<Match Review>
In this round, aiming for the first consecutive victory of the season while maintaining the momentum of the previous victory at home at Ajinomoto Stadium against Yokohama FC, Nagoya Grampus faced off against a team led by former manager Kenta HASEGAWA, who had experience wearing the blue and red uniform until the 2021 season.
The system will start with a 3-back for the first time under the Alber regime, taking into account the team's situation and Nagoya's style. In the final line centered around captain Masato Morishige, Yuto Nagatomo and Kashif Bangnagande will serve as wing backs, with Diego Oliveira, who scored 2 goals in the previous match, leading the front line and Teruhito Nakagawa and Koki Tsukagawa playing as shadows.
With the fans and supporters who rushed to Toyota in the midst of a wintry mix of light rain, we aimed for our first away victory.
1stHALF - Both teams are defensively strong and the game is in a stalemate.
It was a tight 45 minutes that could be described as a stalemate.
Tokyo started with a 3-4-2-1 formation, which made the game resemble a mirror game. As time passed, Tokyo had more possession of the ball, but they were unable to make effective passes and the time period of moving the ball around in the final line and midfield continued.
On the other hand, they did not lose their focus on defense. Henrique TREVISAN marked Kasper JUNKER, the front line player of Nagoya, while Morishige marked Mateus CASTRO on the right side. Yasuki KIMOTO did not allow Nagai, the left side player, to have any freedom in his marking.
As the first half comes to an end, spaces gradually begin to open up and both teams have more opportunities to bring the ball to the edge of the penalty area. However, lacking in precision and ideas, Tokyo's shots ended in zero.
On the other hand, in the 41st minute of the first half, we were in a pinch as our right side was broken through, but in the end, player Morishige made a splendid cover to prevent Matheus from shooting freely. In the end, the shot that was taken near the goal only shook the outside of the side net, and we escaped danger.
A tight game against Nagoya, known for their stability. Despite the difficult balance between offense and defense, the first half ended with a score that can be considered within expectations.
2ndHALF - Unable to break through the opponent's solid defense despite an increased focus on vertical play
In the second half, there were more scenes where the center of gravity shifted forward and the vector pointed vertically.
After the kick-off, the options for passes became vertical, and there were scenes where Diego TABA could fit in. In the 7th minute of the second half, Kazufumi KASHIWA was able to penetrate deep into the left side.
In the 17th and 19th minutes of the second half, they brought the ball up to the goal through precise passing exchanges. Diego TABA and Adailton both threatened the goal.
On the other hand, while we became more aggressive, we also had to deal with Nagoya's counterattacks. However, our defense remained focused and responded firmly throughout the first half. As Jakub SLOWIK had limited opportunities to work, he put his body on the line in the final moments.
Nagoya also has a high level of concentration and a solid defense, and as a result, neither team is able to score as the game enters its final stages. The tense match is filled with moments where one mistake could lead to a goal, but in the end, no goals are scored and the game ends in a scoreless draw. Both teams continued to strategize and play tactically, resulting in a draw.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Yakubu Swobick
DF Yuto Nagatomo/Masato Morishige/Henrique Trevizan/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Keigo Higashi/Yasuki Kimoto/Kei Koizumi
FW Koki Tsukagawa (13th minute of the second half: Adailton)/Diego Oliveira (45+3 minutes of the second half: PEROTTI)/Teruhito Nakagawa (33rd minute of the second half: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Shuhei TOKUMOTO/Seiji KIMURA
FW Leon NOZAWA
GOAL
―
Nagoya Grampus
STARTING XI
GK LANGERAK
DF Yuki NOGAMI/Shinnosuke NAKATANI/Haruya FUJII
MF Ryoya MORISHITA/Sho INAGAKI/Takuji YONEMOTO/Ryuji IZUMI (13th minute of the second half: Yuichi MARUYAMA)
FW Kensuke NAGAI (37th minute of the second half: Noriyoshi SAKAI)/Casper JUNKER (37th minute of the second half: Kazuki NAGASAWA)/Matheus CASTRO (45+3rd minute of the second half: Leonardo)
SUBS
GK Yohei TAKEDA
MF Riku YAMADA, Ryotaro ISHIDA,
GOAL
―
[Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Press Conference Comments]
Q, please review the game.
A, After the game ended, time passed in the blink of an eye, as if a train had passed by. Today's game was a very tactical one. Nagoya's aim was to solidify their defense and use the speed of their dangerous front three for counterattacks. After winning the ball, they have trained to use their speed effectively. Moreover, we understood that Nagoya is currently in a good flow, so we approached the game with that in mind.
This season, I think we were able to start the season in a good shape. However, after that, every team may struggle and suffer during the long season. We have multiple injured players, and Matsuki was also called up to the national team and was absent. In particular, the absence of players in the midfield position made it difficult for us.
After considering Nagoya's play, characteristics, and our current situation, we made the decision to play in the same way as today, taking into account the strengths of our current players. Our aim was to exploit the space behind their center-backs when they pushed forward. In addition, we were also cautious of Nagoya's two wing-backs making runs. Taking all of these factors into account, it was a closely contested match. I believe today's match was one where the team that capitalized on their decisive chances would win.
In my country, this type of game is referred to as a "tactical game". Generally, it is not the type of game that many soccer fans expect, but for us, it was an important and exciting tactical game. Of course, we cannot be completely happy since we were not able to earn 3 points. However, I am very satisfied with the 90 minutes that the players showed. We had already trained with the system that we used in the preseason. Since we had many players missing in the midfield, we needed to change the system for this game. Not only Matsuki, Abe, and Watanabe, but also Terayama not being able to play in this game due to discomfort had a big impact on us. In the next home game, we want to aim for victory with an attractive style of soccer utilizing all of our strength.
