About two months have passed since the Australian coach's deep and powerful voice began to resonate at the training ground in Kodaira, and the team's outline is gradually taking a solid shape. At the center of this are "rules" and "hard work." These two are the keywords for PEACE STADIUM Tokyo.
Immediately after taking office, coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI has dedicated time to instilling the "rules". This has mainly focused on defense, clarifying each player's role for different situations.
Keigo HIGASHI explains his aim.
"For example, when an opponent runs behind the fullback, we have to decide whether the defensive midfielder will follow, the center-back will follow, or the wide midfielder will follow. It's a difficult judgment to make, but we need to clarify that 'the defensive midfielder will follow.' When that is understood, other players can adjust their movements accordingly. Essentially, it's mostly about defense, but there are increasing 'rules' in that sense."
As one of the double pivot players, Kuryu MATSUKI maintains the overall balance of the team, expressing this clearly. "Thanks to the many 'rules', if someone slacks off, it becomes completely obvious. That is all a personal responsibility, and substitutions are possible." As can be understood from MATSUKI's words, the ambiguous situations on the pitch have been decreasing. In the last match before the J1 League break, they suffered a defeat against Kashima Antlers, conceding 3 goals, but the three consecutive matches without conceding since the debut can be said to be the result of the 'rules'.
Another thing, when you unravel the meaning of the word "hard work," it quickly becomes clear that it does not simply mean "just run recklessly." The true meaning is "mental hard work." Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI reveals his thoughts.
"Not wasting a single second, focusing on the details. Even in tough situations, moving the mind allows the body to move as well. Even when tired, making decisions without stopping. When all 11 players do this, it becomes an incredible 'hard work.' That might be the meaning of the term 'hard work' that I use."
Kei KOIZUMI will explain this idea of the coach using specific examples. Kenta KAWAI, who served as head coach under Coach CKLAMOVSKI at Montedio Yamagata, reminisced a bit as he spoke about the top hard worker he trained at Sagan Tosu.
"I don't think it's a matter of who is imitating whom; rather, I believe it's because we respect each other. The practice routines and the things Peter and Kenta want to convey in meetings are similar. For me, it feels nostalgic. For example, during the ball passing drills, I was reminded of the feeling of being told by the 'oni' side, 'Do it at 100 percent for one minute.' Kenta often said that when I was in Tosu, but to be honest, I had almost forgotten that feeling after coming to Tokyo."
During the more than two-week break, we have been conducting quite intense training every day, aiming to improve in every aspect (Coach Klamovski). New players Kosuke SHIRAI and Riki HARAKAWA are also feeling positive and confident.
"The intensity of the practice is high, and there are unique drills, so it's rare for the ball movement to not change. Also, the build-up has quite a few patterns, and since we play while looking at nearby players, our heads are constantly active, which is tough. But it's fun!" (Shirai)
"It's a tough and high-intensity practice, but it's condensed and rich in content. Well, there's no time for my mind or body to rest (laughs). I haven't been given any special demands as a defensive midfielder yet, but it seems there are a few 'rules' on the defensive side, and I think the build-up will involve choosing from the patterns presented on the pitch. I believe I will be the one making the choices, so how well we share the game over 90 minutes will be important." (Harakawa)
So what kind of soccer are we aiming for in the future? Borrowing Koizumi's words again, that shape begins to emerge. Based on the experience of the "brotherly relationship" in Tosu, number 37 testifies as follows.
"I want to make Tokyo's soccer more distinct. I believe we will become stronger if we can say, 'This is Tokyo's soccer.' In any case, we will play aggressively, both in attack and defense. In defense, we will press aggressively from the front and set a high line, and in attack, if there is even a little space, we will break through behind and aggressively challenge from the sides, putting fast balls between the defense line and the goalkeeper. I want to clearly establish this as our style."
To become a team that excites everyone with soccer, feared by opponents who do not want to face us, and to aim for places we have yet to reach. That is the ambition of the commander. We are still in the midst of it. The journey is long. Nevertheless, we are gradually shedding the unnecessary and adding what is needed, moving forward step by step.
"What we are doing now is leading us to become the type of team we envision" (Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI)
Everyone on the pitch works hard for the team and follows the rules to win. That is the ideal of PITA Tokyo, which strives for the best football in Japan.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golazo, FC Tokyo Correspondent)
