supporters also felt a sense of belief in us."
Having survived in this world for many years, where one must be as sharp as a living horse's eye. The stage of longing that remains in the mind of such a commander. The lifestyle has drastically changed due to the spread of the new coronavirus, and for a time, weekends with soccer were lost. To regain that scene, both players and coaches are desperately continuing to fight.
We will face Nagoya, led by Kenta HASEGAWA, with honor. Hopefully, in a packed stadium just like that day.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
