The opening of the new season is finally approaching. Led by the new head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the blue-red team will face Yokohama FC away on February 15 (Saturday). Among the players who are determined to give their all for the opening match, there is one man who is burning with an extraordinary fighting spirit for this game. Marcelo RYAN, 22 years old. The striker, who has recently joined the blue-red team from Sagan Tosu, is expected to be the “successor” of the great predecessors and is ready for a season to enhance his value by bringing glory to the club. "My motivation is very high. I am confident that we can have a great season," he said, sharing his thoughts on the opening match, which he considers "important," and his passionate feelings for the new season.
──Finally, the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League will kick off. Is this time before the first match always exciting?
Personally, since the opponent is my former club Yokohama FC and this will be my first game after transferring to Tokyo, I definitely want to achieve a good result. I believe everyone shares similar feelings as we approach the opening match, and I don't think it will be an easy game. Until just before the match, we will all train well together, and I want to start the 2025 season with a victory. My motivation is very high, both for the fans and supporters, and for myself.
──About a month since the team started, how is the adaptation to the playing style envisioned by the new coach, Rikizo MATSUHASHI, progressing?
I think things are going well. Personally, I am very happy to be able to compete as a member of Tokyo, and I honestly feel eager to step onto the pitch for an official match soon. Over the past month, I have been training mainly at the Okinawa camp, and I have been able to prepare well under the new coach. I hope to approach the opening match in good shape and make 2025 a wonderful season.
The style of soccer that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI advocates, which emphasizes valuing the ball while attacking, is similar to the style he practiced at his previous club, Sagan Tosu.
Indeed, there are similarities with Tosu's soccer style. I think the emphasis on valuing the ball is close, but while connecting passes and maintaining possession, they also use long balls when necessary. Personally, I feel that Tokyo's style suits me better.
──Handling the ball accurately. Sending precise passes from good judgment. Coach Matsuhashi demands a commitment to technique from the players.
I think that is very important. As has been mentioned earlier, it takes skill to take care of the ball and seize control. A month has passed since the team started, and I believe we are beginning to establish good coordination. However, of course, we are still not at 100 percent. I want to make quicker decisions on the pitch and link our plays together.
──Coach Matsuhashi emphasizes that the goal is the top priority, not just connecting passes.
Soccer is a sport where you cannot win unless you score goals, so that is something the entire team is strongly aware of, and to win, it is essential to prioritize scoring. Of course, holding onto the ball is important. However, it is not just about valuing that; you also need to think about creating space for the opponent while holding the ball, and when the moment arises where the target space opens up, you must have the attitude to actively take action.
──When aiming for a style of play that retains possession of the ball, what kind of work do you think is necessary before reaching the finish?
Since the frequency of the ball coming to us forwards is not very high, we always look for places where space might open up, making predictions and sensing the situation, so that we can jump in and be ready to finish. Each player has different play styles, and some try to draw the ball in midfield. Compared to those players, I might often be positioned up front. This is closer to the goal and increases the chances of scoring. While I sometimes keep the ball from a forward hold-up play or spread it to the sides, my most proficient play style is to make sharp runs into the forward line. I believe that my speed in exploiting the space behind is my greatest strength.
The 14 goals scored last season in Tosu had a rich variety of scoring patterns.
Last season, I was able to score goals in various ways. I believe the key factor was being as close to the goal as possible. In addition to the pattern of breaking through, being in a position that can relate to the finish on a case-by-case basis naturally creates many variations, and I think the chances provided by my teammates lead to goals.
──While the shooting technique is impressive, there is an impression that they excel at creating conditions that make it easy to take shots.
Personally, I believe the highest chance of scoring a goal is to break into the space behind and take a one-touch shot. I think that is the closest to scoring. However, the reality is that I can't always get the ideal situation (laughs). While positioning myself around the space I want to target, I try to hold off the opponent and keep the ball, or depending on the situation, I think of various ways to carry the ball and aim for a shot.
──How is the combination with the surroundings?
I believe that the preparation period over the past month has deepened our understanding, and now I want to refine it through more matches. The most important thing is communication. Naturally, it’s impossible for everyone to have the same perspective, so I think it’s essential to discuss with those around us and align the plays I wanted to make with what my teammates wanted from me, gradually adjusting as we go. We are also getting along well off the pitch, so I am confident that the 2025 season will be a very good one.
──As mentioned at the beginning, the opening match will be against Yokohama FC, the first team I was with 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 many of my old friends are still here, and personally, this is the first club I played for in Japan, so I have a strong attachment to it. I believe they will show a passionate performance in the home opener, and it won't be an easy match. But right now, I am playing in Tokyo wearing the blue and red. For me, this is my first match in Tokyo. I definitely want to win and make a good start.
──I think there is also an expectation that you will become the successor to Diego OLIVEIRA, who retired from active duty at the end of last season.
When I was transferred to Tokyo, I heard from the club that they were looking for someone to be the successor to Diego. The fans and supporters probably have similar expectations, and of course, I am aware of that as well. However, he is a wonderful player who made significant contributions to the club and team in Tokyo. I won't reach his brilliant achievements immediately, but I want to positively embrace everyone's expectations and turn them into my own strength.
──We hope it will be a good season.
I believe this will be a special season for me. Until now, I have been working hard with my youth as my weapon, but I feel that I have reached a point where I must deliver results beyond that. When I first arrived in Japan, I had few opportunities to play and spent a very frustrating time, but I continued to believe in my abilities, and finally, people are starting to recognize the name "Marcelo RYAN." I want to achieve better results in Tokyo than last season and become a player who is truly loved and needed, just like Diego. I want to etch my name as the ace in Tokyo's first league championship. For that reason, I absolutely want to win the opening match.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
