Match Preview
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The 30th year of the J.League begins. Teruhito NAKAGAWA from Yokohama F.Marinos, Kei KOIZUMI from Sagan Tosu, Shuhei TOKUMOTO from Fagiano Okayama, and PEROTTI from Brazil's Chapecoense have joined the team. Additionally, two university graduates and five high school graduates have also joined as rookies. In the second year of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's regime, we will continue and evolve the positional play that we have been working on since last season, focusing on maintaining possession of the ball ourselves.
The theme is to break down the opponent's defense in the attacking third and open up pathways to the goal. During the preseason, we have been trying out new attacking patterns that utilize the spaces on both sides of the penalty area to create shooting opportunities. The coach feels that the team's progress is going smoothly in a good direction.
What is even more reassuring for Tokyo is the lively presence of Diego OLIVEIRA. Last season, he struggled with hip pain, but now he smiles, saying, "I can practice and play without any pain." It's not just the fans and supporters who are looking forward to the complete comeback of the ace, who possesses overwhelming power and speed. He himself is also eagerly anticipating the opening match, saying, "I think the Diego you all know will return again."
Among the new players, Nakagawa and Koizumi have quickly fit into the team and shown their presence. Additionally, expectations for young players, led by second-year Matsuki, are higher than ever. High school graduates like Naoki Kumata, Kota Tawaratsumida, and Yuta Arai have continued to make strong impressions during the preseason, and their proactive attitude in trying to absorb a lot from their seniors has stood out. Their ability to challenge for key player positions will be an important point as we fight through the long season.
With great expectations, we welcome the opening match against Urawa Reds. Urawa has appointed Maciej SKORZA, who has four league championships in the Polish league, as their new manager this season. Shinzo KOROKI has returned from Sapporo, and they have acquired Norwegian defender Marius HOIBRATEN. The new manager advocates for an aggressive style that places more emphasis on the forward position than last season, making it crucial for Tokyo to see if they can maintain possession and take control of the game.
Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA said, "While continuing our style, we want to fight with a focus on winning." Captain Masato MORISHIGE, who is in his 18th professional year, also stated, "Our biggest enemy is ourselves." The commitment to uphold our style remains unchanged this season. In this memorial season, how will Tokyo depict their football on the pitch? A match that indicates this will kick off.
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q: It has been six weeks since the start date. What do you think about the team's situation?
A, we were able to spend the preseason in a good way. Of course, even if we have a good feeling, losing a match is part of football, but that feeling is important. However, since various elements come into play in a match, I believe each match is a different world. The team is growing well right now. The new players have quickly blended into the team, and the young newcomers are also contributing positively to the competition for positions, helping to maintain a balanced strength within the team. Of course, there is still a long way to go to further enhance our level of completion. As I have commented before, what I want to aim for this season is to thoroughly connect the accumulation from last season to victories. I want to establish FC Tokyo's unique style and turn it into victories. Rather than imitating other clubs' styles, I want to establish a style unique to Tokyo. And I want to pursue this while being aware that the ball is the main character.
Q: I think we were able to play our own style of soccer in the practice matches during camp, regardless of the opponent, and we were able to be aggressive.
A. We aim to take our attacking play to the next level, even more than last season. Of course, we want to develop into a team that can push our opponents back, but I also expect us to connect short passes to create opportunities and make through passes into space behind the defense. I hope we can become a team that excels at high pressing, and I want to make quick transitions between attack and defense after winning the ball a key weapon. Naturally, we want to increase our ball possession and create numerical advantages near the ball holder. However, I also want us to make runs into space, not just focus on the ball at our feet. What I mean is that I want to further elevate various elements and establish a unique style for Tokyo.
Q: Who are you looking forward to among the players?
A. This season, a positive aspect for the team is that the players' levels are competitive, making it difficult to prioritize.
Q: Players are strongly told about the importance of winning the upcoming match, is it because they want them to have a strong desire to win?
First and foremost, I want to focus on each match. However, I do not possess the magic to transform the team overnight. This club has a history of over 20 years. Throughout this long history, we have not achieved a league championship. We feel that we are on the right path to aim for that. The reason I want to focus on winning each match is that, for example, after I express the ambition to aim for the league championship, if we lose two consecutive matches in the opening game and Sec. 2, it can easily make people nervous, questioning, "How can you say you aim for the championship after these two losses?" On the other hand, if we grow into a club with a management scale that can finish in the top three and reinforce the team with five or six players who can play as starters, we would see over 40,000 fans and supporters filling the stadium for every home game. Moreover, when everyone living in Tokyo becomes aware that Tokyo is our club, I believe we will be in a position worthy of stating our ambition for titles. However, not everything I just mentioned exists in reality. If the current situation is not yet in place, I believe we should take one step at a time forward.
Q: What is your evaluation of Kashif BANGNAGANDE?
A, his continuous growth is remarkable. I believe that the essential element a player must have is the ability to learn. Players with the ability to learn like him are unpredictable in terms of how far they can grow. He still needs to grow more, and there is still room for improvement. I think he is a player worthy of expectations for further growth. Nakamura is also like that. He has dramatically grown over the year.
