<Match Review>
The J1 League, which had a three-week interval due to national team activities, is finally resuming. This round marks the halfway point of the season, with 34 games to be played. The last game of the first half was against Shonan Bellmare at their home ground. This was the third meeting between the two teams this season, with one win and one loss in the Levain Cup. However, unlike the Levain Cup where young players were actively used, the league match was played with the best players. Most of the injured players have returned, and except for Kuryu MATSUKI, who is participating in the U-21 Japan national team's overseas expedition, almost all the best players were ready for this match.
The composition of the Tokyo team is based on the previous match against Kashima Antlers before the break. Yuto Nagatomo, who has just returned from national team duties, is taking a rest and Hotaka NAKAMURA is playing as a right back. In addition, without Matsuki in the inside half, Ryoma WATANABE and Shuto ABE are lined up. Enrique Trevizan and Leandro, who have recovered from injuries, are also on the bench. Despite the impact of national team duties, coach Alber has selected today's starting eleven as the best choice for the current situation.
As the game progressed after kickoff, the rain became stronger, making for difficult conditions. Both teams pressed from the front and disrupted ball possession with coordinated sliding in the midfield. In the early stages, Tokyo used short passes and mid-range passes to push Shonan back and threaten their goal, but they were unable to take a shot. On the other hand, in the 12th minute of the first half, a player was pulled into the penalty area and a free mid-range shot was taken from a negative pass. In the 14th minute, Shonan was also threatening with a close shot after losing the ball in the midfield. Then, in the 26th minute of the first half, while claiming for a handball, Tokyo became ball watchers and allowed a looping shot over the head of Jakub Slowik to Masaki Ikeda, giving up the first goal. As Shonan began to fill the space in their own half, Tokyo struggled to find attacking opportunities. The speed of Kensuke Nagai and Adailton was also difficult to utilize without space behind the defense. While trying to move the ball and find attacking options, Tokyo was repeatedly caught on the counter and pushed back, ending the first half.
Tokyo, who wants to counterattack, made a move in the second half, with Ryoya OGAWA receiving a side change from Nagai and making a cross ball into the goal area, where Adailton jumped in and made a header shot. Although it didn't hit the target, they were able to create a chance with a wide development and simple attack, which they couldn't do in the first half in a narrow area. However, they were unable to bring the ball to a shooting position and made three substitutions in a row in the 14th minute of the second half. Kashif BANGNAGANDE was substituted for Nakamura, Keigo HIGASHI for Takuya AOKI, and Leandro for Nagai. Immediately after, the substituted players were involved in the ball and created a threatening situation towards the opponent's goal, showing signs of change. Leandro held the ball in a high position on the right side, while Kashif BANGNAGANDE did the same on the left side, making sharp passes into the goal area. However, before they could take control, they conceded a goal from a corner kick in the 25th minute of the second half, widening the gap.
Tokyo, who continued to fight back without losing momentum, came close to scoring in the 31st minute of the second half when Adailton made a long feed and broke through the Shonan goal, but his shot was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper. In the 39th minute of the second half, Kazuya KONNO, who came on as a substitute, put in an early cross in front of the goal, and once again Adailton jumped in and took a header shot, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. Tokyo continued to attack while changing sides. In the 41st minute of the second half, when Yoshifu KASHIWA received the ball in a deep position on the left side, he sent a fast and precise ball to Diego OLIVEIRA, who had jumped in front of the goal. Diego took a one-touch shot, but it also went over the goal. In the 45+5th minute, they created a scene where many players entered the opponent's penalty area from the left side, but Yasuki KIMOTO's shot near the goal was also unable to find the net.
Despite launching a fierce attack towards the end, we were unable to counter and ended the first half of the season with a disappointing defeat. In just three days, we will face V-Varen Nagasaki in the 3rd round of the Emperor's Cup, followed by our first match of the second half of the J1 League against Sagan Tosu in another three days.
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, please review the game.
First of all, I would like to praise our opponent today, Shonan. Although we kicked off in the rain, we had to show a strong determination to win from the start, and I think Shonan showed an even stronger attitude to win this match than us.
Throughout the first half, we were not able to play well, especially in the first 20 minutes. Our intensity, particularly in defense, was not at the level we expected. As a result, we gave the opponent opportunities to create chances. Conceding a goal there had a big impact on the flow of the game afterwards.
After that, Shonan tightened their defense. Therefore, in the early stages of the second half, they made three substitutions and brought in more attacking players who could play in a narrower space. I think we saw improvement in the second half. However, we conceded an additional goal from a corner kick, making the game even more difficult.
I think this season, the J1 League is a very competitive league. Even if you are slightly outmatched in intensity, results like today can happen in this season's J1 League.
There were times when we were able to play well in terms of the quality of soccer. However, I think it was a game where we were not able to fully express our intensity and defensive intensity, which is one of our characteristics.
This season, the team must continue to grow. This includes mentality. The playing style also needs to improve, and not just the players, but also the entire club, including us staff, must change to a winning mentality. In order to consistently compete at the top, both the quality of football and a change in mentality are important. The second half of the season begins next week, and I hope to see both of these aspects continue to grow.
Playing style is gradually growing. I am very satisfied with that part. Furthermore, I want to continue to grow and express a mentality that is focused on winning by stabilizing the mentality of the winner. We cannot aim for the top if we are satisfied with our current ranking. We must always have a winner's mentality that strives to be at the top. I have also conveyed this to the players, but I, including myself, must reflect on today's game and turn the focus on ourselves. In order to establish a base style and a winner's mentality in this club this season, we must learn from today's game.
