TOKYOism

<Match Review>
In the middle of the week, we had a Levain Cup match against Avispa Fukuoka, and then we welcomed the 14th round of the J1 League in just 2 days. The schedule has been tight, and now we have to play 3 games in 3 days. For Tokyo, who has been struggling to win in the last 3 league games, this is an important match to turn the tide and gain confidence in our soccer style as well as 3 points at this point in the season.

The opponent, Kashiwa Reysol, is in good form as they are currently in 4th place. As for Tokyo, who have dropped in rank in the past 3 games, they will want to accumulate 3 points and keep up with the top teams. Captain Masato MORISHIGE, who was out due to injury, has returned to the team and will face a young and energetic Kashiwa side, along with a stable defense.

Tokyo was the first to have a chance at the start. In the 3rd minute of the first half, a sharp pass was sent to Adailton, the left winger, and Shuto ABE jumped in to the gap between the defenders with one touch, and headed towards the goal. Although he was blocked by the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation, he showed a direction to break through the attacking zone with a change of pace. However, as Kashiwa increased their intensity in the ball-winning areas, it became difficult to build up and they were pushed back more and more. In the 20th minute of the first half, they were targeted behind the defensive line, but Jakub SLOWIK timed his approach well and blocked the ball with his body. In the 25th minute of the first half, they allowed the opponent to penetrate deep into the right side, but SLOWIK saved a sharp ball sent into the goal. Towards the end of the first half, they had more opportunities to move the ball carefully and push the opponent back, but they were unable to create fast-paced attacks against the opponent's quick retreat. On the other hand, in defense, Tokyo quickly responded to the opponent's fast vertical attacks and did not allow any decisive opportunities, and the game was turned around.

In the second half, the opponent, who had strengthened their vertical propulsion, pushed our formation down and we were unable to mount a counterattack. In the 15th minute of the second half, we gave away a free kick outside the penalty area, and Matheus SAVIO took a direct shot, but it hit the crossbar. Tokyo's tempo in attack was not picking up, but in the 22nd minute of the second half, Hotaka NAKAMURA sent a cross from the right side, and the ball that hit the opponent's defender near the goal spilled out in front of the goal. Ryoma WATANABE, who was following up, took a one-touch shot, but it went outside the frame. In the 28th minute of the first half, Ryoya OGAWA saw that the opponent's defensive line was high, so he sent the ball behind them. Kensuke NAGAI, who came on as a substitute, broke through and aimed for the goal from a difficult angle on the left side, but his shot was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper.
In the 32nd minute of the second half, Adailton, who received the ball on the left side, swung his right foot powerfully from a cut-in, but the ball hit the crossbar after passing over the outstretched arm of the opposing goalkeeper.

As the pressure towards the goal increased and the expectation of shaking the net grew, in the 44th minute of the second half, a corner kick from the left was packed in the chaos in front of the goal and the goal was broken, but this was overturned by a handball decision with the support of VAR. They tried to counterattack in the remaining additional time, but were unable to break the goal and the game ended in a 0-0 tie.

[Interview with Coach Albert]

Q, please review the game.
There was a decisive chance right after the kick-off. If we had scored that chance, the game would have had a different flow. This season, the J1 League is very competitive. Whether we score in those crucial moments or not can greatly affect the flow of the game.
After that, I think we had a long time to dominate the game by moving the ball well, but there were too many passes at our feet, so I think there were not enough plays that took advantage of the space.
The team has been dominating possession for a long period of time. In the midst of that, we are working on improving our ability to defend against counterattacks after losing the ball. Today, we saw some improvement in that aspect, but we still need to do better and also reduce the number of times we lose the ball. In the second half, we had a good 15-minute period. We wanted to capitalize on the chances we created and take control of the game, but unfortunately we couldn't do it.
The second half continued with a close match. There were chances for Kashiwa as well, and there was a possibility of losing if they were scored on. In the final moments of the game, the opponent scored from a corner kick, but it was cancelled by VAR support. It was a close match where it was possible to lose even if that had been scored.
In the last few games, the time period of controlling the game has become longer, and I think we have been able to express that the team is growing in a positive direction. However, there are also some situations where we easily lose the ball that we should not lose. From there, there is a flow where the opponent's chances are created, so we need to improve a little more and not lose the ball unnecessarily.
The time I have played with this play style is not yet long. There are still unbalanced parts, such as too many plays at the feet or too many plays to the space. We must grow to be able to balance the good play of the feet and the play of the space. For the players, it is difficult because we are asking for a play that is clearly different from the soccer we have been playing so far. However, we believe that the play style we are aiming for will lead to the growth of each player. The team is moving in a good direction.
If we could have brought in Leandro in the second half, he would have brought a lot to the team, and if we could have brought in (Keita) YAMASHITA in the second half, I think he would have also been a positive addition to the team. However, these two have been away from training due to discomfort. Also, during today's match, Diego and Nagatomo also felt discomfort, so we substituted them early.

Q, Please tell us as much as possible about Nagatomo's discomfort.
A, From the beginning of the season, we have been telling our players to stop playing if they feel any discomfort. Playing through it can lead to serious injuries. We make sure to tell them right away to avoid any major risks.
Nagatomo was substituted with (Hotaka) Nakamura because there was a slight discomfort. I think Nakamura covered Nagatomo's absence well. Nagatomo's injury is not as serious as it was expressed. He had some discomfort and I thought it was completely healed, but maybe it wasn't. Just to be safe, we made the substitution. I don't think there is any need to worry.

