Tokyo, which is working on building a new soccer style with the arrival of coach Albert, has reached the halfway point of their first season. Shuto ABE and Kuryu MATSUKI, who have formed a combination as inside halves in most league matches since the opening game, talked about the feeling of the battles so far and the outlook for the second half of the season towards the team's growth.
How do you feel looking back on the first half of the season?
Matsuki
There was a period when we couldn't win games. It was tough, but we have been able to make adjustments since then. I don't think we are playing the kind of soccer that the coach wants yet, but I think we have made good progress and scoring will be crucial in the second half of the season.
Abe
The league finished the first half of the season in 7th place. Although the new coach has taken over and changed the style of play, our ranking is not good. However, I believe that what we have been doing is right, so it was a first half of the season where I wish we could have achieved better results.
There were difficult times when we couldn't win, but we were able to achieve both results and performance in the end of the first half against Shimizu S-Pulse and Kashima Antlers. Compared to those two matches, what didn't go well?
Matsuki
This is the scoring part. It's frustrating that we couldn't score when we had the chance to.
ABE
In terms of defense, we conceded 5 goals in the Fukuoka match, but I don't think it's more than other clubs, so we can defend in our own way. However, we can't win without scoring, and there were also 3 consecutive scoreless draws, so I think not being able to score goals was a factor, as (Kuryu) MATSUKI also mentioned.
How do you feel about the build-up process leading to the goal?
Matsuki
Ryoma-kun has come to the front and changed the game.
Abe
At first, there was a decided form of "let's do it like this", but there were also times when it didn't go well, so I think we are improving well while also discussing with captain Morishige about "it would be better to improve like this next time".
Matsuki
It was a feeling of being able to adapt flexibly while playing and talking with other players on the pitch.
How do you evaluate the first half of the season, where the team is focused on growth and finished in 7th place?
Matsuki
I wanted to aim higher.
Abe
This season, the J1 League has become a close battle, and I think it's a really opportunistic season. I wanted to aim higher and I wish we could have turned things around in a higher position.There were many wasted games.
What do we need to do to pick up the wasted points from the first half of the season in the second half?
Matsuki
It's the feeling of playing in one game. As the second half progresses, fatigue builds up and the body stops moving, so I think the mental aspect gradually becomes visible. If there is even one player whose feelings relax, I think they will definitely take advantage of that gap, and if there is a relaxation like in the (first half) Fukuoka game, it will become that kind of game, so first of all, if we show our soccer that we are aiming for without showing any relaxation, I think we will definitely get good results.
Abe
We must always approach with the mindset of a challenger without being complacent. Even in the last game of the first half against Shonan, we lost 0-2 due to complacency, and we cannot win without keeping the mindset of a challenger. I think the mental aspect is also important.
This season, the two have been playing together as inside halves. What was the initial role of the inside half? How has the role changed and how has the flow been so far this season?
Matsuki
The role hasn't changed that much.
Abe
At first, I was told that I didn't have to drop too close to the defensive line and that I didn't have to participate in the build-up, so I was allowed to carry the ball at the anchor and defensive line. However, there were many situations where I couldn't pass the ball, so I decided to involve the inside half and changed it in the early part of the season.
Are there any rules about which of the two will back down?
Matsuki
I always play while looking at my balance and my standing position.
Abe
We are aware of creating numerical advantages and adjust accordingly (dropping to the defense line).
Did you have the awareness of covering a wide range by yourself, thinking that it would result in a considerable amount of physical activity?
Matsuki
It feels like if we don't defend, we won't be able to win.
Abe
It is both our role and our strength, so if we stop doing that, the meaning of the two of us being out there disappears. We have a lot of physical activity, but we don't think of it as a burden. We have to defend from the front and also press back, so it's a bit of both roles.
As a team, what kind of movement is required in the attack when we want to possess the ball more than ever and create decisive opportunities, and how do the roles of the two players need to change?
Abe
In the Emperor's Cup match against Nagasaki, we were not able to create many scoring opportunities by just passing the ball around. When I think about the reason for this, I believe it is important for one of the inside halves to break through the corner of the opponent's penalty area and disrupt their formation. I think it will be a great opportunity to see how much space the two of them can create in that area, so I want to increase our chances there.
Matsuki
It depends on the opponent's gap or position, but if you always take a position that is difficult for the opponent to see and where you want your teammates to be, you can receive the ball, turn, and dribble forward, you can use the pocket more often and have more chances to take a middle shot on your own.
For example, in the Kashima game, Matsuki's movement into the space between the opponent's fullback and center back acted as a decoy and led to the opening goal.
Matsuki
It would be great if I could become a decoy by running there, and we can make up for such plays with our own physical strength. It's important to be able to make it difficult for defenders to mark by getting into the pocket.
Even in the build-up, there are times when the ball is passed around in the back like in the Shonan game, but there are also moments where it is taken away by a mistake and turned over. When pressed from the front with equal numbers, do you think it is necessary to have strategies and ideas to break through that?
Abe
I think that if everyone is involved, the ball cannot be passed around with just the midfield and defense line, and the movement of the forwards becomes important. If the opponent comes from the front, the space behind them will open up, so by having a lone striker run into that space, we can use the space effectively and also use the space after moving, so I think it is important for everyone to be involved and who uses that space will be the key to positional play.
Matsuki
I think it's important for everyone to be involved in the build-up, not just the defense line and midfield, because the ball won't circulate otherwise.
Is it a tendency for the way of involvement to become monotonous?
Abe
It's not just about coming down to get the ball, but there are also areas where I want you to run behind, so I think we have to talk about it and do it ourselves in practice.
Did you also have such intentions for the Shonan game?
Abe
The Shonan game had a lot of simple mistakes. It was a story before aiming for the back.
Can you adapt quickly to the opponent's different playing style on the pitch?
Abe
Aoki player feels it and tells it immediately.
Matsuki
We communicate with Aoki player and play according to the opponent's play. On the other hand, we communicate to make sure not to put too much pressure on Aoki player, otherwise the center will collapse.
What are your goals when playing in the second half?
Abe
As a team, we need to be involved in the final round with a higher ranking. In order to do that, I think we have to keep winning. It's very important for both the team and the individual how many goals our inside halves can score, so I think it will determine the fate of the second half how much we can contribute to the goals as a duo. There are definitely chances to score, so we want to make sure to score them.
Matsuki
I want to actively shoot in the second half. If I meet, I am confident that it will definitely go in. In the first half of the Kashiwa game, there was a scene where I regretted not being able to swing my leg at a shooting chance, so I think it's important to aim with all my might. I also felt this during the U-21 Japan national team's expedition, but since the result is important, I want to be conscious of leaving numbers.
