Match Review
This is TOKYO.
Tokyo, which hosted the first J1 League match at the renovated Japan National Stadium. Taking a new step on the ground of National, where numerous memorable matches and goals have been born. Both teams stepped onto the pitch amidst a dazzling display of fireworks, flames, and lights. Despite being hit by heavy rain, they kicked off in an atmosphere befitting the beginning of a new history.
In slippery pitch conditions due to rain, both teams struggled to settle the ball, resulting in a back-and-forth start. As both sides approached the goal, at the 8th minute of the first half, Adailton challenged and entered the penalty area, then used Shuto ABE who came in to support, but ABE's well-aimed shot went just over the top right of the goal. At the 35th minute, after being shaken wide and pushed back into their own half, Hiroto YAMAMI took a middle-distance shot when his marker slipped, but the shot went wide to the right of the goal. At the 38th minute, with Tokyo controlling the ball for longer periods, the game shifted. After winning a corner kick from the right, Ryoya OGAWA delivered the ball near the front post, and Henrique Trevisan headed it, hitting the post directly. However, the rebound ball flowed around the penalty spot, where Adailton was waiting and powerfully scored with a one-touch shot that passed through the crowded area in front of the goal and shook the net. Even after taking the lead, Tokyo continued to control the ball and press the opponent, but there were moments when they lost the ball high up and suffered counterattacks. At the 43rd minute, a dangerous cross came from the right side into the front of the goal, but Jakub SLOWIK and Henrique blocked it with their bodies. They protected their lead and went into the break.
At the start of the second half, Tokyo moved the ball in the opponent's territory, pressing toward the G Osaka goal. In the 5th minute of the second half, Dawhan's shot, after clearing a ball pushed into the goal area, hit the crossbar directly. Meanwhile, Tokyo also had a decisive chance in the 12th minute of the second half. From a slow build-up, the ball once flowed to the right side and was nearly taken by the opponent, but Yuto NAGATOMO regained possession with a high press. Kuryu MATSUKI, who received the ball, took a powerful long-range shot, but it was stopped by the opponent's goalkeeper's excellent save. Wanting to maintain the good momentum, Tokyo made a substitution in the 18th minute of the second half, replacing Adailton with Leandro, who returned from injury and was playing for the first time since the opening match. This tactical move hit the mark perfectly. Three minutes after the substitution, in the 21st minute of the second half, Diego Oliveira fiercely challenged the opponent near the halfway line and won the ball. Leandro picked up the loose ball and started dribbling toward the goal. While shaking off the approaching opponent, he carried the ball near the penalty area, controlled it into the space created by a teammate's free run, and scored an additional goal by striking the ball into the upper left corner of the goal. In the 31st minute of the second half, Leandro scored in a 2-on-1 situation against the opponent's goalkeeper following a high press by Kensuke Nagai, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul call on Nagai after VAR review. Toward the end, there were periods when G Osaka pushed back in counterattack, but Tokyo stayed focused until the very end in defense and finished the match without conceding a goal.
Leaving a strong impact on the Japan National Stadium, Tokyo achieved victory for the first time in four matches, kicking off a three-game series. In the next match, they will face Avispa Fukuoka away after three days, and then return home to Ajinomoto Stadium to play against Sagan Tosu after four days.
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q, please review the game.
<div>A. I don't think it's necessary to separate the first and second halves when reflecting on the match. I believe we were able to play with a strong focus on winning throughout the entire game. Of course, there are still areas for improvement in controlling the match while in possession of the ball. However, there were good periods during the game where the team showed growth through their play. It's only been a few months since the team started, and there were moments when players seemed a bit rushed while holding the ball.
Leandro's return has allowed the team to regain stability in the midfield. He is a high-quality player. I believe his presence was clear the moment he stepped onto the pitch.
Gamba Osaka was trying to apply high pressure to prevent us from playing freely, wasn't it? I think there were many moments when we managed to break through that press effectively. Just like us, Gamba Osaka has changed coaches this season and is also in a growth phase. I believe that with the new coach, the team will grow and be able to express a more attacking and good style of football.
