We will publish the discussion between coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA and Mr. Kazuyuki TODA at the 2022 FC Tokyo new system announcement held on January 15, 2022, as well as the continuation of the discussion that took place in a separate room due to time constraints on stage.
If you would like to watch the discussion in video form, please check the YouTube link at the end of this article.
New System Announcement Conference
Mr. Toda
Hello. I usually work as a coach, but I also do commentary (match analysis), which is why I was invited to this event.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
used to be somewhat good at soccer in the past...
Mr. Toda
wasn't that good and was the type to play hard (laughs)
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I heard he was somewhat good at handling the ball (laughs)
Mr. Toda
Just a little bit (laughs)
After finishing the challenge in Niigata, a new challenge begins at the capital's club this time. From the earlier discussion (the talk given by Coach Albert before the interview), I can sense an understanding of Japan, but first, please tell us how you viewed FC Tokyo's last season.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I watched various matches. FC Tokyo had some good games, but I think there were also many matches that were not necessarily so good. The previous coach had been in charge for several years, and there were certainly wonderful seasons. However, people's memories tend to clearly remember how things ended. In that sense, I believe the end of last season did not conclude in a good way, and that remains in memory.
Mr. Toda
I will talk about the style of soccer.
The style that Coach Albert has been promoting, which was mentioned in previous interviews as "traveling together," involves maintaining possession of the ball, controlling the game, and of course pressing. This is likely different from the pressing style and counter-attacking style that FC Tokyo has advocated. It is also a challenge in a new environment, but I believe it is a decision made by the club in terms of soccer style. Moving forward, how much time do you think will be needed to instill Coach Albert's philosophy, and what do you think will be necessary in training from now on?
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Coach
It is possible to predict to some extent how much time will be needed. In my vision, the first six months will likely be a period of considerable struggle. During these initial six months, various things need to be tried and adjustments must be made. After about six months, I believe the team and players will have a sufficient understanding of the new playing style and will begin to perform well, although mistakes will naturally continue to occur. After continuing this for one season, it is quite expected that the second season will start off well from the beginning. If the project continues into the third season, it is anticipated that the team will play at an even higher level. Following that, I believe even greater successes can be achieved. For me, a major success is to continuously create a flow where young players from the academy steadily move up to the top team in a team where such a base has been established. Additionally, the foreign players who join must be those who can clearly offer something different to the team.
Mr. Toda
In that sense, with the arrival of a new coach, will they establish standards and expectations for the team to work on together, regardless of age, starting from training?
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
Outside the pitch, you must naturally show respect to those who are senior to you. However, it is different on the pitch. Whether you are 35 years old or 16 years old, once you are on the pitch, it is the same. Football gives equal opportunities to tall players, short players, slim players, and overweight players. Tomorrow, I will meet all the players for the first time, and I have a key message I want to convey to them. The most important thing is that the team is united. Without that, success cannot be achieved. What matters is that the team comes together, regardless of age or nationality.
And the playing style I seek requires combinations between players. Combinations cannot be expressed without a strong bond between players. Players are not robots. I want each individual to express their imagination and their own personality on the pitch. At the same time, each person must sweat for the team. They must run. Because if even one person slacks off, the team's overall quality will dramatically decrease. Therefore, the most important thing is that the team is united.
Mr. Toda
I think that Tokyo has players who can run with great dedication. On the other hand, in terms of Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's philosophy and style, it seems to be the opposite. I don't think they will do the same thing as Niigata, but is it generally difficult to skillfully guide players who have the ability to break through and are very good at running under the coach's philosophy?
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
The playing style I aim to pursue in Tokyo is no different from that of Niigata. However, the team is about maximizing the individuality of each player on the pitch. In that sense, understanding the personalities of the players in front of me right now and allowing those personalities to shine is what the playing style is about. For example, I believe that even under Guardiola, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City expressed different styles of play. At Barcelona, with players like Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi, they almost never lost the ball. While there is a fundamental playing style, the individuality expressed changes when the players change, and naturally, the team's personality also changes.
Mr. Toda
It is just the right time, and since I still have some questions, for the sake of the proceedings, I would like to continue the conversation in a separate room.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
Thank you.
After the announcement of the new structure - In a separate room
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
The playing style varies by player, but it doesn't necessarily require players with extraordinary abilities. There are various playing styles, and preferences exist, but what is most important as a coach is that players grow. I like the playing style that can promote player development. Naturally, the higher the quality of the players, the more success can be achieved. This is true for other playing styles as well; if you have players at a higher level, you can achieve more success. However, if there is a difference between other playing styles and the one I prefer, I believe that the style I prefer can promote player growth simultaneously.