Q, the opponent's midfield defense was solid, and it seemed like the three midfielders were being contained. How did you prepare for that?
A, I can also answer yes. What I always ask of my players is to make appropriate judgments and break through the situation. Of course, we can predict and prepare for the opponent's movements as a game plan. However, the game does not always go as expected. I ask my players to be aware of what is happening on the pitch and solve problems as they arise. For example, in the second half, Ryoma WATANABE was used as a right winger. This was because I expected him to come in from the side and play in the center. I think it was one of the planned breakthrough strategies.
It is impossible to convey all the expected problems and their solutions to each player during the game. It is more effective to recognize the problems yourself and develop smart plays to overcome them. For example, today there were many instances where Diego made good runs behind the defense, but the ball carrier did not notice and could not take advantage of it. This is one of our areas for improvement.

At the beginning of the season, we aimed to avoid playing in the center as much as possible and build up our play. The opponents naturally come up with countermeasures, and as our team's completion level increases, we gradually start using the center more. There are also good plays happening in the center. However, there is a flow where we lose the ball due to unexpected mistakes and the opponent's attack is born from there, so I think it is a point that we need to improve on.

We are seeking a clearly different playing style from the players who have been playing with different styles for about four seasons. It is very difficult to adapt to it. We are asking the players themselves to solve the problem. I think it is a difficult task for the players. However, by continuing this, if each player can realize and overcome their own problems, the completeness of the team will increase dramatically.

[Player Interview] 
Kensuke NAGAI

Q, How did you watch the attacking part from the bench until you entered the pitch?
A, since there weren't many players breaking through behind the opponent, I was thinking of receiving the ball behind and trying to stretch out the opponent.

Q, Did you actually feel an improvement when you entered the pitch?
A, I had about two chances and I feel responsible for not being able to score. I think the game would have changed if I had scored there. I feel like we need to challenge ourselves to increase the number of opportunities in front of the goal from the first half.

Q, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA says that the ball is starting to feel more comfortable and it's the next step, but how do you feel about the sense of accomplishment and challenges as a forward player?
A, I feel that the opponent is also gradually studying, so we need to come up with ideas and do something extra to increase our score. We want to focus on things like the accuracy of crosses after pushing in, who goes where, and how we compete.

Q, I came on as a substitute and immediately created a chance. After that, there were also times when the ball didn't come out easily.
A, there is also a relationship with teammates, and we discuss improvement points with each other after the game. I think chances will gradually increase, and I want to continue demanding and doing it in the future.

<Yasuki KIMOTO>

Q, Did you have the impression that you were able to hold the ball firmly when looking back on today's match, or did you have the impression that you were able to hold the ball but it didn't go well afterwards?
A, Regardless of today's match, in several matches where the results have not been achieved, even if the possession rate is higher, the opponent is not afraid and rather has the impression of being allowed. I think it is an important point for the opponent to be able to create a difficult ball movement or attack and change the flow in the future.

Q, How did Kashiwa think about breaking through as a team while tightening the center?
Even though we are gradually able to play the football we want to play, it is not possible to suddenly become 100% capable. I think that without the ability to exploit the opponent's weaknesses during the game, it is difficult to score. Therefore, I would like the players to exchange opinions and work together to improve.

Q, How do you view the fact that the losing streak has stopped, even though you couldn't win?
A, Although I wanted to win at home, there were also times when I was helped by VAR in the end. In the last few games, there have been issues with how the game ends, so I want to focus until the end and finish the game.

Q, Is the ideal style of soccer starting to permeate to some extent, or is it still in the process of permeating but facing countermeasures from opponents, and therefore unable to take the next step?
A, There is a sense that the soccer the coach is looking for is gradually being achieved, but even in the midst of the gap with the style of last year, there is a sense that it is gradually being achieved.

Ryoma WATANABE

Q, How was it to enter the game in the middle of the second half?
A, since the three players in the front line were making the same movements, I thought it was necessary for me to receive the ball in the middle when I entered the game, and I think the coach put me in the game with that intention. (Nakamura) Hotaka played on the side and I made some good plays by moving into the middle. Of course, there were scenes where I had to score and I didn't, but I think it was good that I was able to make changes during the game.

Q, What was your goal during the time you held the ball?
A, I thought that it was not meaningful just to hold the ball, so I was thinking about how to break the opponent's defense by putting in a vertical pass. If the opponent's defense has five players, there is space in the midfield, so I was imagining how to take advantage of that. I think there was a possibility of scoring if the game had continued a little longer, like at the end of the second half.

Q, How was it when the opponent was aiming for a counterattack after taking the ball?
A, when it comes to counters, the players behind were able to manage the risks well, so when I played, I left it to the players behind and focused on what I needed to do. I was only thinking about scoring.

Q, How was the teamwork as a team?
A, the current situation is changing depending on who plays in the game. It is important to play according to the soccer that Coach Albert is looking for, while also taking into account the characteristics of each player. However, a base is necessary. If we cannot do that, it will become a difficult situation, so I think we can grow by communicating with each other and creating it together.

Q, there were also many scenes where crosses were raised while effectively using the sides.
A, If you attack from the side, the center will open up, and conversely, if you attack from the center, the side will open up. I think it is important for the players to have a common understanding of how to use this. I think we were able to do that in the end of the game and come close to scoring. The most important thing is to score, so we need to work harder towards that goal.