- Day 1 -
Day 1, gather at Narita Airport.
Departing from Narita Airport on the night flight, we will transfer at Doha International Airport and head to Frankfurt Airport (Germany).
The flight to Doha International Airport took 12 hours, followed by a 3-hour layover in Doha. After that, we flew for 6 hours to Frankfurt Airport, and finally it took 2 hours from the airport to the accommodation. The total travel time was 23 hours, which was a long journey of one day, but the players showed no signs of fatigue and traveled with a lively expression that showed their youth.
After arriving at the hotel, we had planned to train, but due to heavy rain, the training was cancelled. We changed our plans to go for a walk instead. For dinner, we enjoyed German cuisine and savored the local dishes until the end.
After the meal, there was a voice from the players saying, "Since the rain has stopped, I want to go for a run," and almost all of the desired players ran through the streets of Germany at night. Even from the staff's perspective, the high motivation of the players could be seen, and I am looking forward to the growth of the players during this overseas training.
Day 2
The second day featured a match against 1.FSV Mainz 05 U19.
1. FSV Mainz 05's U-18 generation is a powerhouse team, having advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating Barcelona and Manchester City in the Champions League.
Before the match, there were concerns about jet lag and travel fatigue, but once the game started, the players' motivation and skills surpassed them, and they were able to successfully lead the first half with a score of 2-0.
Although we conceded a goal early in the second half, the game continued with a back-and-forth battle and the substitute players made a great impact. In the end, both teams held their ground and the game ended in a draw. We were able to secure a 2-1 victory in our first away game.
From Coach Sato, the theme for this expedition is "maximum value."
This is an attempt to achieve the maximum potential of each individual and team, both on and off the pitch. Especially in the tough environment of overseas, we hope to be able to bring out the maximum potential of FC Tokyo U-18 by simultaneously building the team and competing while living together, including the staff.
With that said, I would like to conclude the report of the first and second day of the Germany expedition with a photo of the Rhine River and Coach Yukihiko SATO.
