Verdy won the Emperor's Cup match yesterday and is still undefeated with 3 wins and 1 draw. Peter CKLAMOVSKI, who is leading the team despite taking over in the middle of the season, has improved the team's situation. What has changed for Tokyo, who had lost 3 consecutive games before the new coach took over?
Mr. Takashi MIZUNUMA, who provided commentary for the Kashiwa Reysol match on July 1st and the Urawa Reds match on July 8th, spoke about the changes in Tokyo.
Commentary: Takashi MIZUNUMA
Q, From coach Albert to coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI, where do you feel the most change?
Mr. Mizunuma
Above all, it's about defense, as shown by the results. We have had three consecutive clean sheets. It's clear that the intensity has improved. Tokyo has a strong impression of being able to produce results when they have a clear plan. I think that's the current state. With a new coach, we were able to improve our defense in a good way, and we have kept clean sheets in all three games. Now, it's important to see how we can connect our attacks from here.
Q, Please tell me specifically what changes you feel in defense.
Mr. Mizunuma
The strength of the center back is completely different. It depends on whether the center back can block the vertical pass from the opponent's forward or not. Coach Klamovski often uses the word "rule", but the center back should be in a position where they must block the vertical pass. In that case, the players around them will take their positions assuming that the center back will block, and the subsequent formation will also be organized. Some teams try to "blur" this, and in Japan, some teams stay a little longer in the intermediate position, so they are not afraid to enter the goal area and defend when the opponent comes in. However, Tokyo has eliminated this "blur". Therefore, if they can win the ball in a high position, the short counterattack will definitely work. That's the biggest change. After watching these three games, it seems that Henrique Trevisan will become a key player in defense.
Q, What is your impression of the three games since Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI took office?
Mr. Mizunuma
The Nagoya Grampus match had a really good way of scoring goals. I think the high intensity of aiming for both goals in a short counter-attack style led to the goals. In the Kashiwa Reysol match, we were able to seal off the opponent's attacks and only allowed 3 shots on goal. The goals were also scored in a different way from the Nagoya match, with the wide players being involved. However, in the Urawa Reds match, we were constantly being hit with long balls and our defense was broken down from the front line.
Q, Do you feel that creating a rhythm in defense will also lead to a rhythm in attack at this point?
Mr. Mizunuma
In the Nagoya match, the number of sprints was 156, which was higher than the running distance, and in the Kashiwa match, the number of sprints was slightly lower, but the running distance was higher. However, in the Urawa match, the running distance was higher, but we lost in the number of sprints, so I may have had the image of being forced to run. Intensity is easy to understand when looking at the number of sprints, so there may have been a feeling that I couldn't go on the defensive.
Q, please give us a preview of the Kashima Antlers match on July 16th (Sunday).
Mr. Mizunuma
I think the most important part will be the transition because both teams are strong. Coach Klamovski talks a lot about transition, but Kashima is not inferior in that aspect. Also, they may come with power-based long balls, so it's important not to be intimidated. If we look at it positively, we have a high winning rate at Ajinomoto Stadium and our current momentum is good, so I think we have a good chance of winning without losing at the difficult Saitama Stadium 2002.
Q, After the Kashima game, we will enter the break period, but in the future, what will make the team become an interesting team?
Mr. Mizunuma
I think it will change even more if a true winger like Watanabe (Ryoma WATANABE) comes back. It will be interesting if talents like Teruhito NAKAGAWA and Adailton are gathered in the front line. It's big that Kyosuke TAGAWA has come back. The question is who will play the role of connecting the final line and the front line. The best is for Ryoma WATANABE to be in the center and Teruhito to be on the right. Wide players are wingers, so they often stay wide and it's important to gather people in the center to keep the outside free. In that sense, I don't think there is a "key" position here.
Q, it seems that the stability of the defense that you mentioned at the beginning will be a key factor in connecting to the attack in the future.
Mr. Mizunuma
Because it is impossible to improve both attack and defense at the same time, it is natural for Coach Klamovski to focus on improving the number of goals conceded first. However, I believe that what Coach Klamovski is aiming for is not only defensive strength, but also how to take control of the game in attack. Whether it was with Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama F.Marinos, or with Shimizu S-Pulse and Montedio Yamagata where he was in charge, they were able to play great soccer when they were able to take control in attack. It will be interesting to see how he will bring that to Tokyo. I think that work will start from now on, so I will be keeping an eye on it.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golazo, FC Tokyo Correspondent)
