The defensive cornerstone who knows the blue and red inside out and the attacking axis who is seriously eager to change the blue and red have finally sat down together and exchanged words. Although the two are completely different in character, demeanor, and way of speaking, the passion they hold in their hearts and the vision they envision for the end of this season are the same.
While experiencing everything in Tokyo, the player wearing number 3, who has yet to taste the flavor of league victory, and the player wearing number 39, who has come to Tokyo to achieve his third league championship, shared their thoughts on the current Tokyo and their aspirations for this season in their own words.
──The combination of the two of you is unusual, isn't it? (laughs)
Masato MORISHIGE That's rare (laughs).
Teruhito NAKAGAWA Isn't this your first time?
Mori Shige That's right, it's the first time.
──What was your impression of spending time as teammates last season?
Teru Morishige has his own pace and is definitely laid-back. However, he looks flashy and I thought he would be more lively, but surprisingly, he is the type to take things easy at his own pace. There was that gap, I guess (laughs). What about Teru?
Nakagawa He was just as I imagined him to be.
Morishige No way, really? (laughs)
Nakagawa He has captaincy, and I felt like he was looking over the team, trying to hold things together. However, when I faced him, he was a really annoying player... I thought he was intense and had some bad habits (laughs).
Mori Shige Teru tends to fidget a bit (laughs).
Do you remember anything from the match you played?
Morishige I clearly remember the scene where I took down Teru and got sent off for a penalty kick. The match we lost 0-8 (2021 Season J1 Sec. 35 @ Nissan Stadium)……(bitter smile). At first, the referee let it go, but it was when VAR came in and it became a penalty kick.
Nakagawa I remember that too. But as an opponent, it was really unpleasant. Your reading is sharp, and you're passionate (laughs).
Mori Shige I get really fired up during the match (laughs).
Nakagawa: That's why, when he became my teammate, he was incredibly reliable. Of course, he has passion, and he connects plays from the back, holds off defenders, and delivers passes right where they need to be, which has been a huge help.
Morishige I felt reliable from this side too. He is a player who can make a difference in attack. In recent years, there haven't been many Japanese players who can create a difference in attack, so having a player with experience and achievements come in, I felt once again how impressive that is when working together.
──I often saw you running together after training last season.
Nakagawa While jogging, we talked about "wanting to do this" and "wanting to do that," including Yuto NAGATOMO.
Morishige I'm curious about what people coming from outside think when they enter Tokyo. The habits that are normal in Tokyo have become normal for me as well, so there are parts where I don't understand the different feelings. That's why I want to know if players coming from outside feel any discomfort. But it must have been difficult to ask right from the start (laughs).
Nakagawa It was a bit of a trial and error there (laughs).
Sitting deeply on the sofa for our first discussion, sipping coffee, we reminisced about the times we faced each other while laughing and revealed our impressions of one another. The atmosphere was pleasant at first, but when the topic shifted to this season's team, the expressions on their faces sharpened instantly, and straightforward words followed. It was a demand for the team, a declaration born from a genuine desire to win. In other words, it sounded like a "we can't stay as we are" and "we can do more" cry from the heart.
──As we reach the end of the camp, how do you feel about the progress and preparation so far?
Mori Shige I don't feel much of a response. But I wonder if that's okay. From here, we need to continue with training matches and work on improvements, so I think we are currently in that cycle. How we solve the issues that arise is important. I feel that we should engage more in that kind of work. I think it's essential for everyone to express their thoughts clearly, lay them out on the table, and discuss them.
Nakagawa There are things we can do now. It's a time when it's okay to fail while thoroughly connecting from the back. We are working on improving and leading to success through challenges. The points for improvement became clear during the camp, and there were several good plays. If we continue to do that, I believe everyone can grasp a good image and a good sense of distance.
Morishige Rather, the discussion of that premise is important. There are things we want to do as a team, but I feel that everyone is still not able to challenge themselves proactively enough. I believe that when everyone starts to act with confidence and initiative, various gears will finally start to mesh together. In this kind of soccer, there will inevitably be errors, so we have to keep expressing what each of us thinks and feels, while challenging ourselves and repeatedly working on correcting those mistakes. Making many mistakes and accumulating that experience as a team is the most important thing right now. It’s good to have strong expressions of intent like, "I want to do it this way" or "I will do it this way" in each position. I still feel like there is a tendency to play while looking around cautiously.
──I felt that the words of player Morishige now are similar to the words I often heard from player Nakagawa last season.
Nakagawa I have a strong desire to change Tokyo. Of course, my goal is to win. For that, there are things to learn from losing, and there are things I have gained during camp, but the truth is that both as a team and as individuals, there are many more things we need to do. With new players coming in, I want to communicate and work together. I believe this team has great potential for growth, so if we can do that, I think we can become a good team.
Morishige It's okay to express your desired play style and strengths more selfishly. Especially for the forwards, they should play more freely and unleashed, while the players behind them can cover well. It might be difficult now because the age group in the back is older, but I think it's best if the forwards can play as they like while the back adjusts and fights. I want everyone to play a little more freely.
Nakagawa There are designated positions, but in attack, individual imagination can confuse the opponent, so it's good to increase plays that enjoy outsmarting the opponent. It's true that creating a shape for the attack is important, but that alone won't necessarily break down the opponent. Therefore, I think plays with surprise and trickiness are necessary. If the forwards can share their images and play while considering each other's individual characteristics, chances and goals will increase. Also, the awareness of switching when losing the ball or making mistakes is something the forwards need to activate. We need to change the fact that this is still slow.
Mori Shige As a defensive line, we need to push forward more from the front, and if we demand that, we also have to play responsibly at the back. By continuously asking more from those around me, the expectations for myself will also rise, but I want to create an atmosphere where we can be strict with ourselves and each other without fear, and elevate the team to greater heights.
The second part is here
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golasso)
