<Review of the previous match against Vissel Kobe>
It would not have been surprising if the achievement of a significant record in J-League history had faded by the end of the first half.
The match against league leaders Vissel Kobe was a smooth start despite being an away game. It can be said that Tokyo had the better start. They matched their opponents in intensity at the ball and displayed a strong drive forward and eagerness to score.
However, when mistakes continued during the build-up, the initiative in the match was handed over to the opponent. Once they gained momentum, it was extremely difficult to stop the leading team's flow. After conceding the opening goal, they quickly allowed more goals towards the end of the first half while trying to regroup. They returned to the locker room three goals behind.
How to rebuild. The reasoning was more about passion than logic.
No matter how much you discuss tactics, nothing can change without the will to fight. The captain, who achieved the remarkable record of 450 appearances in J.League, embodied this in his play. He threw his body into the ball contests to deflect the opponent's long balls, took the ball himself to push the team forward, and after drawing the opponent out, he delivered a mid-range pass to instill the desire to score in the team once again.
The two goals that closed the gap were from penalty kicks, but without the strong will to equalize and turn the game around, they would not have even had that opportunity.
"In the second half, we were able to show strength in our battles for the ball, but I wonder why we couldn't do that from the first half."
After the match, Masato MORISHIGE's tone when discussing the team's current situation was severe, but his passion had not faded. From the kickoff to the final whistle, they continued to outshine their opponents with their passion for victory. Returning home, they face a crucial match against a top team. We hope that the fire of passion ignited by the captain will inspire the blue and red warriors to rise up.
Match Preview
After losing 2-3 away to Vissel Kobe, we suffered our first defeat in three league matches. After the match, Takuya AOKI, who came on as a substitute to strengthen the midfield, pointed out the defensive issues, saying, "It's not good to concede goals consecutively during a bad flow. We need to at least limit ourselves to one goal conceded." Reflecting on the moments in the second half when Tokyo showed determination and closed the gap with two penalty goals, AOKI said, "It was a goal we took with our spirit, but moving forward, we want to be able to score goals with our own intent." The match against the league leaders, Kobe, became a game where we faced areas for improvement on both offense and defense.
This match against Yokohama F.Marinos will likely be a test of how well we can address the issues from the match against Kobe. The reigning champions from last season are earning points this season with their attacking style of play, currently sitting in second place in the league. It will be important for Tokyo to maintain their focus and actively take control of the game.
The player who is putting strong feelings into this match is Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who played for Yokohama FM until last season. Before facing his former club, NAKAGAWA declared, "Of course, we are going for the win." He challenges head-on for Tokyo, saying, "I want to play cleanly and fiercely."
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the upcoming match against Yokohama F.Marinos.
I believe that Yokohama FM is the highest quality club in the J1 League. They have many high-quality players and have been playing with the same style for four or five seasons, showing consistency. That is why I know how difficult it is to compete against Yokohama FM. They play with a fast pace, dominating the midfield and making aggressive plays. They entrust the ball to their high-quality wingers and aim for the goal. Against such opponents, we must show our fighting spirit and express our own attacking play by controlling the ball. I want to move the ball actively and boldly aim for the goal. I feel that we have had very fulfilling and good training this week. I hope we can have a good match tomorrow. In a closely contested match, small events can greatly influence the flow of the game. I think the first goal could change the momentum significantly with just one play.
Q: What kind of encouragement did Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA give to the players regarding their ability to make adjustments during the match?
A, in the last match against Vissel Kobe, the early goal we conceded was a significant psychological blow for us. In other words, we must not overthink the tactical aspects. If we can score in a good way, it boosts our confidence, and from there, we tend to produce even better plays. Of course, the opposite pattern is also possible. Regarding the match against Kobe, I believe there was such a negative flow. Therefore, it is important to regain confidence and play. I believe that playing with confidence also leads to reducing mistakes. We must not fear mistakes. Even if a mistake occurs, it is crucial to stand up and continue playing without collapsing. There may be some relevance to Japanese culture and values in the fear of making mistakes.
Q, does this mean that you conveyed to play calmly without fearing mistakes?
A emphasizes that each player should play with confidence. It is important for players to have confidence in their own play, and mistakes in soccer are just a part of the game. Therefore, rather than thinking that making mistakes is bad, what matters is how players respond and perform after making a mistake.
Q: It seems that the results are greatly influenced by the matches where we scored the first goal and those where we conceded it.
I think this applies to any club in the J1 League. However, we have a very strong impression of this tendency. Of course, I understand that the teams that score the first goal in the J1 League have a high winning percentage, and as I mentioned earlier, scoring first has a positive impact on the team. From the perspective of a winner's mentality, Teruhito NAKAGAWA has a good influence on the team. This is because he is a player who has experienced winning championships.
Q: What kind of words did you say to Kuryu MATSUKI and Naoki KUMATA after their representative activities?
A, we talked a little. I think it is very difficult to represent the country and fight as a national team. I conveyed that in order to achieve good results, we need to further level up from here. I believe there is not a significant difference in tactics or individual techniques compared to players from other countries, but I felt a difference in mental aspects. This is something I have been continuously communicating to the players since I came to Japan. I believe that having a strong mentality allows us to play at a high level.
Q: What kind of reactions did you receive to your outreach?
A: I sensed dissatisfaction with the results this time. Experiences like this are very important. I hope you analyze, improve, and connect this to the next match or tournament.
[Player Interview]
＜Teruhito NAKAGAWA＞
Q: This will be a match against your former club, but please tell us your current feelings.