Q: What are your thoughts as we approach the opening match?
A, I feel very confident as we head into the opening match. I have confidence that my team can play with a strong focus on winning against any opponent. However, the J1 League is a very competitive league. I think it's hard to predict what the results will be, but I can definitely feel the confidence of the players.
[Player Interview]
<Diego OLIVEIRA>
Q: This is your sixth year in Tokyo, and the opening match of the season is approaching this weekend. Please tell us your current feelings.
A, this is our sixth season, and every year at this time, every team is thinking about making a "good start." This opening match is at home, and since the opponent is Urawa Reds, I believe the stadium will have a wonderful atmosphere. We want to do what we can and make a good start.
Q: Does excitement build up before the season starts? Or is there some anxiety?
Of course, every match is important, and it's natural for us to be highly motivated for them, but the opening match raises our spirits even more. As I mentioned earlier, our opponent this time is very tough, so I want to keep my focus and tighten my resolve.I want to maintain that mindset.
Q, "This season, I feel that we have been able to prepare smoothly since camp," said Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, but how is the current condition?
A, this season is the second year for coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, and the players understand the style he aims for. I believe starting from this point has various advantages, and including the camp, we have been training with very high intensity so far, so I think we can enter the opening match in good shape. Personally, last season I had many periods where I couldn't play at my best due to injuries, but now I am pain-free and in very good condition. However, since it is the opening match, I want to stay focused and prepared.
Q: I have heard that new players like Teruhito NAKAGAWA and Kei KOIZUMI are also adapting well to the team. From Diego TABA's perspective, do you think the new players have potential?
A, I think this year's new players are also very wonderful and reliable. In addition to the two mentioned, there are young players and those promoted from U-18, all of whom are of very high quality, so I believe they will be a plus for the team. PEROTTI has also joined, and both NAKAGAWA and KOIZUMI are players with proven records in the J-League, so I think they will be a plus for the team. Although it has only been a few months since we started playing together in Tokyo, I feel that they are able to demonstrate their abilities and have adapted well to the team, including their combinations, and I believe they will be a significant plus for us. The other new players, besides those two, are also strong players, so I feel that the overall team strength has been elevated.
Q: Please tell us your goals for this season.
I want to have a wonderful season throughout the year. Of course, I have the desire to win titles, but I believe it is important to fight hard in each match in front of us and achieve good results. The opening match against Urawa will be tough, so I am thinking about preparing for that first. I hope that by winning each match, we will ultimately achieve good results. We aim to win titles, but first, I want to value each match.
Q: In the final match of the 2019 season, when Tokyo was close to winning a title, and in the 2020 Levain Cup final, Diego was not on the pitch. I believe the fans and supporters want to win a title together with Diego. Considering those expectations, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
A, I have been in Tokyo for a long time as well, and since I arrived, I have been warmly welcomed by fans, supporters, and various people associated with the team. I want to express my gratitude once again. I was unable to participate in those two matches due to an injury right before, which was very disappointing. However, injuries are a part of football, and while it is unfortunate that I couldn't play in those matches, I believe it is something that cannot be helped. The fans and supporters are a source of strength for us, and the desire to 'run' and 'win' comes from you, so I want to fight together with the support of the fans and supporters this season as well. Once again, thank you for supporting us so far. I hope you will continue to give us strength just like before, or even more than before, and we want to achieve our team goals together for you and for ourselves, so please continue to support us this season.
Q: The opening match will allow vocal support, and Ajinomoto Stadium will return with cheers for the first time in a while. In that sense, are the expectations for fans and supporters also high?
I am very excited to think that I can experience that atmosphere again after a long time. Many fans and supporters have come to the stadium even during the COVID-19 pandemic, but due to regulations, we were unable to cheer out loud. However, this time I believe we can cheer as much as we want, so I think we will receive more energy than ever before. I understand that the match against Urawa will be tough, but we are focusing our feelings on the game, and I believe many people will come to support us. Of course, it is us who will fight on the pitch, but together with the support, we will fight alongside our fans and supporters to achieve a good result. There are still a few days of tough training ahead, so I want to do my best to achieve a good result.
Q: Will you show us the "strongest Diego" again this year?
Of course, I hope to have a good season every year, and I carry that feeling with me. There are times when I can score goals or make good plays, and there are times when I cannot. However, I will not forget to do what I can and what is for the "team." I have done it this way in the past, and I want to continue doing so in the future. Last season was very tough for me, including injuries, so I want to approach this year aiming to have a good season.
<Keigo HIGASHI>
Q: The J League is finally starting. How do you feel the day before?
A, every season, I feel like the time passes quickly from the start of camp to the opening. I'm really looking forward to the long season starting tomorrow. I think there are many aspects that can change depending on us.
Q: All the players say they feel a sense of achievement.
A, first of all, you need to have confidence, and confidence is necessary to win. However, I think many things will happen during the long season. There are injuries and the impact of COVID, but I believe that there are good views beyond those situations, so I think tomorrow's match will be important, and I want to win each match one by one.
Q: Where do you feel the accumulation?
