※The MATCH PREVIEW & INTERVIEW for the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo match on May 6th (Sat) will be on hiatus due to production schedule.
The next Mechakoma will be the MATCH PREVIEW & INTERVIEW for the Kawasaki Frontale game on May 12 (Fri).
＜Previous Match: Avispa FukuokaReview＞
Is Fukuoka a difficult place for Tokyo? Although they won in the 2016 Levain Cup, they have not been able to win a single match since their first league match in Fukuoka in the 2000 season.
On this day as well, Avispa Fukuoka arrived in Fukuoka with a good streak of 2 consecutive league wins and 3 consecutive official wins, but ended up losing by one point. Furthermore, in the second half, they were unable to hold onto the ball or launch counterattacks against Avispa Fukuoka's strong start and solid defense, leaving many issues in terms of content.
However, it cannot be said that there were no chances to win throughout the 90 minutes. In the 19th minute of the first half, Ryoma WATANABE made a starting point on the right side and cut in the center with a combination with Teruhito NAKAGAWA, and took a shot that hit the post. Kuryu MATSUKI also created a scene where he broke through into the penalty area and was just one step away from scoring, and showed a posture of approaching the goal by connecting individual ideas against the opponent who was pulling back.
Unfortunately, in the second half, the ball did not settle down and we were pushed back by the opponent's momentum in the battle for the ball, which prevented us from building on the good flow we had in the first half. Even in the late stages of chasing the lead, we were unable to effectively put the ball into Fukuoka's side, as our pressing was too quick and we were unable to create any effective chances in the opponent's territory.
Before talking about style, the fundamental principle of football is to fight and have a sense of challenge to win against the opponent in front of you. After a limited adjustment period of two days, the team will fly to the northern land.
<Preview>
For Tokyo, it is a consecutive match with a 3-day interval and a 2-day interval, and also a grueling expedition with long trips to Fukuoka and Hokkaido. On the other hand, for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, it is a match played in a situation of consecutive home games with a 2-day interval. The time required for preparation is equal, but considering the travel time, it is a fact that Sapporo has an advantage in terms of player's condition.
When considering Sapporo's soccer style, the difference in conditioning becomes a more worrying factor and weighs heavily on Tokyo. In defense, they catch players in a man-to-man style and challenge with high intensity duels. In attack, they come flying into Tokyo's territory with coordinated passing and direct plays calculated from the goal.
It will be a tough and challenging opponent in terms of intensity and condition to fight in just two days.
Both teams have an "aggressive" approach, but the meaning behind it is different. Tokyo wants to control the game and dominate both offense and defense, while Sapporo lines up players with momentum and is not afraid to engage in an open match. Their attitude of always going for the goal is reflected in their third place ranking with 20 goals.
On the other hand, defense is definitely a concern with 21 goals conceded, which is the third worst in the league due to the increased focus on attacking. As for Tokyo, they want to carefully assess Sapporo's approach, find spaces while neutralizing their opponent's attacking momentum, and use both quick and slow attacks to make accurate choices towards the goal.
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, The soccer styles of Avispa Fukuoka and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo are quite different. How do you plan to adapt?
A, this three-game series against Albirex Niigata, Fukuoka, and Sapporo will be a match against teams with completely different styles. Sapporo has a characteristic of playing a high-intensity man-to-man defense. Taking that into consideration, we want to use our weapons effectively depending on the situation. There is a possibility that spaces will open up, so I think it is important to be able to exploit them well.
Q, Are you considering placing more offensive players on the side for matches that require movement before and after?
A, Considering our style, we need a more attacking type of side back. I think it should always be like that regardless of the opponent. However, we need to make a wise decision on who to use based on the characteristics of our existing players and the opponent team. As a clear trend, games where the side back participates in the attack create more decisive chances. A typical example of this not being the case was the previous match against Fukuoka.
Q, How do you want to connect the challenges of the Fukuoka match to the Sapporo match?
A, In the second half of the Fukuoka match, we were unable to create any decisive chances. We also lost the ball frequently in the midfield. Our attacking mindset was also lacking. The goal we conceded was also due to our own mistakes. We also lost many one-on-one situations. It was a tough 45 minutes. I also spoke to the players about not continuing to play like that.
Q, In the pursuit of an aggressive style of soccer, there were several matches this season that ended with no goals scored. How do you view the fact that the Fukuoka match also ended with no goals scored?
A, I am focusing on whether I can score a goal or not, and how many decisive chances I can create. I don't care about the number of shots, as it is doubtful whether any of them have the potential to become a goal. What I am concerned about is the number of decisive chances. There have been several games this season where we have had a low number of decisive chances. I see this as an important challenge. On the other hand, if we can create multiple decisive chances, I generally believe that we have a higher chance of winning the game, and that is where my focus lies. Regarding the second half of the Fukuoka game, I think one of the reasons we were unable to create many decisive chances was because our midfield was unable to dominate the game, and as a result, our fullbacks were unable to join in the attack.
Q: How do you feel about the depth of the side back players due to Hotaka NAKAMURA's injury?
A, In modern soccer style, it has become difficult to find high-quality right-backs who can perform on a global level in recent years. While there are talented players for the left-back position, there is a trend of a lack of good players for the right-back position. Right-back players are expected to have high abilities in both defense and attack, as well as being able to play in the center and possess tactical intelligence, which is required in modern soccer. In FC Barcelona's academy, they have used wingers as full-backs and defensive midfielders as center-backs in order to have more attacking players in the defensive line. Do you know which position Jordi Alba played until he was 20 years old? He was used as a second-row player, just like Ryoma Watanabe. If you need players with technical skills in the defensive line, it is common for FC Barcelona's academy to use players who played in the front line when they were young. I think Kashif BANGNAGANDE is also a player who can play on the wing without any problems. In modern soccer, I believe that such full-backs are in demand.
