[Match Information]
91st Emperor's Cup All Japan Soccer Championship Final Round
FC Tokyo 4-2 Kyoto Sanga FC
It took time for the wound to become a scab and fall off. But 12 years later, Masato MORISHIGE says.
"That time was necessary."
In the final match of the 2010 J1 League, Sanga S Kyoto F.C. lost 0-2 and were relegated to the J2 League. Immediately after the match, he said in a small voice, "I'm sorry," and choked on his words. In his first year with the team, he struggled with injuries and his condition was not good, resulting in unnecessary fouls from the beginning of the season. As a result, he received multiple yellow cards and often disrupted the flow of the game. He was suspended for a total of four matches throughout the year, and was made acutely aware of the weight of his responsibility.
It was the team's first day of operation the following year. When I stopped by the interview area at the Kodaira Ground, he spoke with determination.
"Relegation is my responsibility. I think I was the worst player of the year. I ruined the game with my mistakes and caused trouble for the team. I have to grow as a person from here on out."
That oath was the beginning. Changing the way to face soccer, setting daily goals for oneself. Repeating thorough preparation and spending each day carefully. "Humans have weak points. How do you fight and win against them? I have been desperately trying to do it within myself." It is through the self-discipline nurtured there that they will go on to achieve success.
Now, looking back on that day, I have become a man with a bitter expression.
"I think it was necessary to take a moment and organize my soccer career. Without a doubt, my soccer style was created after that. It was a chance for me to face soccer as a player, think about daily preparations and care, and make them my own. By achieving success, my correctness was proven and I gained confidence in myself. From there, a positive cycle was born, and setting new goals after achieving results became a part of it."
Emperor's Cup victory immediately after winning the J2 League. And to the ACL.
And now, here is the main topic of this column――. The nostalgic card will be held at the renovated sacred ground, National Stadium. So, I decided to pull out the footage of the Emperor's Cup Final on January 1st, 2012 from the archives and watch it again after a long time.
Blue and Red achieved their goal of returning to the J1 League after winning the 2011 J2 League. On New Year's Day of the following year, they stood on the national pitch. Their opponent in the match for their first championship was coincidentally Kyoto, who had been relegated in the final round of the previous year.
The final round of the first J2 match after the establishment of the J League has begun. I was first surprised by the commentary of Kenji Hasegawa, and then felt nostalgic when I saw many familiar faces in the footage other than the players. Before the match, the familiar chant of "National~ National~ Our National~ ♪" could be heard from the stands.
The match started with Kyoto taking the lead in the 13th minute, and there was a worrying trend of "Is this how it's going to be against Kyoto?" However, just 2 minutes later, Yasuyuki KONNO equalized from a set piece, quickly bringing the match back to square one.
"It was because I kept the frustration that I was able to come back and win even after being scored on."
And then, during the match, the broadcast will resume with footage of earthquake information. Immediately after, Tatsuya YAZAWA is brought down in the enemy's territory and earns a direct free kick. The distance to the goal is 30 meters. From the stands, there is a roar of Morishige calls. Standing in front of the set ball is Naohiro ISHIKAWA, who exchanges a short conversation with him.
"I was good at not rotating. I asked if they could move a little and kick it easier, so I talked about doing a 'chon' to the right front. There was also some distance, so there was no need for Naosan to aim. So it was like, 'I'll try to kick it, one in eight'."
The attachment to the National Stadium, which was also a holy place for high school soccer, was strong, having turned professional from Hiroshima Minami.
"It was not a team that could compete for the championship nationwide, so it was just a dream. I admired it, but I thought it was a distant existence that I could not reach."
On that dream stage, Morishige swung his right foot vigorously. The bone on the top of his foot is larger than most people's, and if he hits the protruding part with a "bokotto" sound, the ball will fly with a curve. The powerful strike, as the commentator said, "rode on the Morishige call coming from his back and the ball curved and was sucked into the goal with no spin."
After taking the lead with this superb goal, Lucas then dominated with two more goals to push Kyoto ahead. The repeated chants of "Ole" every time a pass connected, and the numerous support songs that still echo in my ears. All of it was a part of the good memories. When the final whistle blew, I embraced my teammates with a smile.
"Not only did we win the J2 championship after two years of struggle, but we were also able to win the Emperor's Cup. It was my first Emperor's Cup title as well. It was great to be able to celebrate with the fans and supporters after all the struggles we've been through."
After the award ceremony, Mori Shige appeared in the mix zone and finished the surrounding coverage, sitting down on the stairs. When asked, "Did you have that shot?" he smirked and said, "I had it." Perhaps it was because he was able to give a reward to the fans and supporters who had been saddened, as he headed to the first AFC Champions League (ACL). Relief was evident on his face. I can't forget that expression. When I told him that, he said, "You're cheeky," and spoke like this.
"I was able to fight against Asian teams as a club in the J League, not as a representative at that time. I was able to experience how much fun and exciting it was. Players, staff, and fans and supporters were able to enjoy it together. I think that was a big thing."
Rematch at National Stadium in 10 years and "Tokyo's current soccer"
Over 10 years have passed, and the two teams from that day will meet again at the National Stadium. Morishige was absent from the Gamba Osaka match on April 29, the first J1 league match at the new Japan National Stadium, due to injury. This time, standing on the pitch at the National Stadium will be the first time since the 2020 season YBC Levain Cup final.
"Tokyo is strong when it comes to festivals. I've felt for over ten years that this team is strong when our motivation is high. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But we have a high winning percentage in important matches and during festivals."
12 years ago, he called himself the one who caused the J2 demotion with a sense of self-blame. I will never forget the pain of that wound on that day. He joked, "I've been doing it while trying not to get caught," but he still spends his days with careful preparation. As the length of time accumulated, there are also many memories shared together.
"I grew up in Tokyo. The fans and supporters who have been supporting me all this time have watched over me through good times and bad times. I feel like I need to accomplish something soon. I can't just sit back and relax. Showing my fighting spirit as a player will benefit the team and make people feel something when they watch. I don't want to forget that. I want to express the football that Tokyo is currently working on, plus something extra."
I'm not the type to openly talk about love. But when asked, "Love for Tokyo? We have more than anyone else, right? That's what we've proven in the past 13 years," he says. Furthermore, he probes, "Have we become mutually in love?" The lingering response to "How is it? I don't know myself..." was filled with "things left undone."
The Emperor's Cup title that Morishige won for the first time in his career with Tokyo became the starting point for opening the way to Asia. There were games that caused pain and games that saved him. That's how he deepened his relationship with the blue and red. Soccer has a significant impact on life. He knows that from his own experience.
So, how is Tokyo's soccer now?
"I think that the football I want to do more and more is fun. I am a person who cannot continue if it is not fun. There is happiness in being able to do fun things. But it's not just about having fun. It's fun because we win. I want to continue to enjoy it for as long as possible, so I want to continue to prepare well. The ball? I still want to kick it."
Sometimes, I think I focused too much on myself, creating an unapproachable atmosphere and losing myself in my daily life. But things have changed. Recently, the word "together" that I never used before has started to appear in my comments. As a 35-year-old with many scars and scabs, I have a simple way of enjoying soccer. When I said "I want to enjoy it for as long as possible," I also heard the word "together" attached to it.
Text by Yohhei Baba (Freelance Writer)