We believe the transition from defense to offense was well executed, resulting in good plays. By making smooth transitions from defense to offense, we were able to control the match. However, there are still many areas for improvement in play through the center. Overall, we are satisfied with today's game because the team clearly demonstrated growth on the pitch and played with a strong desire to win. We are very pleased with today's victory.
Today's positive point is that we were able to play here at the Japan National Stadium. FC Tokyo carries the name "Tokyo". This stadium is likely to play a part in our future. I hope that gradually more matches will be played in this stadium. By playing many matches, I believe the feeling that this stadium is our home will increase. Along with the Japan National Stadium, I hope many people will think of FC Tokyo as our club.
When tourists return to Tokyo, I hope they will come to the stadium as well. I wish for FC Tokyo's matches to be a significant part of the entertainment in this city of Tokyo. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the more than 40,000 people who came despite the rain. I hope that the match held today at the National Stadium will be a turning point for the future of this club. Of course, we need to improve our playing style further. We must secure many victories. I hope we can utilize this stadium, located in the heart of Tokyo, in the process of the club's greater growth.
Q: With Morishige absent, the two center-backs did their best. It seems that Henrique got injured just before the end of the match, but is there a plan for the next steps?
A, we need to look for another option going forward. We have the next match coming up soon. These kinds of things can happen in football. Sometimes players in the same position get injured consecutively. However, I work to solve such problems, so I want to find a solution. I hope that as soon as possible, all players will be able to return to a playable condition.
Q: Please tell us your evaluation of the Japan National Stadium in terms of playing.
A, I think it is a good stadium to play in. It is preferable that there is no athletics track, but stadiums that have hosted the Olympics face the same issue in every city. The stadium used for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics has also been left unused for a long time. Olympic stadiums must be utilized well in a positive way. FC Tokyo might be the best team to make the most of the new National Stadium. I think it is a wonderful and beautiful stadium. If decorations that make you feel more like it is FC Tokyo's home stadium can be added, it will be recognized even more as a home stadium. Visitors to New York for sightseeing go to Yankees games. This phenomenon likely occurs not only in New York but also in major cities around the world.
Q: What is the intention behind the coach discussing not only the aspects of play but also the club's growth and vision?
A, I do not consider myself an ordinary manager. After leaving FC Barcelona, I have continued to be involved in launching new projects. It was the same in Niigata. I am aware that I am not a typical manager. I do not have the ambition to become the manager of Liverpool FC. I only wish to live happily where I am. What is important is to leave something behind where I have been. For example, when I served as the Academy Director at FC Barcelona, I implemented various reforms in the academy. While working in the United States, I was also involved in new projects and reformed many things. In Niigata, I was clearly involved in changing the playing style, and I feel that it has been continued. At this club as well, I want to do work that leaves something greater after I leave. Isn't it true that everyone wants the club to be reformed? Even in this heavy rain, 43,000 people came to see us.
[Player Interview]
<Leandro>
Q, it was a wonderful goal. Please review that scene.
A, to be honest, I don't clearly remember that scene, but in the play before that, the loose ball from Diego competing for the ball came to me. (Regarding the shooting scene) I had the goal in sight, so I took the shot and scored, that's the impression I have.
Q: After the goal was scored, I ran to the back of the goal to express my joy.
A, I was happy to be able to contribute to the team in the form of a goal in my first match back after a long absence, and I wanted to express that in front of the fans and supporters, which is why I performed like that.
Q, following the Levain Cup Final Round, this marks two consecutive goals at the National Stadium. Do you have any thoughts about this stadium?
A, certainly this National stage suits us well, so I plan to request that all future home games be held at this National stadium (laughs)
Q: I believe you had an appointment with physiotherapist Nakamura before the match, did you fulfill it?
A, of course, I am happy that I was able to score a goal as promised, but above all, I am most pleased that many fans and supporters came out in this bad weather today, and I was able to score a goal among them.
<Adailton>
Q: What was your aim when entering the match?
