The key to defense, who knows blue and red inside out, and the core of the attack, who is determined to change blue and red, met for the first time and exchanged words while facing each other. Although the two have completely different characters, behavior, and way of speaking, they both share the same passion in their hearts and envision the same scenery at the end of this season.
Number 3, who has yet to taste the victory of the league, came to Tokyo with everything in hand, while number 39, who is aiming for his third league victory, shared their thoughts on Tokyo and this season in their own words.
──The combination of the two of you is unusual, isn't it (lol)?
Masato MORISHIGE It's rare, isn't it? (laughs).
Teruhito NAKAGAWA Isn't this your first time?
Morishige Yeah, it's my first time.
──What was your impression of spending time with your teammates last season?
Mori Shige Teru has his own pace and is very laid-back. However, he looks flashy like this, so I thought he would be a more energetic person, but he surprisingly does things at his own pace. Was there a gap there (laughs)? What about Teru?
Nakagawa He was just as I imagined.
Morishige Really? (lol)
Nakagawa I felt like he was looking down on the team and trying to organize it properly as the captain. But when we played against him, he was a really nasty player... He was intense, and I thought he had a bad habit of using his hands (lol).
Morishige Tell is a little bit of a prankster (laughs).
──Do you remember anything from the match you played?
Mori Shige What I remember clearly is the scene where Tel was knocked down and it became a PK and I was sent off. It was a game we lost 0-8 (2021 J1 season Sec. 35 @ Nissan Stadium)... (bitter laugh). At first, the referee let it go, but then VAR came in and it became a PK.
Nakagawa I remember that too. But, like I said earlier, it was really unpleasant as an opponent. He was sharp and passionate (laughs).
Morishige I get really fired up during games (lol).
It was really reassuring to become teammates with Nakagawa. Not only is he passionate, but he also connects and supports from behind, and he always puts the ball in the perfect spot (with his through passes), which is a huge help.
Mori Shige I also felt reliable. He is a player who can create a difference in attack. In recent years, there haven't been many Japanese players who can create a difference in attack, so it was impressive to have a player with experience and achievements come in and play together.
──Last season, I often saw them running together after training.
Nakagawa While jogging, we talked about what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it, including Yuto NAGATOMO.
Morishige People who come from outside and enter Tokyo, I wonder what they think. In Tokyo, things that are normal for me have become normal, so there are parts that I don't understand the different sensations. So I want to know if there are any uncomfortable things for players who come from outside. But even if I asked from the beginning, it would have been difficult to say (laughs).
Nakagawa There, it was a cautious approach (lol).
Sitting deeply on the sofa for the first interview, sipping coffee and laughing together, they looked back on the time when they were playing against each other, revealing their impressions of each other in a friendly atmosphere. However, as the conversation shifted to this season's team, their eyes suddenly sharpened and they spoke in a straightforward manner. It was a demand for the team, a declaration of their determination to win. In other words, it sounded like a "cry from the heart" saying "we can't continue like this" and "we can do more".
──How do you feel about the progress and results so far as we approach the end of the camp?
MoriShige The feeling is not very good. But, is that okay? I think we are in the process of that cycle now, where we have to continue training matches and work on improving. How do we solve the challenges that come up? I think we should do more of that kind of work. It is most necessary to express what everyone is thinking, put it on the table and discuss it.
Nakagawa There are things that can be done now. It's a good time to try and connect from behind, even if it fails. We are working on improving while challenging and connecting to success. The points for improvement were clearly identified at the camp, and there were also some good plays. If we continue to do that, I think everyone will be able to grasp a good image and a good sense of distance.
MoriShige Rather, the important thing is the premise of that, there are things that the team wants to do, but I feel that there is still room for everyone to actively challenge. I think that only when everyone starts to do it actively with confidence, various gears will finally come together. In this kind of soccer, there are always errors, so each person has to keep expressing what they think and feel, and keep repeating the process of challenging and correcting it. It is important to make a lot of mistakes and accumulate that experience as a team. It's good to have a strong will to say "I want to do this" or "I will do this" in each position. I still feel like I'm playing while looking around.
──Mori Shige's words now are similar to the words I often heard from Nakagawa player last season.
Nakagawa I have a strong desire to change Tokyo. Of course, our goal is to win the championship. In order to achieve that, there are times when we lose and learn from it, and there are also times when we learn from it during training camp. As a team and as individuals, there are many things we need to do better. With new players joining, I want to communicate and work together. I think this team has a lot of potential for growth, so if we can do that, we can become a great team.
Morishige I think it's okay to be more selfish and show off your own style of play. Especially for the players in the front line, if they can play more freely and be released, it would be great if the players in the back can cover for them. Maybe it's difficult now because the back line is older, but I think it's best for the front line players to play as they like while the back line makes adjustments. I want everyone to play more freely.
Nakagawa There is a designated position, but in attack, individual imagination can confuse the opponent, so it's good to increase plays that can enjoy and deceive the opponent. It's definitely better to create an attacking shape, but that alone won't break the opponent. That's why I think unexpected plays and tricky plays are necessary. If the players in the front line can share the same image and play while taking into account each other's individual characteristics, chances and goals will increase. Also, the awareness of switching when losing or making a mistake is also important, but the players in the front line need to turn on the switch. We still need to change that slow part.
MoriShige As a defensive unit, we need to push forward more and take responsibility for our play in the back. By demanding more from those around us, the expectations placed on ourselves will also increase. But I want to create an atmosphere where we can push ourselves and those around us to be strict without fear, and elevate the team to new heights.
Click here for Part 2
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golasso)
