<Match Preview>
The "journey" of the 2022 season, which began on February 18th, is now down to its final two matches.
The final away game was against Nagoya Grampus. The match was led by manager Kenta HASEGAWA, who had been in charge of Tokyo for the previous four seasons. Despite his knowledge of Tokyo's players, they were unable to score against his tactics and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
The biggest threat to Tokyo is undoubtedly the presence of Kensuke NAGAI, who played in Tokyo until this summer. He was an important figure for Tokyo fans and supporters with his top speed, goal-scoring sense, and bright and beloved character. However, this time he will be aiming for Tokyo's goal as a key player for Nagoya. Like coach HASEGAWA, NAGAI also has a deep understanding of Tokyo players. How to stop him as he continues to attack with the support of the home team will be the key to this match.
On the other hand, Tokyo players are also well aware of Nagai's abilities. Masato MORISHIGE will face him, while Yasuki KIMOTO, who was fondly regarded as a junior in college, will try to stop Nagai's speed. We can expect an intense matchup and ultimately hope for Tokyo's center-back duo to "shut down Nagai".
The opponent's defense will be led by Yuichi MARUYAMA, who will face his former team. Against Tokyo's attack, which scored 4 goals in the previous match against Cerezo Osaka, coach HASEGAWA will surely come up with careful countermeasures. Tokyo's build-up accuracy may vary depending on the match, but when chasing the ball from the front, they should calmly peel off the press and if the opponent is defending with numbers in their own half, they should move the ball quickly to unsettle them and take advantage of any opportunities without hesitation.
A season in which a new Tokyo style was built through a "journey" with coach Albert. As a final touch, we will bring back 3 points in soccer by "traveling with the ball" (Coach Albert).
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, How is the team doing during the league's break period?
A, I was able to do good training. I think it was a good two weeks where many things went smoothly. Just because things went well doesn't mean we can win the game, but I have a good feeling. I feel that the team is continuously growing and I also have a strong sense that the team is in a good state. However, each game is different, so the game result is influenced by various factors, and there is a saying that you won't know until you actually play.
Q, At the beginning of the season, it was said that it would be good to aim for around 50-60% for the new style this season. What percentage are we at now?
A, I think we have reached about 60% of the level we are aiming for.
Q: Where is the basis for that?
A, the current players have a sense of adapting well to this style. Of course, I also had to adapt to the players' characteristics. As I mentioned before, I never thought of doing the same thing as Niigata here. My goal was to do better work based on the players' characteristics. Of course, the part of valuing the ball is non-negotiable, but from there, I incorporated the team tactics based on the players' characteristics. As for changing the style, I think the players have adapted well and reached a good level in their first season. The attack in tight spaces is also growing steadily, and it is important to continue this growth in the future. However, there is still 40% left, so we still have a long way to go. I want to continue to make efforts to improve. I think it is worth evaluating that we have reached the current level in about 8 months. For example, Yokohama and Kawasaki, who are ranked higher than us, have been playing with this style for several years. We also need time. I think the club will grow into a championship-worthy club by traveling together with all the fans and supporters. I don't think there is any other secret.
Q: In order to fill the remaining 40%, you mentioned about the distance between players during the last practice. Will that be necessary?
A, Yokohama specializes in playing in tight spaces. One of the most important concepts is playing in tight spaces. Plus, we emphasize making runs behind the defense. This is because we want to take advantage of the fact that many of our second-line players are good at making runs. If, for example, a player who is extremely good at playing with their feet joins us next season, we will have to adapt our team tactics based on that player's strengths. However, in order to have a good combination in tight spaces, time is necessary.
Q: Is it important to maintain possession against teams that apply high pressure, in preparation for the Nagoya match?
As a reason for wanting to build up from the keeper, if we can successfully break through against opponents who come to defend from the front with a high press, space will open up behind them and the potential to create chances will increase. We are not trying to play beautifully by connecting from the keeper. When facing opponents who apply a high press, there is inherent danger in building up from the back. On the other hand, teams that apply a high press take the risk of leaving a large space behind if they can win the ball. I think there is a battle between these two teams.
Q, How was it for Diego Taba, who was an important presence as the center of foreign players this season?
A, I think he contributed in two points. There are several reasons why the number of goals decreased. One is that he felt discomfort in his hip joint from the pre-season and continued to play while enduring it. Plus, if you look at the process of the team's growth, you can see that the team gradually grew and the number of chances increased. For example, Adailton is better at making runs into space. I think there were opportunities for him from the beginning of the season. As the team grew and had more chances to push the opponent, the flow was that players like Watanabe, Leandro, and Diego had more chances to score. That's why I think Diego's goal count decreased due to various factors. Just like Morishige, I don't think anyone doubts that Diego is a very important player for Tokyo. As vice-captain, it was important that he was respected by all players, not just foreign players, for his performance so far. Plus, there were multiple foreign players, including new signings. Diego was the one who helped them adapt to the team more than anyone else.
[Player Interview]
＜Yasuki KIMOTO＞
Q, What is your impression of the match against your former team led by coach Kenta HASEGAWA?
A, As an impression when playing against them, I felt that everyone worked hard together and no one slacked off as a team. As for the attack, there was a strong impression of utilizing the talent in the front line for quick attacks.
Q, I think it's a game at Toyota Stadium, which has a lot of memories.
A, it's a really great stadium and I think it will have a great atmosphere because a lot of people can come. I had a good time during my one year in Nagoya, but I also struggled a lot, so I am grateful to the club for that. But more than that, I have a strong desire to not lose and I want to focus on winning.
Q, I think you said in a previous interview that thanks to Kensuke NAGAI, you were able to enjoy soccer. Was his presence in Tokyo still significant?
A, yes. I am grateful that even though I am a senior in college, I was able to blend in with the team that I just joined, and I am always told to enjoy playing soccer, which I think is the reason why I am able to be involved in the game now. I also have a feeling of gratitude, but I don't want to be beaten, so I want to find a way to defend and protect.
Q, How do you feel about facing your opponent's players this time?
A, speed is the fastest in Japan, so I think it's important to take a position first and not be beaten by speed because I can't match it.
Q, I think it will be important to build attacks while maintaining possession against opponents who come with a high press from the front line.
A, I think they will come to put pressure on us from the front line, centered around player Nagai. We haven't been able to achieve good results against teams that come from the front, so we need to overcome that. We have been building up our ability to use long balls when there is risk, not just relying on escaping with them. I think it will be important to use both strategies in the Nagoya game. We want to play confidently and carefully from the back, and show what we have been doing for the past year.
Q, How do you look back on yourself so far in the remaining two games of this season?
A, I have been starting in the league for a long time, and it was the season where I played the most in my career, and I was able to have a fulfilling season. In these two games, I want to make it the best season for myself by seeking both performance and results.
Q, What kind of game do you want to play while aiming for the ACL?
We can aim for third place, but honestly there are also external factors, so in order to aim for that, we have to win two consecutive games. However, I want to focus on the remaining two games and the results without worrying too much and end the year in a good way.