I will ask Mr. Toda a question instead.
I think you have played for a long time as a player, but what kind of playing style do you think is suitable for the characteristics of Japanese players?
Mr. Toda
Basically, I think that in terms of physical aspects and power, we are inferior compared to Western Europe and South America. On the other hand, culturally, the mentality of working together to create things, including a spirit of self-criticism, is something that Japanese people possess. I have experience playing in Europe, and I believe there is a strong willingness to learn. However, there is also a great respect for elders or superiors, and rather than putting forward one's own ideas, there is a skill in sensing the atmosphere of the situation and adjusting accordingly to find the right balance. To effectively demonstrate this on the pitch, I think it is necessary to break down the barriers of age and have the mindset to challenge oneself without fearing mistakes.
In simple terms, there are few people in Japan who are assertive. If this can be guided in a positive direction, it could lead to playing with awareness of the team and group. Additionally, depending on the behavior of the coach and others, there may be a tendency among Japanese people to want to avoid failure or lean towards that direction.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
The point we are discussing now is about having the right mentality that is focused on competition.
Mr. Toda played in Europe, didn't he?
Mr. Toda
played in England and the Netherlands.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I think there was a significant difference between England and the Netherlands.
Mr. Toda
was completely different.
Played for Tottenham and ADO Den Haag in 2003-2004.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
Was there a strong commitment to competition in England?
Mr. Toda
was strong, wasn't he?
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
The Netherlands is…
Mr. Toda
It's about playing more first in the Netherlands, isn't it?
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
While the Netherlands has a very clear playing style, I think there are some aspects where they lack in terms of competitiveness. I believe the previous point was very accurate, as Japanese players have a very high level of technique. Moreover, in a broad sense, their tactical aspects are certainly not bad. However, I think there are areas for improvement in terms of situational judgment and making decisions on their own. I believe that the fear of making mistakes, which was mentioned earlier, is connected to the struggle to make bold decisions. Interestingly, despite Japanese players not being physically superior to players from Europe, South America, or Africa, I was honestly surprised to see that in Japan, there are many teams that prioritize physical play like in England.
Mr. Toda
In terms of style, Tokyo was the same.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I'm not criticizing, but I believe it's important to showcase our individuality and strengths. For example, the Spanish national team couldn't win anything for a long time. However, domestic clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have always competed for supremacy in Europe. Despite having such wonderful clubs, it has often been questioned why the Spanish national team's performance was so poor. At that time, the Spanish national team emphasized the importance of 'having to fight,' but then coach Luis Aragones came and changed everything. 'The ball must roll. Let's play good football.' The Spanish national team effectively utilized the talents of Xavi and Iniesta. A team that had achieved nothing became champions in Europe, won the World Cup, and has since grown into a country that consistently competes at the top level.
I believe we must aim for something that suits our individuality. Including Mr. Toda, what we must do as coaches is to understand the individuality of each player in front of us and to draw out that individuality; I think that is our mission. In many cases, coaches try to change players or treat them like pieces on a chessboard. I think that when people get married, they sometimes try to change their partner to fit their preferences, but that often doesn't work, and in many cases, people cannot change (laughs).
I believe that the playing style we prefer is one that allows players to showcase their individuality. Like a puzzle, it is the coach's job to slightly adjust player positions and find better combinations that can effectively complement each player's strengths and weaknesses. For example, let's say there is a highly active fullback who excels at joining attacks from the side. Similarly, there is a winger who is good at making runs into space. What would happen if we used both of them on the same side? I think their strengths would overlap, and they wouldn't be able to perform well. By combining players with different individualities, I believe we can create combinations that bring out each other's strengths.
Mr. Toda
Earlier, there was a discussion about how Japanese players do not have a poor understanding of tactics, but while leading in Niigata, what was your impression of the players' understanding of their positions and tactics? I have been to Spain and have seen and experienced various things, but I think there is a high possibility that players in Japan have not received such coaching and are relying on their instincts.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
In any field, it is difficult for the other party to understand what you want to convey. First of all, as a coach, if you do not deeply understand what you want to express down to the details, it is difficult to convey it clearly to the players. When I went to Niigata two years ago, there were many players, including foreign players, who had never played in the playing style I expected. Additionally, many of the players we reinforced were those who had not been given much playing time at their previous clubs. First, we had to organize the team, but in addition to that, we also needed to improve the work within the club to be more suitable as a professional club, not just the playing style. Furthermore, we had to observe the players who had not played in this style until now to determine which players were suitable for which positions.