Q, I think there were moments in the first half of the Fukuoka match where the training we did was put to use. This was seen in Ryoma WATANABE's shot and also in a similar scene with Kuryu MATSUKI. Do you think we can see the progress in scenes like that?
A, there is still room for improvement in that area. As I mentioned earlier, I am not concerned about the number of shots, and I have doubts about it being interpreted as an important value. What is important is whether it was a chance that could lead to a goal. Remember the match against Kashiwa Reysol. There was a scene where Diego OLIVEIRA was clearly free and had a chance to score, but he missed the goal. That would be counted as a shot off target and interpreted as a clear chance in terms of numbers, but on the other hand, even if he had taken a low probability long shot from nearly 30 meters and the goalkeeper caught it, it would be counted as a shot on target. In that sense, I am not concerned about the numbers of shots on target or off target. The possession rate is also the same. It is not the overall possession rate that is important, but where the possession was in the zone. It is being analyzed by various numbers, but none of them are hitting the mark and leading to incorrect interpretations.
[Player Interview]
Shuhei TOKUMOTO
Q, how is your condition with the tough schedule and consecutive games?
A, I haven't played the full 90 minutes in both games, my body is moving, and even if I have to move to the west or north, I want to show that we can win. In the match against Avispa Fukuoka, we ended up making the fans and supporters sad, so we are well prepared to be able to celebrate together on the northern land.
Q, Fukuoka will be a different opponent in terms of style.
A, I think we can invade the goal by expressing various ideas because there are many players who can take a fluid position. I want everyone to have a more positive awareness of shooting, and I think it will lead to goals whether it goes directly or through a second ball, so I want to work together to align our direction.
Q, Looking only at the number of shots in the Fukuoka match, is the attack a problem?
A, even though the number of shots was low in the match between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Albirex Niigata, they were able to win by scoring. If we couldn't do that in the Fukuoka match, it's inevitable that people will say things about us, but I also took shots in the Shonan Bellmare match. Someone needs to create an opportunity for us to increase our shots. So I want to continue doing what I can do.
Q, Do you think that when moving the ball, you change the trajectory with your toes, and that such plays are starting to emerge even in J1?
A, I think I can cancel the play because I can see it. I don't think I'm the type of player who aggressively attacks like Kashif BANGNAGANDE. I have confidence in my technical skills that I have honed at FC Ryukyu and Fagiano Okayama, so I think I can see what's going on around me. I'm not sure if it's because I've gotten used to it, but I think that's my strength.
Q, How much do you feel you have achieved in terms of the ideal form, as the side back and the central player are fused without separating and the position change is becoming smoother?
A, I think it's about quality from now on. The more you think about it, the more ideal it becomes, but if we can increase the number of times we were able to reach the goal with good combination and quality rotation, I think it will lead to what coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA wants to do, and I think it will lead to victory and goals. I wonder if I am growing every game.
Q, Ryoma WATANABE is a player who is very suitable for the football style that coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA wants to play. The combination there is smooth, and player Tokumoto himself also feels that he is suitable for the current style. What do you think?
A, I don't think I'm as good as Watanabe, but I think I'm able to play well with those around me because I'm able to make good judgments by looking around. When we played against Niigata, which was coached by Albert in the season before last, I felt like I could make it work if I played here, and I watched a lot of Tokyo's games last season and I also had the desire to play Albert's style of soccer. The training we did with that in mind is paying off now. I still haven't become the type of player that he wants to use, so I want to continue working hard in practice.
Q, I feel that when Tokumoto player substitutes and communicates with everyone on the pitch, it becomes a lubricant.
A, It was really frustrating to concede after being substituted because I can only support from the sidelines. I had the feeling of "please do it" because I couldn't do anything after being substituted. It was a substitution with an experienced player coming in, so I wanted to pass on my remaining energy.
Q, There were also words that you had confidence in playing in J1 when you first joined, but now that you have more playing opportunities, is there anything that you have come to see again?
A, I understood that I am not the type to do something alone, and that my strengths come out when I play with skilled players. I think I am where I am now because I had the opportunity to play with Watanabe and learn from the plays of Yuto NAGATOMO and Yoshifumi KASHIWA. I believe I have to do it with confidence. I am mentally strong enough to not be bothered even if I am criticized.
Q: Do you have anything you are looking forward to?
A, I think players who don't get injured are valuable in the team, so I do stretching and care. Also, I think I can't surpass Yoshifu player unless I become a member of the Japan national team, and I don't think there is a starting position in Tokyo. So, I want to compete and improve myself. When Yoshifu player is playing, I think I can steal the ball, and when I play, I have the feeling that I can do it, so I think we have a good relationship.
Q, Earlier, we talked about quality. What are the important things for the team and individuals to improve their quality?
A, I think it's communication. I think it would be better if players could speak their minds regardless of age. And it's also about soccer skills, so I think it depends on whether each individual can focus on the quality of a single pass in practice. We are able to incorporate that into our daily training, and I would like to show it in the game.
Q, Are there more good goals being scored, or is the team starting to draw the same picture?
A, I think it's a matter of the player's technique and choice to take it to the point of whether or not to finish it. As scenes where we all draw the same picture and score are increasing, I want to continue that.
Q, please give us your enthusiasm for the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo match once again.
A, it's an opponent that comes one-on-one, so we can't win if we can't fight for the ball, so we want to thoroughly focus on not losing in the battle, taking into account the lessons from the Fukuoka match. After that, we have a match at the amazing Japan National Stadium, so we want to win and come back with the fans and supporters.
