The discomfort turned into empathy, and emotions overflowed from frustration.
What springs up in my heart is the thirst for victory, and the thoughts of gratitude and solidarity.
Want to win. Must win.
Number 39 runs on the pitch with all his soul to make everyone involved with blue and red smile.
After the long whistle announcing the 6th winless game, Teruhito NAKAGAWA let out a long sigh.
"We couldn't win again..." the frustration tightens my chest.
"Pathetic..." Anger wells up.
"I'm sorry..." he said, filled with self-blame.
"..."
Numerous emotions surged and overflowed, losing control. It also seemed to me that I was taking on all the "now" of the people involved in blue and red.
The match between Tokyo Verdy and the 27th round of the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League on August 17 (Sat) ended in a 0-0 draw. After the game, boos erupted at Ajinomoto Stadium. The following week, player Nakagawa shook his head and said this.
"Right now, the results are not coming with us. Some people may wonder what kind of soccer we are aiming for. But if there is a correct answer, we are playing that soccer. Just like in life, there are times when things go well and times when they don't. The same goes for a team. We want to ask ourselves how our lives are going. If everything in life is going well, we won't struggle. It is during difficult times that a team comes together. The feelings we put into each game, what we need to do to win. These things start to sprout within each individual. How much can we hold on and bring the win? If we do that, we can become stronger one by one."
I have always wanted to win more than anyone else. However, in the following week's Sec. 28 match against Kyoto Sanga F.C., we were completely defeated 0-3. But there were people who took a deep breath and supported us. The Tokyo fans and supporters cheered us on, encouraging us to keep fighting. And there was also the sight of Nakagawa, who continued to clap and watch until the very end with a hint of regret.
"It's pathetic that we couldn't show our fighting spirit and determination. We haven't even scored a single point and we were defeated within the first minute and a half. Every time, many fans and supporters come to see us play, and it's truly regrettable that we played a game like that. We were able to keep fighting because there were people who continued to cheer for us until the end. We have to listen to those voices because we have been supported for so long, and we were trying our best to hear and respond to the cheers."
It was a scene where the desire to live up to expectations was engraved in our hearts. One step ahead of the current situation. With that vow, we headed to the previous match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Due to the impact of Typhoon No. 10, the trip was moved up a day, but Nakagawa and the other players were supposed to eagerly enter enemy territory.
"In this situation, the fans and supporters want to win the most. They pay a lot of money and come all the way to the away game to support us. We really have to fight in the game and show our attitude to win. In times like this, we need to remember the word "FC Tokyo Family" and come together as one with the team, fans, and supporters. This is where we need to stand our ground. If we can win against the team that has won 6 games in a row, it will give us confidence. In that sense, I am looking forward to it. Each and every one of us needs to be fully prepared, and at EDION PEACE WING HIROSHIMA, we want to repay the debt from losing in the (YBC) Levain Cup. Any goal can change the momentum. We must not lose our confidence."
The Shinkansen, which was boarded with those words, was stranded at Shin-Fuji Station due to heavy rain in Shizuoka Prefecture. Even after the date changed, the train remained stopped, and it was stuck for about 8 hours. After that, they stayed at a hotel near the station. On the evening of the 30th, they took a bus to a hotel near Haneda Airport and were unable to practice the day before. On the morning of the match day, they arrived at Yamaguchi-Ube Airport and took a bus for about 3 hours to reach Hiroshima.
The match, which was at the mercy of the typhoon, turned into a difficult situation as they were down by three points until the 18th minute of the second half. However, the players did not give up. In the 34th minute of the second half, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA scored the team's first goal in five games, signaling a comeback.
"What is it? It was not just about not giving up, but also about the players who came in midway and gave the team momentum, and the feeling of wanting to change the flow. Even if it was 0-3, I never gave up."
In the final moments of the match, player Nakagawa showed his determination. He skillfully broke through Hiroshima's thick defense from a short corner and ultimately induced an own goal with a shot-like cross. Despite being battered and bruised, they closed the gap to just one point.
"I made the decision to take a short corner. To be honest, I didn't feel like we could score from a corner kick. Hiroshima is big and strong in terms of height. I thought we couldn't win just by putting the ball in from a corner. Of course, if we could hit it perfectly, it might have been a different story, but the kicker was not a player who usually takes them, (Keita) ENDO, so that was also part of my decision. I also think the opponent was caught off guard."
However, we fell just short. As the final whistle blew, tears overflowed as if all the emotions we had been holding back were released. Later, they revealed the reason why.
"I am also human, so I have emotions at that time. Various emotions came out. I just wanted to win. The desire to win came out in various forms. There was also a feeling of disappointment. I had a complex feeling of having to travel and play a game with an unfamiliar schedule. All kinds of emotions overflowed. That's how it felt."
The story is not yet complete. I have no intention of ending it with tears. It's because we haven't been able to break out of the long tunnel of 6 winless games.
"We have released all the pus and poison, including during our travels, in Hiroshima. Every game, we receive strong support from our fans, both at home and away. We have a responsibility to live up to that support. However, I want to make everyone smile. Let's win."
It is clear to everyone that the team is not in a situation where they can be optimistic, having been abandoned by victories for two months.
But, never run away.
Fight alongside the people who promised victory. That's because it's Teruhito NAKAGAWA's "man's rule" that he's so obsessed with.
Text by Koji Baba (Freelance Writer)
