The new season is finally approaching. Led by new coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the blue and red army will face Yokohama FC away on February 15 (Sat). While each player is preparing for the opening game with great determination, there is one man who is burning with an even stronger fighting spirit for this game. Marcelo RYAN, 22 years old. The striker, who has joined the blue and red team from Sagan Tosu, is expected to follow in the footsteps of the great predecessors and bring glory to the club, increasing his own value in the process. "My motivation is very high. I have confidence that I can have a good season," he said, looking ahead to the important opening game and expressing his passionate feelings for the new season.
──The 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League will finally kick off. Is this a time of excitement as the first match approaches?
Personally, I also have the fact that the opponent is my former team Yokohama FC and it will be my first game since transferring to Tokyo, so I definitely want to produce results. Everyone will have similar feelings towards the opening game and I don't think it will be an easy match. We want to have a good practice together until just before the game and start the 2025 season with a victory. For the fans and supporters, as well as for myself, my motivation is very high.
──Is your team adapting to the fighting style that new coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI is aiming for, about a month after the team started?
I think everything is going well. Personally, I am very happy to be able to play as a member of Tokyo and I am eager to step onto the official pitch as soon as possible. Over the past month, we have been training mainly in Okinawa and have made good preparations under the new coach. I hope to start the opening game in a good shape and make 2025 a great season.
──I think that the soccer that Director Rikizo MATSUHASHI advocates, which attacks while valuing the ball, has something in common with the style he used to play at his previous club, Sagan Tosu.
There are certainly similarities to Tosu's soccer style. I think we both value the ball, but we also use long balls in certain situations while maintaining possession through passing. Personally, I feel that Tokyo's style suits me better.
- Accurate handling of the ball. Sending high-precision passes from good decision-making. What Coach Matsubashi demands from his players is a focus on technique.
I think that is very important. As mentioned earlier, in order to take control of the ball and keep it safe, we need skills. It has been a month since the team started and I think we are starting to have good coordination. However, of course, we are not yet 100 percent. I want to make quicker decisions and play in sync on the pitch.
──Manager Matsubashi emphasizes that the goal is the top priority, not just connecting passes.
Football is a sport where you cannot win without scoring points, so it is important for every team member to be aware of this and prioritize scoring goals in order to win. Of course, controlling the ball is important. However, it is also necessary to think about creating space for the opponent while controlling the ball, and to have a proactive attitude to attack when the space to aim for opens up.
What kind of work do you think is necessary at the stage before reaching the finish line when aiming to hold onto this type of ball?
We don't get the ball to our forwards very often, so we always look for spaces and try to predict and anticipate where they will be so we can jump in and be involved in the finish. Each player has their own playing style, and some may try to bring the ball into the midfield. Compared to those players, I may be more often up front. This puts me closer to the goal and increases the chances of scoring. While I may also hold the ball up or spread it out to the sides, my strongest playing style is to make sharp runs up front. I believe my greatest strength is my speed in attacking the space behind the defense.
Last season's 14 goals scored in Tosu were diverse in scoring patterns.
Last season, I was able to score various types of goals. I think the main reason for that was being close to the goal as much as possible. In addition to the pattern of breaking through the defense, if I am in a position where I can contribute to the finish, naturally many variations will be created and I believe that chances created by my teammates will lead to goals.
- Not only the shooting technique, but also the ability to create a state where it is easy to shoot is impressive.
Personally, the most likely way for me to score is to break through the space behind and take a one-touch shot. I think that is the closest to scoring. However, the reality is that I cannot always do it in the ideal way (laughs). I try to think of various ways depending on the situation, such as keeping the ball while holding the opponent around the space I want to aim for, or carrying the ball and aiming for a shot.
──How is your combination with your surroundings?
I think we have deepened our understanding during this one-month preparation period, so now we just need to play more games to mature. Communication is still the most important thing. Of course, it is impossible for everyone to have the same "perspective", so we need to discuss with each other and adjust gradually by aligning our own desired plays and the plays our teammates want. We also have a good relationship off the pitch, so I am confident that the 2025 season will be a great one for me.
──As mentioned at the beginning, the opening match will be against Yokohama FC, the first team I joined in the J-League. What are your thoughts on this?
Some of my former teammates from Brazil, such as CAPRINI and Gabriel, have transferred, but there are still many of my former teammates here and I have a personal attachment to this club as it was the first one I played for in Japan. I believe they will come out with a strong performance in our home opener and it won't be an easy game. But now, I am playing with the blue and red in Tokyo. It's my first game in Tokyo. I definitely want to win and start off on a good note.
──I think there is also an expectation that you will become the successor of Diego OLIVEIRA, who retired last season.
When I decided to transfer to Tokyo, I heard from the club that they were looking for someone to succeed Diego. I'm sure the fans and supporters have the same expectations, and I also have that recognition. However, he is a wonderful player who has made a great contribution to the club and team of Tokyo. I may not be able to reach his brilliant achievements right away, but I want to take in your expectations positively and turn them into my own power.
──Wishing for a good season.
I believe this will be a special season for me. Until now, I have been using my youth as my weapon and working hard, but I feel that I have reached a position where I must surpass that and produce results. When I first came to Japan, I had few opportunities to play and spent a lot of frustrating time, but I continued to believe in my own abilities and finally became known as "Marcelo RYAN" to everyone. I want to achieve even better results in Tokyo than last season and become a player who is loved and needed like Diego. And I want to leave my mark as the ace in Tokyo's first league championship. That's why I am determined to win the opening game.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
