'Lack of Ability'
It's a bit early, but looking back on this season, I think it can be summed up in this one phrase. As a captain and as a player, I deeply feel that "I could have done more." There are countless minor points to reflect on, and ideally, I should have noticed and addressed them each time. The fact that I couldn't do that itself shows my lack of ability.
This season, I was entrusted with the role of captain, and last season, I served as one of the three captains. The experience of facing the team as a captain is a great asset to me. However, looking back on my career so far, I believed that the captain should ideally be a player who plays many matches as a central figure of the team. That is why I feel frustrated with myself for not being able to embody that ideal. There has always been a conflict between my belief that "the captain should deliver results on the pitch" and my reality.
Even in my professional career so far, there has never been a season where difficult times lasted as long as this season. There were times when I felt like "nothing goes well" and overthinking ended up having the opposite effect. More than the frustration of not being able to play in matches, I was so caught up in thinking about "how I should behave" in the face of the team sinking into a relegation battle that I couldn't deliver a satisfactory performance even in practice.
In such times, what supported me was the presence of my family. They stayed close to me, and the voices of my teammates were also a great source of strength. I was especially helped by vice-captains Takahiro KO and Keigo HIGASHI. I am deeply grateful that they wore the armband and led the team in matches where I couldn't play.
I also vividly remember the night after a match when Masato MORISHIGE suddenly called me, saying that his performance was not good at all. I was surprised because he had never called me himself before, and I honestly felt happy about it.
And the addition of Sei MUROYA brought a significant change to the entire team. It's not about skills or anything like that, but he showed how much spirit and mentality can influence the team. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if he hadn't joined in June, the ranking would have been much lower. His fighting spirit and energy undoubtedly became a driving force that moved the team forward.
Speaking of recent matches, we had consecutive games against FC Machida Zelvia. I think the team had a more focused atmosphere than usual heading into the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round. Even right after winning the league match, everyone was saying, "It doesn't mean anything unless we win the next one," and the mood during practice was filled with a good tension. The loss in the Semifinal Round was truly a disappointing result, but it is a fact that in the three seasons since I joined Tokyo, we were able to stand in a position to aim for the title until the final stages of the season for the first time. That said, I feel sorry that we couldn't win the championship and couldn't meet the expectations of our fans and supporters.
There are two league matches remaining from here. The only thing we need to do is to give our all in each match. Our current position is the result of our own actions, and we have no choice but to face that reality and prepare as best as we can. First, we aim to win the away match against Vissel Kobe and carry that momentum into the final home game. We want to continue the winning streak from the matches against Okayama and Machida.
In the first half of the league, there was a strong sense of crisis that 'we will really be relegated if things continue like this,' and it was a painful experience for the fans and supporters as well. Even so, without ever turning their backs, they continued to cheer us on in any situation, which was a great source of strength for all the players. Especially in the away match against Kyoto SANGA S, despite losing 0-3, they gave us cheers instead of boos. That scene is unforgettable.
That is why we want the last two matches to be games where we show our gratitude to everyone who has supported us through our play. Including myself, everyone on the pitch will give their all and fight until the very end.