Since Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has taken office, we have clearly been able to challenge ourselves to play a football style where we take the initiative, and we feel confident about that. However, I believe that regardless of the tactics, it is the attention to detail at critical moments that determines the outcome. I think this season is crucial for our ability to focus on those details.
Q: When it comes to attention to detail, I think it's about scoring goals, and I've heard that you've been focusing on this during practice.
A, it is necessary to win. However, I think there are times when it cannot be broken through depending on the match. At that time, I believe it is also important to somehow defend and earn 1 point, and since you cannot aim for the top without accumulating points, I think it is necessary to challenge that as well.
Q: I think this season's opening will be significantly different from last season. Do you have any thoughts on that?
A: I have been playing as an anchor since last season, and there are still challenges and many anxieties. In that context, I need to build confidence through repeated practice to approach the matches with the belief that I can do it, and I think that is a daily repetition. In that sense, I want to play with confidence as I have prepared well since the camp.
Q: Please tell us your thoughts on the opening match.
A, I think they are the opponents we have to overcome. Of course, I have some apprehension, but we need to win against such opponents as well. I'm really looking forward to it and feel a bit anxious, but I hope we both have a good match and that the J-League gets exciting.
Q: What is your impression of Urawa?
I haven't watched the matches or the players' performances, and I don't have any information about the team, so there are some difficult aspects. However, I think the members haven't changed much from last season. The coach has changed, and I believe the expectations are different, but I hope we can adjust while playing. Since I can't see the match footage at the opening, I think what happens once the match starts is important.
Q: How is the newly joined Teruhito NAKAGAWA?
He is an experienced player, and I think he understands how we play. I believe that within that, new accents will emerge that we didn't have last season. Of course, there are many good existing players, but I think I can support from a bit further back, so I want to bring out everyone's strengths, as there are players with various characteristics that I want to highlight and who want to be highlighted.
Q: As the number 10 for Tokyo, what kind of play do you want to showcase? A: The content of my play does not change because of the jersey number, but since I am participating in the match, I must take responsibility and I am thinking about playing with a strong desire to win.
Q: Tomorrow's match will be 100% full capacity, and cheering is allowed in all seats. What kind of power do the voices of fans and supporters have?
A, it's a privilege of home games, and while Urawa has a lot of supporters, the voices of fans and supporters can also put pressure on the opponents, which I think is important. We haven't had a match where we can cheer from all seats in a long time, so we've forgotten that environment. I believe there will be cheers from the warm-up, so I want to carry my feelings into each play while savoring it.
Q: Are you aiming for a goal in the opening match?
A, I think there isn't much of a goal image since we spend a lot of time defending, but of course, if there is a chance, I want to aim for it. I don't think scoring a goal alone can lead the team to victory, and I want to contribute to the team in other ways, so I want to fulfill my role anyway.
Q: Do you feel any changes in your second year with Matsuki?
A, I believe Matsuki has been playing with a strong determination since last season, and I think that will not change this season. I believe there is pressure with everyone's expectations, and since there is a significant age difference, I hope to support him well. When he is on the pitch, I want him to play freely. There is much to learn from him, and he is a wonderful player.
<Kuryu MATSUKI> 
Q: The J League is finally starting. How do you feel about it?
A, I am very excited. We are becoming a good team as we head towards the opening match, and I am also getting into good form, so I want to focus on winning against Urawa. I am really looking forward to many fans and supporters coming to Ajinomoto Stadium.
Q: Tokyo has not been able to win against Urawa in the past few seasons. What is your impression of that?
A: I think Urawa will come at us with renewed determination after changing their coach. However, I believe their tactics are still not established, so I hope we can seize that as an opportunity and make the most of it.
Q: How is the condition of the team and individuals? Also, what kind of play do you want to perform as an anchor?
A. We want to quickly switch between offense and defense and win the battles for second balls. Through the camp, we have also increased our scoring variations. I believe we are leveling up while maintaining our strengths, such as our passing work and quick counterattacks, which are our characteristics. I think we have been able to strengthen our play to calm the game and our movements into the goal area, so I want you to pay attention to that.
Q: Do you feel that you are growing day by day during practice?
A, I need to grow, and I understand that best myself. I hope to stay grounded and grow significantly during the matches without looking too far ahead.
Q: I think the addition of new players has strengthened the squad. How do you feel about the competition for positions and the atmosphere of the team's training?
A. I believe that this season's team can play good football regardless of who participates in the matches. Compared to last season, this season has a deeper player pool, and I hope we can play confidently at 100 percent from the start and win with our team strength.
Q, I believe that many fans and supporters will visit Ajinomoto Stadium as vocal support is fully permitted.
A, I believe many fans and supporters will come, so I want to work hard to win at home games and make the fans and supporters happy. I want to play confidently to entertain a large audience, and I am the type who gets more motivated with more fans and supporters, so I am really looking forward to it.
Q: As you enter your second season, what kind of presence do you want to have in the team?
A, last season, I was able to play in many matches and deeply understand the football style of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA. I want to instill that into the team. I want to prove that I can fight the hardest for the team and achieve results. The ultimate goal is to win the championship. The coach has also mentioned that everyone shares the common understanding of winning the next match, so for now, we are only thinking about winning against Urawa.