A, we are of course going for the win, and since we lost in the last match against Vissel Kobe, we absolutely want to avoid consecutive losses. They are a strong opponent, and personally, I am very excited to face my former club.
Q: We have not won against Yokohama F.Marinos in the last 5 matches. How will we strategize to overcome this?
A, my impression of Tokyo when I was with Yokohama FM was that there were many plays that skillfully opened up space with passes towards the goal, which made it difficult to play against. I felt a strong presence in one-on-one situations and at the ball. (In this match, as a member of Tokyo facing Yokohama FM) it is important to not give the opponent any freedom and to continue playing with high intensity. If we allow the opponent to have space in critical moments, it could turn into a situation like the last match against Kobe. I want to use the advantage of playing at home and approach the game with a stronger mindset than the opponent. It is clear to everyone that Yokohama FM is a good team, and I want to share with the entire team how we should strategize by watching past footage.
Q: Yokohama FM's Miyachi player returned to the pitch in an official match the other day. Please tell us about reuniting with player Miyachi on the pitch after overcoming a serious injury.
I think he endured and overcame a very long period of about 300 days, including rehabilitation. I saw him playing energetically in the Levain Cup match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and I am personally happy about it. Even with such a significant injury, I thought, "He is really fast," and I expect him to come on as a substitute, so he is someone to watch out for. However, I am looking forward to reuniting with player Miyaichi, who plays wearing the number 23, and I want us to grow together while pushing each other and achieving results. Besides Miyaichi, players like Kida, with whom I have played for a long time, and Matsubara, who is the same age, are also with Yokohama FM, so I want to show a "clean and intense play."
Q: Is the team's progress going as Nakagawa envisioned?
I think we are in a situation where there is a significant difference between good times and bad times. And that difference is very noticeable. In particular, during bad times, one misalignment affects the whole, and I feel a sense of fragility and weakness. I believe that gently stabilizing the ups and downs of our performance at a high level is a good state, and that is something the entire team feels. I think this also contributes to our poor winning rate in away games. Ultimately, it is us players who play on the pitch, and if we don't focus on ourselves rather than the opponent, the results will change, and our weaknesses will show. I want to change that aspect and bring stability to the team.
Q: Is there a feeling that the team is shifting in a positive direction following the match against Yokohama FM?
First of all, I think it is very significant to be able to play against Yokohama FM at home. I want to demonstrate the strength gained from the home advantage. Just because the opponent is Yokohama FM, who has strong attacking power, we should not just defend; I believe that to showcase Tokyo's strengths, we must approach the defending champions as challengers, and not show too much respect, as I think that is the key to victory. Ultimately, it comes down to how much mental superiority we can maintain.
Q: It seems that the sense of unity as a team is increasing day by day.
I believe that the team has a strong sense of unity, but it seems there is a bad habit of getting discouraged when we concede a goal. This impression is particularly evident in away games. Even if we concede a goal, we need to show the attitude of going for 2 or 3 goals as a team; otherwise, we cannot accumulate victories. The mental aspect after conceding the first goal greatly influences the outcome of the match, and even if we do concede, we must demonstrate the attitude of going for goals, as it would be unfair to the fans and supporters who are cheering for us. I believe we need to show a stronger commitment to winning.
Q: Finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
A, our performance at Ajinomoto is very good, and it is thanks to the cheers and support from our fans and supporters that we are able to play in a great atmosphere, as all the players feel. By creating an atmosphere of "going to defeat Marinos" together with the entire FC Tokyo, including fans and supporters, we feel the responsibility and motivation to respond to that. I believe many supporters will come from Yokohama as well, so I will fight with enthusiasm while enjoying it. I am also aiming for a goal, so let's win and sing 'Yuruneva' together.
<Koki TSUKAGAWA>
Q: After the match against Vissel Kobe, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA emphasized the "fighting spirit." What will you focus on for the match against Yokohama F.Marinos?
The coach conveyed that we should base our play on the intensity we showed in the recent match against Kawasaki Frontale, aiming for victory while holding onto the ball. Since we are up against Yokohama FM, we expect to spend a lot of time defending against their possession, but within that, we want to value the ball and aim for goals with quick attacks. This is something we have been working on in training this week, and I hope to express it well as a team.
Q: Speaking of the home match against Yokohama FM, you scored 2 goals last season. Is there anything you are personally aware of, such as compatibility?
In that match, I was able to score two goals from set plays. If I have the opportunity to play in tomorrow's match, I want to strike firmly. I know that I cannot stand on the pitch unless I continue to deliver results, so I want to actively aim for goals.
Q: Please tell us if there is anything the team has shared regarding the match against Yokohama FM.
A. I think the play that aggressively goes to the ball side to prevent the opponent from having freedom will increase. After the ball goes to the opponent's lone striker, it will be crucial to take the ball away, effectively limit their options, and quickly transition to attack after regaining possession against an opponent that is spread out during their attack. If we give them too much time, they will be able to play facing forward, so I believe it will also be important to respond with coordinated pressing. This is something we have been working on in practice this week, so I want to focus on executing coordinated plays effectively.
Q: Isn't this a match that you want to make a turning point for both the team and for Tsukagawa as an individual to make a comeback from here?
A, I have not fully become the core of the team, and for me, each match in front of me is very important. I have a desire to seize a good opportunity. I am playing in various positions, but I believe that showing results is everything. I want to continue playing with a focus on results. Playing in the position given by the coach and achieving results connects to my value as a player, and I think there are experiences to gain from playing in various positions. I believe that everything in soccer is interconnected, so I want to keep that in mind and do my best.