A, I always keep in mind to show what I have prepared for a week during the match. Recently, as a team playing positional soccer, I play while thinking about where my teammates will position themselves and where I should position myself.
Q: I think we were able to execute good attacks with quick counterattacks after regaining possession.
A, while challenging various things in each match, there are parts that improve with every game. Among them, I think it was a good attack where all the players did their utmost to the best of their abilities.
Q. The team has been struggling to score goals.
A, since we had been goalless for a while, it was good to be able to score today and finish with a victory. However, I want to continue without being satisfied with this.
Q: I think I was able to run tough during the match.
A, not just this time, but also regarding positioning, the whole team is moving well. To play football that makes the most of each other's quality, I always try to play as usual when passing the ball behind and making runs, so I'm glad it went well.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A, I think it will be a difficult match, but we will focus during practice and work hard. Although it is an away game, we want to bring back 3 points.
<Shuto ABE>
Q, please review the game, including the fact that it was a match at the Japan National Stadium, despite it being a long-awaited victory.
Although it was our third consecutive draw, playing at Japan National Stadium was a great honor for me, and the team was determined to definitely earn 3 points, so I am glad we were able to win 2-0 under those circumstances.
Q: In terms of content, didn't you have a longer time to push forward, quickly regain possession when it was lost, and accomplish many things you wanted to do?
A, today we had relatively long possession of the ball, so there were parts where we could play the style of soccer we wanted, but there were still moments when we easily lost the ball by kicking long balls, so we want to improve by having solutions such as switching play to the opposite side.
Q: After 10 league matches, we have 5 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses, placing us in 4th place. How do you feel about achieving this many wins at this stage of building up?
A, I want to win and improve, and even if the content is not very good, I think it is important to get 3 points, so I want to continue winning while improving and maturing our style of football.
Q: There were also flashy performances before the entrance. How did you feel while playing?
A, at the entrance, fireworks and flames were set off, creating a performance that boosted the players' motivation, so we were very emotionally engaged as well. Also, many fans and supporters came to the stadium today, so I felt that we might be gradually returning to the pre-COVID-19 normal. Although it will be in stages, I hope the day will come when we can cheer out loud again little by little.
Q: Do you have any memories of this stadium, Abe player?
Today is the second match at Japan National Stadium, and the first time was the Levain Cup Final Round, so there was also a good image of winning the championship.
Q: How will you make use of today's victory?
A, Since we have an away match against Fukuoka with only three days in between, we will thoroughly share what we were able to do and what we couldn't in today's meeting, and prepare to play better soccer than today.
Q: Other teams are rotating players, but it seems that Tokyo is sticking with a fixed lineup. I feel that the three midfielders are particularly trusted. Can you tell us about the play of these three players and what is being asked of them by the coach?
A, Matsuki and I have been told by the coach to make runs behind the defense and to play with high intensity. Even so, we are able to play freely because Aoki, who is positioned behind us, maintains the balance. We have a very good relationship, and we communicate both during the match and at halftime. Throughout the game, we want to improve the relationship between the anchor and the inside half even more.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, please review the 90 minutes of battle on the National stage.
A, we are honestly happy to have won on the best stage, including the atmosphere, with over 40,000 fans and supporters coming to cheer us on.
Q: I think we were able to defend aggressively from the front line.
A, I think the reason for our victory was that we outperformed the opponent in intensity, which is one of our characteristics.
Q: I think we were able to move the ball smoothly after scoring the first goal.
A, I have gradually gotten used to it myself and realized that I can make time, so I want to continue that. I have the impression that we are gradually able to instill Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's style of football.
Q: I think we were able to execute good attacks even with quick counterattacks after regaining possession.
A, winning the ball is also one of my strengths, and I always think about making plays that lead directly to goals from there. In today's match, I couldn't score, but I want to aggressively aim for it next time as well.
Q: You earned 3 points, but please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A, from here we have consecutive matches. I think the fatigue is greater than I realize, so I want to take good care of my body and prepare well for the next game.
