TOKYOism

After five seasons, Masato MORISHIGE, who has donned the armband, has been trying to lead the team through its transformation as captain. The team's most senior player expressed in simple words the feelings he has experienced this season. What emerged was the real changes in Tokyo.

The first wall overcome

Q: First of all, thank you for your hard work this season. How do you think the team has grown in this year full of changes?
A. Before the season started, I believe all the players were eager to take on a new style of football with a fresh mindset. In fact, I think many players wanted to play this style of football. Of course, as we played more matches, there were times when we keenly felt the gap between our ideals and reality. At times, I believe there were moments of confusion and doubt. Also, depending on whether they had playing opportunities or not, each player might have had different feelings. Despite these experiences, we have kept moving forward. Understanding that it would take time, as captain, I decided to keep believing and not to doubt. Depending on the match results, there might be skeptical views directed at us. Even at such times, I focused on ensuring the team continued working together toward one goal. As we approach the end of the season, we have gradually gained confidence in our matches, and I feel we are somehow starting to take shape. Throughout the year, we overcame various challenges and faced new ones. Still, because we did not leave things to chance and took control ourselves, we were able to positively overcome these new obstacles together. In that sense, a good cycle was created, and I feel we successfully overcame the first wall we anticipated before the season started.

Q: I believe there were difficult times, but how did you overcome them?
We decided to start this season by working together with the soccer style presented by the coach as the best approach. Throughout the season, there have been various thoughts, but if we don't trust the coach and align ourselves, we will fall into doubt at some point. I believe that being able to align on that was the most significant aspect, more than the technical details.

Q: As captain for the first time in five seasons, how to behave when the team is not performing well was one of the themes.
When experienced players start complaining, for better or worse, the younger players are influenced. First, the seniors must show a solid attitude to ease the younger players' anxieties and demonstrate that what they are doing is not wrong. I feel that we are gradually becoming the ideal group I envision. There are various challenges, but it's not like we are overwhelmed. We have been discussing and clearing each issue one by one regarding the style of football we want to play. Every day, we can practice purely with enjoyment, but there is also rigor. I think Yuto NAGATOMO's influence is significant here, and we also have players like Keigo HIGASHI who understand what needs to be done. Players like Ryoma WATANABE and Koki TSUKAGAWA have responded well to us veterans. Seeing that, the younger players and we ourselves feel that we must behave similarly. I believe the team's pure attitude toward football, taking action first, and working toward the same goal have been well executed as a whole.

The presence of the two who supported the team

Q: It has become a familiar sight to see you running together with player Nagatomo after practice.
A, I was pulled along by Yuto. Even when I think I'm getting older, there's someone next to me who's a year older and aiming for the World Cup with the Japan national team (laughs). It really makes me feel like I still have a long way to go. People around me say I'm doing well at 35, but I think, 'No, no, we have someone even more amazing here.' Having that person next to me has been significant for me personally.

Q: Player Nagatomo has always acted for the team at every club he has been with. Having him around must have been a support for the team.
A, it's incredibly big. I also decided not to criticize the coach or make negative comments no matter what happened as I started this season. I knew it would take time, and I thought there would definitely be moments when dissatisfaction would arise. But at just the right moment, the most influential Yuto-kun said, 'We are becoming a good team.' Everyone listens to Yuto-kun's words, so I was really grateful, and it made it easier for me as a captain.

Q: Player Higashi was someone who created his own place despite struggling.
A, Keigo has never complained or shown behavior that negatively affects the team. Even when he couldn't play in matches, he was always the most dedicated and showed that attitude consistently. This is not just true for this year; it has been evident from observing Keigo in the past as well. Regardless of his position, he is a player who can focus on what needs to be done. Keigo's presence has been significant for this team.

Q: One of the characteristics of this season was that the circle of communication expanded through players with such experiences.
A. There are many things in the soccer we are currently working on that cannot be resolved without discussion. Detailed adjustments are necessary, and we must pay attention to the relationship between the receiver and the passer, as well as the specifics of which foot to pass with. Because it is something that cannot be built without extensive discussion, opportunities to talk naturally increased. It was also because we found joy in what we are doing now that proactive discussions among players were possible. We could identify areas where we need to continue working and areas that require deeper exploration. I believe that because we experienced success beyond that, discussions became even more active as we wanted to do more.

Towards a fulfilling 2023 season

Q: While there were unstable battles throughout the season, I believe another characteristic of this season is that there were no prolonged bad matches.
A, having the foundation we built so far was also a big factor. It wasn’t just about doing new things, but also about preserving the strengths we’ve had up to now. Especially on defense: maintaining high intensity in defense, approaching matches with high motivation, and not losing in one-on-one situations. When those aspects faded, we often lost matches. If we focus only on offense, we lose our point of return and don’t know what to do, leading to a string of losses. However, this team still carries the successful experiences from before. The strengths we had before and the strengths of what we are currently working on—because we have both, I think we were able to fight while finely adjusting the balance. In a long season, there were matches where we earned points even if the content wasn’t a winning game. From there, we also made efforts to extend even the better periods of play. Through such matches, we were able to gain hints and build upon them. The causes of defeat in each match were clear, so I believe there was a flow of not repeating the same mistakes twice.

Q: Because what Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is asking for is very simple, there is also a vast amount of room left. Have you started to enjoy filling that in?
A, that's right. However, I think it might be enjoyable precisely because I don't believe it will ever be complete. Whether practicing or playing in a match, there are always new discoveries. It's been a while since I've played soccer while feeling this much joy.

Q: So, how do you feel about the challenges heading into next season?
A, after all, it's about scoring points. I think that precision is the most important. Because of this kind of football, in the end, quality and individual ideas are necessary.

Q: If the scoring patterns and breakdown strategies can be shared within the team, it seems like it could improve even further?
A, I think we are still a bit further along in that regard. To some extent, we have been able to build up from the back in the current situation, and we have started to connect the ball through the midfield to carry it to the goal. I believe that towards the end of the season, we struggled to score against teams that sat back. While maintaining possession of the ball, I think we can discuss and establish patterns for when spaces open up in these situations. In the future, when such challenges arise, it would be great if we can overcome them together again.

Q: So, what kind of team do you want to create in Tokyo?
I believe we are becoming a team that makes people want to go to the stadium. That's why we want to continue playing enjoyable and exciting soccer. Soccer is the most thrilling sport when it comes to scoring goals. If we can continue to show everyone our challenge in that regard and play even more attacking soccer, I think we will become an even more attractive team.

Q: Finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters who have supported us for a year this year.
This year has been a season where we had to endure a lot. Next year, I want to respond with results for all the patience we've had to show. We are looking forward to it, and I believe we can provide a more enjoyable football experience for our viewers next year, so I hope for your expectations. Thank you for your support throughout the year.

Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)