In the second season, players who adapted to my playing style remained, and we reinforced the team by acquiring suitable players from outside. To enhance the team's completeness with a greater sense of speed, we focused on a composition centered around Japanese players in the second year. In that sense, I believe we were able to play well from the start of the second season. The team's completeness improved, and we were able to express the expected plays as a team, but we were lacking in decisiveness when it came to the final finish.
For Niigata, the 2022 season marks my third season since taking office, and I believe many players will remain and continue the team's style. I sincerely hope they will grow even further. Last season, we had a wonderful and high-quality forward lineup. I am very satisfied with their performance. However, we often faced situations where opposing teams adapted to our playing style and fortified their defense in front of the goal with more players. Scoring against such teams is indeed not easy.
What I take pride in is that we were able to create a very good atmosphere within the team. I felt that the fans and supporters of Niigata also liked this playing style. It is my pride that over 10,000 fans and supporters came to the stadium. And I sincerely wish for Niigata's success in the new season. I want to implement similar reforms here in Tokyo, and of course, I want to bring out the individuality of each player.
Mr. Toda
Tokyo has very fast, strong, and skilled players lined up in front. As you may know, the base style has been 4-4-2, pushing forward. Within that, I think they will probably work on slowing down a bit, taking good positions between the central midfielders and center-backs, controlling the opponent, and breaking the press. I believe the style will change quite a bit, and from an outsider's perspective, it seems challenging. How will they approach this?
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
Of course, I think it's complicated. But I believe we can do it.
Mr. Toda
This club had a style similar to Athletic Bilbao, so I think it will be a challenging job. That's why I want to look forward to it. In recent years, excellent coaches from Spain have come to the J-League, and I believe Japanese football is definitely changing.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
Even when talking about Spain, it cannot be generalized, as there are various differences. While it is said that the ball is important, there are many ways to value it. However, I believe that at the youth development stage, the play that values the ball is fundamentally expressed throughout Spain. It is quite rare to find clubs or teams at the youth level that do not value the ball. However, there are various differences in playing styles at the top team level.
Mr. Toda
There are also people like Coach Bordalas.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
It is true that many coaches consider the ball to be the main character. In the Netherlands, most coaches tend to aim for the same style.
Mr. Toda
I like the diversity of Spain. In Tokyo, there are physically strong players who can run and break through, but until now they have tended to aim for the goal in a more linear way. With Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA coming in, there is hope that many players, who are probably eager to learn, will change. I am looking forward to that.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I mentioned during the announcement of the new system that there is a possibility of struggling for the first six months, but assuming the team is united, the higher the quality of the players, the shorter the time needed for completion will be. However, to achieve anything, unity is indeed necessary. This is not only within the team but also requires the entire club to be united. Moreover, it is essential for not just the players but also the fans and supporters to be united.
Mr. Toda
The support from the fans in Tokyo is wonderful, just like in Niigata.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
In my first season in Niigata, I did not achieve good results, but many fans and supporters were hoping for my continuation. In that sense, a professional club is a club that exists because of its fans and supporters, so I believe it depends on how many fans and supporters will stick with us and support us.
Mr. Toda
I believe everyone will definitely support and have expectations, so I am looking forward to the new challenge.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
For me, and for the club, the presence of fans and supporters is very important. That is why we must not lie to them. It would be a lie to guarantee something that cannot be guaranteed, such as achieving these kinds of match results, so I believe we must speak sincerely and honestly with our fans and supporters. Of course, I guarantee that we will give our all to aim for victory in every match. However, I anticipate that there may be difficulties in achieving good results at the start of the season with the playing style we aim for.
Mr. Toda
I may be delivering the match as a commentator, so I will make an effort to watch carefully and convey what I am working on.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I'll check everything properly later, so if you criticize various things, it won't be taken lightly (laughs). If you criticize, I'll go watch Mr. Toda's match and point out the issues strictly (laughs).
Mr. Toda
I am also a coach, so I understand the difficulty of creating something new and how precious it is. I will make an effort to communicate it properly.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I will keep the door open for Mr. Toda, so I hope he can come to practice and the office anytime.
[Discussion Video]
1. New System Announcement Conference (24 minutes 02 seconds -)
② After the announcement of the new system - in a separate room
