After the announcement of the new structure on January 10 (Friday) and the team's initiation at Kodaira Ground on the following January 11 (Saturday), Tokyo will start its Okinawa camp from the 12th. Under the newly appointed head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the team is rapidly preparing for the new season over 21 days until February 1 (Saturday). What will the coach, who sincerely faces football, instill in Tokyo, and what does he expect from the players? As we have just passed the halfway point of the Okinawa camp on the 22nd, we will provide an interim report on the new coach's efforts and the current state of the team.
What we seek is "autonomy"
The annual schedule for the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League has been announced, and the season opener is eagerly awaited. Tokyo will play their opening match away against Yokohama FC on Feb 15 (Sat), and on the 22nd (Sat), they will host FC Machida Zelvia at home at Ajinomoto Stadium.
To endure the long season of all 38 matches, the newly appointed coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI has been diligently building each day with all the players and staff at the Okinawa Kunigami camp. The coach reflected on those days.
"Every day is a challenge, and since the players are human, there are ups and downs. However, I believe that the fluctuations are small and stable. We are also working on controlling that, so in that sense, I want to express my gratitude for their attitude once again."
In the 11 days so far, the players have been breathing in fresh air to the fullest. That's the impression. Although signs of fatigue are gradually becoming more apparent, smiles stand out even more, and the sense of fulfillment is conveyed through their comments. Ariajasuru HASEGAWA, a former club member who retired from Gainare Tottori at the end of last season and was visiting Tokyo for coverage, also seemed eager, saying, "The practice looks fun, and I want to join in."
Each of those training menus incorporates rules and settings with tactical elements. With each training session, the new team has naturally tried to instill what is important to them and their commitments. The coach stated, "Their level of fulfillment is what matters right now, and we are gradually incorporating essence into the training. I believe that if it permeates and becomes ingrained in everyone, they will naturally flow in that direction (the desired goal)."
Even when mistakes happen during practice, the coaching staff often encourages us with phrases like "Let's keep going." This is intended to prevent players from stopping due to self-judgment during matches and to ensure the intensity of play. From the first day of camp, we have focused on the fundamental techniques of stopping and kicking, demanding initiative from each player. The words of the coach that symbolize this are "Surpass your current self."
"Just doing what I'm told is absolutely not enough, and I don't think that makes a good player; they would find it boring too. Repeating what the coach or manager says without questioning it may be important, but in the end, it won't help you surpass your limits."
To ensure that growth does not come to a halt, one must step out of the comfortable psychological space, or “comfort zone,” where one can live without feeling stress or anxiety. Coach Matsuhashi demands “subjectivity” rather than “autonomy” from the team Tokyo. Although these two words are similar, “subjectivity” means to make decisions and act on one’s own. The responsibility and the determination of roles within the team lie with oneself. On the other hand, “autonomy” involves consciously acting within someone else's instructions or predetermined frameworks. In that case, one cannot surpass their current self.
Explaining the mindset and gathering play ideas from the players. While continuing such efforts, I called out, "Let's not just energize with our voices, but also elevate the quality."
"Everyone can do things like 'having fun and chatting', and I think it's natural to say 'let's do our best'. However, there are various ways to create excitement. When there are truly consecutive super plays, it creates moments that take your breath away, and at the same time, a sense of tension arises. If a childish mistake occurs in that context, it stands out, doesn't it? How much we can enhance the quality that links our individual play to the whole team and maintain our concentration is an important point for the team as well. So, saying 'OK, let's go, let's do our best' is certainly valid. I think it's important. At the same time, we should elevate the excitement through the quality of our play. Making everyone gasp or say 'that's amazing' is also important in terms of raising the quality of our play."
To create a new football
While continuing to cover the camp, I heard the coach say multiple times, "We are not doing anything special." As we entered a phase of further tactical implementation, there was a phrase, "Always look to attack. Let's be aggressive in both offense and defense." Always seeking the ball, everyone plays while connecting with each other. I believe that this is not so much the soccer I want to play, but rather a necessary method to bring out their strengths, and he continued.
"Everyone has the ability to see (the play). I believe there is no football player who doesn't want the ball. I always want to be in touch with the ball, and I want the ball to always be with us. With that in mind, there is both offense and defense, and I think seeking that is not something special, but rather something normal. If we can create many good connections in the attacking part, good goals will come from good relationships, and even if we lose the ball, if we are compact, we can defend quickly. While they are two sides of the same coin, I want to cherish that aspect."
Spending time with the players chasing the ball joyfully, Coach Matsuhashi says, "Everyone is a bundle of potential."
"I believe that whether you expand or narrow that width is a matter of mindset. It's more important to consider how to refine your mindset rather than how to change it. In that sense, I convey various messages here and there. How they think about that and how they incorporate it into themselves is their own work."
Each player is reflecting on the message from the coach and facing themselves. New forces like Marcelo RYAN and Kento HASHIMOTO, along with those returning from loan, are demonstrating the skills they have honed during their training. There is no distinction between starters and substitutes, and the competition remains level. Therefore, there is no fluctuation in motivation. Everyone is a valuable asset, and the atmosphere of building together is starting to take shape. We are not playing the football that has been played at Albirex Niigata; instead, all the players and staff here are trying to create a new style of football that is characteristic of Tokyo. The blueprint for this has begun to take form.
Half of the Okinawa camp schedule has passed, and the team is entering the final stage of preparation for the opening. Coach Matsuhashi is looking for a "surprise" next.
"There is a game coming up from here. One aspect is how we prepare for that game, and I want to bring out the challenges and good points from that game as much as possible. Also, I think there will be some surprising elements as well, right? I expect that those kinds of 'surprises' will emerge from the individual strengths of the players during the game."
While improving the errors that occurred in actual combat, the full picture of what the commander himself mentioned right after the team started, saying "I am thinking of new things," is still not visible.
There will always be ups and downs in this world. That's why I want to help by saying, 'It's clear that growth won't always be linear, so if you can take even a small positive step knowing that, it would be great.' I will continue to build my days with care.
And it should not be forgotten that Coach Matsuhashi is also one who is trying to surpass his own present. "I still have a long way to go. I need to learn more and more. I have to be of help to them."
Next to the new challenge that has begun in Tokyo, this phrase should always resonate.
"Surpass your current self"
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
