Enduring hardships and tasting bitterness
With the feeling of the Rising Sun and the regret in blue and red in my heart
MF 23 Ryunosuke SATO
Every person and player has a story. '2024 PLAYER’S REVIEW' introduces all the blue and red warriors who fought through the 2024 season, player by player. What thoughts did they carry as they went through the season? Confidence, a sense of achievement, challenges, joy, regret... Reflecting on this season's battles through the words of each individual.
Ryunosuke SATO, who gathers great expectations with his outstanding attacking sense and clever analytical skills. He shows his presence as the playmaker for the U-19 Japan national team and accompanied the support members for the Paris Olympic team during the pre-camp. Coach Go OIWA referred to him as "Japan's treasure," and he was the only player not in the main tournament squad to be used in a friendly match against the U-23 France national team. However, in Tokyo, he has struggled to increase his playing opportunities, leading to days filled with frustration. Truly, it is a time of "gashin shotan." This is the year of "Ryu" with strong determination and steady efforts in blue and red.
One match in the Emperor's Cup and one match in the J.League YBC Levain Cup. For Ryunosuke SATO, who had only a few opportunities to play in the league and vowed to make a leap forward, this season has become one filled with frustration.
"I gradually increased my good plays, and my condition was also good. I was able to consistently perform well without getting injured, but I was frustrated that I couldn't get involved in the matches."
However, I still felt that I was able to use my time well for my own growth. I had a reputation for having a strong physique since my days in FC Tokyo U-18, but at the start of the season, I self-evaluated myself as being on the weaker side as a professional. I improved my mobility in the first team practices, increased my intensity during movements, and added personal training to adapt to the rigors of being a professional.
It was a daily routine to travel back and forth with the U-19 Japan national team, but I was also experiencing the level of the J1 League there.
"Honestly, the intensity of peers in Asia is lower compared to overseas. J1 is higher. This season, I faced various countries and different age groups, and I felt that I could compete there."
The training in Kodaira has been a solid foundation. While primarily playing as an attacking midfielder for the national team, this season in Tokyo, he has also participated as a defensive midfielder. He played in both positions during practice matches, and in Sec. 35 against Shonan Bellmare, Ryunosuke SATO was officially showcased as a defensive midfielder for the first time. His developed playmaking ability and role as a conductor moving the entire team received high praise. However, his ambitions do not stop there.
"Whether I'm playing as a defensive midfielder or an attacking midfielder, I want to be involved in goals. That feeling doesn't change regardless of the position. I was able to try plays that calculated how to bring the team to the goal after receiving the ball. In that sense, I think it was good to play as a defensive midfielder, but ultimately, what I want to do is play as an attacking midfielder. I believe that my experience as a defensive midfielder is one way to improve my quality in that position. I was able to approach both positions positively, but in the end, I definitely want to compete as an attacking midfielder."
It goes without saying that the team's performance was unsatisfactory, but there is also dissatisfaction with the lack of match time to test the results of individual efforts, which could not be fully expressed on the pitch. Nevertheless, the strong desire to change the current situation by myself has not wavered. "It's just a lack of fulfillment. However, I have no choice but to raise my position and make up for it myself." It has been a year of continuing to fuel my own spirit to turn adversity into motivation.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