Q, is it because Nagoya's defense was strong or because we couldn't break through, which one is it?
A, we were able to control the game. I think we were able to prevent Nagoya's dangerous counterattacks. We couldn't create any decisive chances in today's game, but I hope you understand that we had to use Nakagawa, who is suitable for the wing position, as a shadow. Nagoya's defense was certainly solid. We wanted to use the wings to attack the sides against a team that has been strengthening their defense, but it is clear that we needed midfielders who could work together in that area. With multiple midfielders absent, we prioritized focusing on defense.
And regarding today's game development, we originally expected it to be a game with few chances, and we thought that the team that could make the most of those few chances would win. I think it turned out to be just that kind of game. It's difficult to break down a team that defends with 7 or 8 players. It's unfortunate that we couldn't use our dangerous wing players in that position because we were lacking midfielders. If we had tried to utilize our side attacks in a different way, our possession rate may have increased, but we may have still lost. In the absence of midfielders who can build attacks in the midfield, I don't think we were able to create the kind of attacks we were hoping for.
[Player Interview]
Kashif BANGNAGANDE
Q, Did you have any specific thoughts when playing in a different position than usual?
A, I played as a wing back. I knew it would be a mirror game, so I wanted to take control on the side and play aggressively.
Q, the game ended in a draw, but how do you look back on it?
A, I was able to break through, but I hit the cross on the opponent's foot and missed the chance, so I want to improve the final accuracy.
Q, I think the flow of the ball has changed because the system has changed.
A, Although the first half didn't go well, I think it improved after making some adjustments in the second half.
Q, in the second half, I think we were able to move forward with the ball vertically.
A, at halftime, the team discussed changing the tempo and support approach as a whole and approached the second half.
Q, This was the last game before joining the Japan national team. How did you approach it?
I approached the Nagoya match without thinking about the Japan national team. I had also prepared for the Nagoya match, so it's frustrating that we couldn't win.
Q, Finally, I also spoke to Nagoya coach Masaru HASEGAWA, what kind of conversation did you have?
A, I was told to do my best, so I will do my best to meet expectations.
<Yasuki KIMOTO>
Q, Was it a development like a patience competition, but is it possible to evaluate that you took one point without getting impatient there?
A, after the game ended, we naturally came to win, so we are not satisfied with the result, of course. However, the opponent's defense was strong and it was difficult to score a point in the tough situation, but we were able to endure and take at least 1 point, so I want to take it positively.
Q, I think the opponent's front three were strong, but I think the aim was to defend against them with a back three. How do you feel about that?
A, I think it was good that we didn't create any scary scenes because the other three players were so skilled that they could play freely and were difficult to handle, so we were defending with a man-to-man style with the three players behind us.
Q, How was the match-up with Kensuke NAGAI?
A, I think I was able to defend at least by receiving it at my feet so that I wouldn't be beaten because I have speed.
Q, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA saw the defensive battle as a positive, but what were your thoughts on the pitch?
A, I think it would have been better for me or Morishige to participate in the attack because we had a lot of possession, but on the other hand, we had to focus on maintaining balance in the back due to the risk of counterattacks. To be honest, it was a difficult game.
Q, how did you feel about the difference in ball movement between 4-back and 3-back while playing?
Playing with a 3-back was difficult, but we practiced it. It was a short period of one week, but there were difficulties when we actually tried it in the game during our practice.
Q, In the end, I think our goal is to be able to break through and score even if the defense is strong like Nagoya. Can you tell me your thoughts on the attack from the back?
A, Since the end of last season, our attack after entering the opponent's territory with the ball has been a challenge, so in that sense, I think we still have a lot of room for improvement as we were unable to score.
＜Kei KOIZUMI player＞
Q, please review the game, taking into account the fact that you changed positions up until now.
A, there were difficult parts in the 3-back, but not everything was bad. Among them, the players were able to communicate with each other in order to win. We were able to get the minimum result of 1 point away, but we wanted to win so the frustration is great.
Q, I think Nagoya's defense was solid. How to break it down will be the theme going forward.
I think it's necessary to be a little more daring, such as breaking through to the back or taking a middle shot. It would be great if we could break through and score beautifully, but I also want to try shooting more boldly.
Q, does it have anything to do with the system?
I don't think it's a system problem. For example, when Diego OLIVEIRA entered today, the players behind him jumped out with momentum and I think the opponent was scared by supporting him.
<Jakub SLOWIK>
Q, how was the draw against Nagoya?
We aimed for 3 points and approached the game, but I think it was great that we were able to take points against Nagoya, who were in good form at their away ground. It was a game where we had a lot of confidence in the content, more than the result. However, it's a little disappointing that we couldn't get 3 points.
Q, I think there were fewer shots compared to the previous match, but what do you think was lacking from your perspective at the back?
A, we are always working on attacking formations in practice, but I think the opposing defense players had better responses than our own attacks. In addition, they have a great goalkeeper named LANGERAK, and they were able to defend well with a 3-back or sometimes a 5-back. We couldn't handle them well, but it was good that we were able to earn 1 point against them.
Q, there was a big save that saved the team today.
A, I think it is my job to make saves in situations like that. It's a big deal for me to prevent a shot, but whether we get 1 point or 3 points, I believe it's the effort of the entire team.
