Number 8 is in the center of the pitch.
He repeatedly pulls out the ball while making big gestures and hand movements, and searches for a switch in the attack by repeating small pass exchanges. If you watch the Tokyo game, you will immediately notice his presence.
This season, Takahiro KO joined Albirex Niigata on a full transfer. Although he struggled to get playing time at the beginning of the season, he took advantage of the opportunities that came his way and became an essential player as a strong linkman for the blue and red team.
His invisible weapon──. That is the power to read the game. In order to stack up victories against teams that often decide the game based on individual abilities, we are trying to add the power of adjustment and communication.
Both individually and as a team, there is still room for growth. However, he clearly sees the path for Tokyo to become stronger.
Text = Tomoaki Aoyama
──First of all, how do you look back on the battle so far?
Looking back at the first half, there were many games where I felt we could have gone higher, taken more points, and had to win. However, on the other hand, there were also games where we were able to come back and draw in difficult situations, and even win. In order to go even higher, it is absolutely necessary to minimize our ups and downs and go on a winning streak. Also, I strongly believe that we need to win at home in the second half, so I think that's how we can go higher.
──When looking back overall, there are times when we play good soccer and times when we struggle to find attacking options. What do you feel you have built up since the start of the season and what do you feel are the remaining challenges?
I also feel that very much. As I said earlier, there are waves in terms of content. How much can we aggressively start and challenge? When we are doing well, I think we can play our own soccer and get on a roll. However, when we are not doing well, we tend to defend and have a hard time challenging. When our intention to receive the ball is weak and our reaction to second balls is slow, I feel that it becomes a difficult game.
──I want to think about solving the problem there. As an impression, we struggle in games where we cannot switch to attacking or change the game after entering the attacking third, even if we are able to connect the ball.
I would like to create a better rhythm, so if there are players who are easy to use, I think they should be used easily. If you can take the back, you can run and use it easily. Tokyo has many players with high individual abilities, so there are situations where you can break through even as an individual. Of course, that's not a bad thing, so it would be good to be able to use both individual strength and organization to create a rhythm. We will enter the summer season from here, so I think it will be important to consider how to fight.
On the other hand, when I looked at the defense, I was concerned about the team's wastefulness in conceding points.
Honestly, there were many easy goals conceded. There were few scenes or goals completely destroyed, so most of them were self-destructive goals. I think it's a problem of concentration. Recently, these kinds of goals have decreased, so I want to fix them so that each individual can take responsibility and do their best.
──If we can reduce easy goals, our team's performance will improve.
That's for sure. I think we can see an improvement by reducing the number of goals conceded. The top teams have a low number of goals conceded, so that's an area we need to focus on. We have been able to make gradual improvements, and recently we have been more willing to put our bodies on the line in front of goal and our concentration has improved.
──Takasen is a player who transferred to Tokyo this season, and there was a time when he struggled to get playing time at the beginning of the season.
The most difficult thing about moving to Tokyo was playing while moving. Albirex Niigata was a team that played while maintaining the framework of the team and each individual's position. In Tokyo, it was more of a team where individuals were free to move while connected to the organization, so that was a struggle.
──I got my first chance to play in the Avispa Fukuoka match in the 4th round of the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League. By bringing the team their first victory of the season in this match, I will become a full-fledged "linkman" for the blue and red team.
Personally, I think that match against Avispa Fukuoka was a turning point. I had heard that we hadn't won in Fukuoka for about 20 seasons, so I thought, "We've got this." I felt that we were gradually improving during camp and practice matches, and the team hadn't won in the first three matches of the season, so I was prepared to be used at any time. Rather, it was a match where I approached with the determination that "if I can't get results here, my life in Tokyo will be over." I think it was a very good game in terms of both content and results, and we were able to show what we had prepared for.
──Player Takashi, who is playing as a Pim for the team, seems to be constantly giving instructions through gestures and talking during the game. What do you see, feel, think, and keep in mind on the pitch? Please tell us about your thoughts and actions.
I think I am in a position to connect with those around me, so it is important for me to be involved in both offense and defense. Speaking is the most important thing for me, or rather, it is the most important thing for me. In order to do that, it is necessary to "see". Not only do I need to grasp the flow of the game during the match, but I also think about how to design the 90 minutes, how to move the team in a good direction, and whether I can calculate how to win. It is about how to feel the flow during the match. Soccer is about having an opponent, so while aiming for our own soccer, we also take into account the opponent's system and condition, as well as the situation of our teammates, and make decisions while communicating.
──As I mentioned earlier, I was also referred to as a "linkman", but I have the impression that I am connecting the strengths of each player as a defensive midfielder.
Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI's football is a fast vertical attacking style, but personally, I want to create a good rhythm there. It is absolutely necessary to use a combination of fast vertical attacks and attacks that control time and the ball. I have talked with the coach about this and he has told me, "You can make decisions on the pitch," so I am conscious of playing in an organized manner while connecting well with the players around me.
──In the J1 League Sec. 21 match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, I heard that in the second half, you and Riki HARAKAWA talked about "it's time to make a move because the opponent's energy is dropping" and the team increased the pressure. Do you feel like you have improved your ability to read the flow of the game?
There are quite a few strong individual players in Tokyo, and it's all about how we can connect them. I think Tokyo is a club that is expected to win more, so I feel like I have developed a strong sense of controlling the game and getting closer to victory. During the match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, while talking with Muriqui, I could clearly see when the opponent was loosening up during that time, so we were saying, "This is where we can finish them off."
──Did coming to Tokyo change your mindset in terms of focusing on reading the flow of the game?
It has definitely changed. I have come to Tokyo and realized how important it is to see those aspects as a defensive midfielder.
──As the opponent comes up with countermeasures against Tokyo, what can we do when things don't go well? I think that will be a major point in the second half of the season.
There are always games where we are forced to be in a disadvantageous position, like the away game against Shonan Bellmare in the 19th round. It is crucial to have the ability to win in those types of games, so it was a big deal to earn 3 points there. However, playing those types of games multiple times can be physically and mentally challenging (laughs). As I mentioned before, it is important to reduce the ups and downs as much as possible. As a team, we need to hold on and keep a clean sheet during difficult times. In addition, it is necessary to discuss and make adjustments during halftime or after the game, but it is also crucial to have the ability to sense and make adjustments based on the atmosphere and rhythm during the game. It is important to be able to take action while making adjustments from here on out. We are gradually getting better at it, but there are still areas where we lack strength, so as a team and personally, I want to continue to sense and communicate more to connect the team together.
- As a team, the one-touch passes and vertical passes by Takase have become the switch for our attack, changing the rhythm of the game.
There seems to be an increase in the number of balls being challenged in the attacking third this season. There are also scenes where this leads to successful scoring. With many strong players in the front line, I want to supply them with good situations while challenging. The only thing left is to not lose the ball. As long as we try in the front line, we can recover the ball, so I want to continue challenging while improving the quality as an individual.
──Well, on July 13th there will be a match against Niigata at the Japan National Stadium.
The atmosphere of the Japan National Stadium is truly amazing. I was also impressed by the player entrance production and the large number of fans and supporters who come to support us, which boosts our motivation. I noticed that they use projection mapping during the team huddle. It's definitely entertaining (laughs).
──At the Japan National Stadium, there was a "phantom goal" in the Urawa Reds match (J1 League Sec. 7). It was a beautiful mid-range shot, but...
There it was (laughs). It was cancelled because Kuryu MATSUKI was in an offside position.
──I still haven't been able to score my first goal in Tokyo. I have the impression that I am completely the backbone of the team when it comes to creating the game, but personally, I also want to do the job of deciding the game, such as finishing and assisting.
I still have the desire to aim for it, and I haven't been able to take many shots, so I do think about getting into the goal area more. However, as a major premise, I value risk management and team balance, so if there is a chance, that's the feeling.
- This season, the team is playing a style of soccer where the opposite side back enters the cross of the side back, so risk management in the back is still the key.
Well, this year, there are many scenes where the fullbacks go up and enter the penalty area, so it's inevitable that us midfielders will have to stay back and maintain balance. However, I still want to do my decisive job of making the last pass or taking a shot. I think if the midfielders can score, it will make the team easier, so I want to always be conscious of aiming for a mid-range shot.
──The opponent is the Niigata match against the former team. We won away last time.
I want to win again this time and definitely achieve a season double. I often watch Niigata's games and I think they are a wonderful team. It seems that everyone, both players and staff, are fighting without wavering while valuing the part of building up by connecting the ball.
──So, how will we finish this time?
It's about where we block and how we press. When we played away, my plan worked really well. It depends on the opponent's team, but we want to think and play well while watching the flow of the game on the pitch this time as well.
──What do you think about the possibility that Tokyo holds this season?
The first half of the season, there were games where we could have gotten more points, so if we can develop the strength to win those games and as a team, we should be able to go even higher. And of course, the importance of winning at home is also crucial. In the start of the second half, we were able to win against Sapporo at Ajinomoto Stadium, and the game against Fukuoka, which became a series of home games, was a game we definitely wanted to win, but unfortunately we lost. As a team, we need to become better at winning those kinds of games. The word "adaptability" will continue to be a keyword, so both as a team and individually, we need to be able to be more flexible and adapt to our opponents. Personally, I want to make a bigger impact on both offense and defense. First and foremost, we need to stay grounded and focus on winning one game at a time, and that's what I want to strive for.