Q, there were scenes where frustration was evident in the decision-making.
A, I haven't watched the footage, but regarding the scene where a handball was appealed, it seems that the VAR check resulted in a decision that it was not a handball. I don't think the referee had any influence on the outcome of today's match. As for the result of today's match, I think we should focus on ourselves. If the opponent is fighting fiercely, then we must show an equal or even greater fighting spirit.
This is the scene where I received a yellow card, but the ball went out and the assistant referee raised his flag. However, there was a development where the ball curved back into the pitch. It was not a particularly important action.
Q, Does the compatibility of playing style with Shonan affect the results?
A, I think soccer is very simple. At least, you have to fight with the same intensity as your opponent. Regardless of the system or play style, if the intensity is not equal or higher, it will not be a fight. If you are expressing the same intensity, you can talk about the tactics of soccer, but that was not the case today. In order to achieve success in the future, these two things must be grown.
Our team has always expressed a winning mentality, but it is still an unstable situation to be able to express it consistently. Sometimes we play with high intensity, but there have been times when we lose in the final part of the game. As for today's game, I analyze that we lost in a situation where we lacked intensity. The rain may have also had an impact. In any case, I don't think we were able to fight in the right way today.
[Player Interview]
＜Ryoya OGAWA＞
Q, please review today's game.
A, our own mistakes caused the tempo to not increase and the defense line could not be raised. We also ended up with no goals on the attacking side, so we must learn from this game and use it in the next one.
Q: Where do you think the reason for not being able to express our own style lies?
A, In the connecting part after taking the ball, the pass was always off at a place where it shouldn't be, and it quickly became the opponent's ball, increasing the defensive time and causing us to tire out more and more. I feel like we let the opponent play the way they wanted to.
Q, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has taken over and the first half of the season ended with today's game. We lost today, but how do you feel about the progress and momentum so far?
A, I think there are definitely areas where we are growing, and not every game was good, but there were also good games like today and some that still need improvement. This season, the coach has said it is a building season, so we need to be patient and continue. We are very disappointed, but we must continue without wavering from what we want to do.
Q, the number of league matches at FC Tokyo has decreased for you.
A, I still don't feel it much, but the game at Ajinomoto Stadium is over and I was able to give a speech in front of everyone. I am now determined to challenge overseas. Also, since the next game will be the last one in the league for FC Tokyo, I want to win it firmly.
Q, What kind of play do you want to show in the last game?
A, Tosu is a very aggressive team and a team that we have a bad record against. We want to win by playing our own soccer, stopping Tosu's soccer, increasing our ball possession time, and being satisfied with the content. I would like to repay with goals and assists if possible, but more than that, I want to express the feelings of playing for FC Tokyo for 7 and a half seasons by helping the team win.
<Shuto ABE>
Q, I felt it was difficult to carry the ball to the finish while holding it.
A, I think there were many simple mistakes. There were also scenes where we received counters after losing the ball. I think that directly affected the result.
Q, Was there a period without matches, and did you have a feeling that the ball was not sticking to your feet?
A, as a team, we felt heavy and couldn't move much. As preparation for the game, we need to focus more on our warm-up to improve our agility. If we don't, we won't be able to keep up with the game and I want to be more aware of that for the next game.
Q, Did you feel any enthusiasm or areas that have been corrected since the opponent has been preparing quite a bit since losing in the Levain Cup?
A, Simply put, I think the other team had a stronger desire to win today's match. We were losing in the crucial moments of the game, and that ultimately affected the outcome. We simply lost in those key moments, and the other team had a stronger desire to win.
<Kazuya KONNO>
Q, How did you feel watching the game from the bench?
A, I felt that we were struggling to grasp our own pace from the first half. However, I thought that the opponent's physical strength would decrease in the second half, so I was thinking about what I could do when I entered the pitch in that state.
Q, I felt that the flow changed with the player substitution, but we were unable to score.
A, I think we were able to create our own flow and we also created many chances. However, if we can't score, it's meaningless, so I felt that we need to work together in the final part. I want to build on that for the next game as much as possible.
Q, today's game marked the halfway point of the league. Please give us your enthusiasm for the second half.
A, everyone, is not satisfied with the current ranking. We want to work our way up from here and avoid these kinds of games by practicing.
<Kensuke NAGAI>
Q, how was the game when you looked back on it?
A, there were many easy mistakes and the way we lost the ball was bad. As a result, the burden on the back also became bigger. I feel that there are many things we need to do and improve on from now on.
Q: What specific points do you feel did not go well?
A, Throughout the game, we made mistakes in places where the flow was likely to come and ended up conceding goals. Although we had some pressure towards the end of the first half, there were not many crosses or shots, and I felt that we couldn't score unless we increased the number of those. We want to work on increasing the number of those and reducing our mistakes so that we can put more players in those areas.
Masato MORISHIGE
Q, please review the game.
A, We lost the ball many times throughout the game. We ended up wearing ourselves out.
Q, it was a chasing game, but what was the team's focus in playing towards a comeback?
A, it would be good if we could push into the opponent's territory, but we lost the ball before that. As a result, the range for our defenders to cover has become wider. I think our mistakes in the build-up were the cause of everything today.
Q, What preparations are you making for the next game?
A, I think we have no choice but to improve our accuracy in playing. We are playing soccer aiming for the goal while holding the ball, so if we lose the ball due to a simple mistake before heading towards the goal, our physical strength will also become tough. Today, I personally think that we ended up strangling ourselves and that led to the result.
