[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q: How is the selection of center-backs going for the Fukuoka match?
There were comments on SNS hoping for Renta HIGASHI. He is also one of the options, but since he is injured, we cannot include him in the calculation this time. However, there are naturally other options, and I am not worried because I believe there is a solution and it will work out well.
Q: How is the analysis of Fukuoka?
A, two seasons ago, Fukuoka played against Niigata during the season in which they ultimately achieved promotion to J1, so I saw firsthand how they changed their direction as a club at that time. The coach changed in the middle of the 2020 season and they started accumulating points by emphasizing a more aggressive defense. They have continued to strengthen their squad in line with their style of play, with a focus on players who are skilled in counterattacks and set pieces. I think they were also good last season. I think it will be difficult for any team to play against a team that has such a solid defense. In that sense, it is expected to be one of the most challenging matches of this season. The preparation period was short, but we have made sure that the players are fully aware of the difficulty and importance of this match. There is a risk of being exploited if we make even one mistake. Naturally, we hope to express ourselves well in tomorrow's match by using our attacking strengths. I think Fukuoka has a mentality that is committed to winning. We also want to continue playing with a mentality that is committed to winning in a good way from the beginning of this season and express a winning mentality that surpasses them.
Q: I think there has been an increase in J-League clubs changing direction in the past 2-3 years, but Tokyo is starting this year. Although Tokyo is a latecomer, do you feel like it is catching up rapidly?
A, of course, I think everyone has their own preferences, but I think every playing style is worthy of evaluation. However, when considering the framework of youth development, I think soccer that does not value the ball is inappropriate. On the other hand, in the professional world where we must focus on winning, I think every playing style has value. First of all, as a club, I think it is necessary to thoroughly analyze what kind of play the fans and supporters expect and evaluate. If the expected play becomes clear, any playing style is acceptable. However, I think sticking to a playing style as a club is hitting the mark in terms of the club's direction, and I think it is not hitting the mark to be forced to change based on game results.
I don't think it's accurate to say that Fukuoka should change their playing style for the next season just because things aren't going well this season. If the fans and supporters have a clear understanding of the playing style they expect, I believe it would be more effective to stick to that style and bring in a coach and players who align with it to improve the overall performance. We tried the same approach in Niigata, and I'm proud that they are still continuing in the same direction.
Tokyo has changed its playing style this season. If that playing style is what the club aims for, I think it is accurate to say that the coach, whether it's me or another coach, will stick to the same direction. The playing style I expect is clear. However, considering the team composition this season with many players who have been playing since last season, I don't think it is accurate to drastically change the playing style. I think it is accurate to gradually transition the playing style while utilizing the characteristics of the existing players.This year's ideal is to bring out the strengths of the current players and fight, and when new players join next season, we will move on to the next stage. In any case, I think it is inevitable that the strengths of each individual player in front of us will have an impact on the team's playing style, regardless of the playing style.
Q, I think you were trying out different positions before the opening, were you testing the players?
A, of course, I tried it and based on the opposing team, I thought about how to play the game plan for the current game and placed it in the right place. Even in the same game, the cards to be played and the need to change the position of the players on the pitch will change depending on the development of the game. As a coach, it is a plus to have various choices at that time, so I want to continue to try various things in that sense.
[Player Interview]
Ryoya OGAWA
Q, we have a game in 3 days, but we can continue playing and fight against Gamba Osaka with a positive mindset.
I think the victory against Gamba Osaka was significant. Winning allowed us to break into the top and gave us confidence as a team. More than 40,000 fans and supporters came to the new Japan National Stadium, and the entrance production was amazing. I don't think there is any player who couldn't raise their motivation to play in that situation. On the contrary, I think there are also parts that we were able to win thanks to that. That's why the next game becomes very important, and I hope we can keep our motivation high so that it doesn't end with winning in the National environment.
Q, I think we can always create several scoring opportunities, but if we don't convert as many as possible into goals, we won't get the desired results.
When we played against Fukuoka in the Levain Cup, we had a lot of possession and played a good game. However, we couldn't convert our chances into goals and ended up losing. In the upcoming league match, it is important for us to not miss any chances. I believe we will create several scoring opportunities, but we need to convert as many of them as possible to score. If we don't do that, the results won't come. I think in the next match, we will have a lot of possession, so we need to concentrate and score goals confidently to win.
Q, if you hold the ball for a long time, the opponent can tighten their defense and you may struggle to attack, ending up just being held. In that situation, is the reason why Tokyo feels that they are able to create chances because the team has a common understanding of when to switch the attack while building up from the back?
There are definitely moments when I turn on the switch. Even if the opponent is pulling back and defending, there are times when I come to defend from the front (in that state), I can't get the ball, so I try to defend from the front. Even when I pass the ball around in the back at the same tempo, the opponent's defense doesn't break. If I use a pass that jumps over one person or increase the passing speed of each individual, the opponent will not be able to catch up with the slide and there will be opportunities for gaps to occur. I want to aim for those moments without missing them.
Q: Do you have a sense of being able to negotiate with the opponent even with just one pass speed?
A, I think it is necessary to have passes that are more like playing and passes that make the opponent bite in the future, and there are still many areas that need improvement, but I think the team is gradually taking shape.
Q, I think that entering the central space from the position of the side back and playing there is a key point in the current soccer style attack. Is the timing and the required role clearly visible?
I think the most changed part is that the fullbacks are increasingly involved in the attack by moving inside since we started playing Albert's soccer. There are still parts that I am not familiar with, including myself, but it is not strange because it has become common for fullbacks to play inside and become the starting point of the attack, which is important for the team, even overseas. There is a consciousness that we need to make the fullbacks create more opportunities in the game.
Q: Fukuoka has players like Fanma and Lukian who are tall and physically strong. What is your plan to deal with them?
A, there is a strong forward in the front line. Fukuoka has an image of kicking the ball roughly to the front line and picking up the second ball, so I think the flow of the game will change depending on how we can crush that and not let the opponent keep the ball and pick up the second ball ourselves. As a defender, I want to crush (chances) as much as possible so as not to lose to the forward players who will be the targets first.
Q, it is also important to not let them easily kick by giving instructions from behind and limiting them, right?
A, it is also important to prepare in advance. I want to respond by raising the line compactly when the front line goes up to press without stretching the formation against the team that kicks, and I think it is a team that puts in a lot of cross balls, so I also want to respond firmly to that.
