TOKYOism

"Great success always comes with obstacles and hardships."

As coach Albert said at the beginning of his tenure, Tokyo is going through a difficult period. In the 13th round of the league, they lost 1-2 to Iwata, making it their third consecutive loss. After the game, Yasuki Kimoto said, "The fans and supporters have given us positive encouragement. We have no choice but to change the results ourselves." The players also understand the necessity of "time and patience" that coach Albert has been emphasizing. Takuya Aoki expressed his determination to overcome the hardships, saying, "We have no choice but to continue playing our football. Without persisting, there will be no growth." It will require patience until the new Tokyo emerges after achieving a change in style.

Kashiwa Reysol, who will face off this round, has been steadily rising under the guidance of coach NELSINHO, with new generations emerging one after another. The leader of this trend is forward Mao HOSOYA from the Paris Olympics generation. Having scored the most goals in the team with 4, it is crucial to shut him down with tight marking in front of the goal. Additionally, we must be cautious of coach NELSINHO's seasoned strategy of neutralizing the opponent's strengths.

To achieve our first victory in four matches, we have no choice but to believe in our own soccer. It is a test of whether we can uphold our beliefs in adversity.

Matchday Program is here

[Interview with Coach Albert]

Q: Mori Shige and Okazaki were at practice, but the center back has returned. How is it?
A, the doctor has already given permission, and as you saw in the Fukuoka match, I am fully prepared to play in the game. Now that we have three center backs available, the problem is being resolved. Sodai Hasukawa also played well in the Fukuoka match. In that sense, we have a formation with four players. I think Renta Higashi has also played well enough to be valued in the professional world. Henrique's rehabilitation is also progressing smoothly. I think there is a possibility that he will be able to come back after the week of international matches.

Q: I think you have been using the phrase "pause" recently. I think it will take time to move the ball and break down the opponent's defense in the next phase, but what kind of approach are you considering?
A, I think it is important to have confidence and gain experience in official matches. I think the word "pausa" can also express the change of pace. I think it is difficult for the opponent to defend when there is a change of pace in speed. In the past few matches, I think we have been able to express "pausa" in our team play little by little. I think it will take a little more time, but I think we are moving in a good direction to improve the completion in front of the goal. I have also conveyed to the players that they need to play well in practice. They need to apply that good play in the matches. In the past few matches, we have not necessarily achieved good results, but I think there have been many times when we have been able to express a play on the pitch that is clearly different from Tokyo's past play. And I have also told the players that they are able to express what they can do in practice in the matches, so it is a state where the process of growth to firmly connect it to the match results is necessary. Our playing style is always a valuable playing style to win matches, so I want to pursue that.

In the Tosu, Iwata, and Fukuoka matches, we were able to play well with a high possession rate and create chances. However, we also lost many games where the opponents scored with few chances. Nevertheless, I believe that we have been able to play well. In the Fukuoka match, I don't think the opponents were able to create many clear chances. And we were able to fight for 90 minutes without lowering our defensive block in many periods of time. This is because our ability to dominate the ball was functioning as the best form of defense. And we were also able to create chances. Kojiro YASUDA and Ryoma WATANABE also had decisive chances. Towards the end of the match, there was also a play where Mita was fouled inside the penalty area and could have been a penalty kick. Creating chances and converting them into goals to achieve the result of the match is the growth process that remains for us.

If we talk about whether the team can continue to grow smoothly on its own, the answer is definitely no. The growth will continue in a positive direction if not only the fans and supporters, but also the people around the club support it. Fortunately, the fans and supporters have been giving the players stability. Even in the recent games where we couldn't win, they have been patiently supporting the team and the players. They have been pushing the players in a good direction, encouraging them to challenge the new playing style and make bold plays, and grow through trial and error. And now, the players are motivated to connect their good plays to the game results and are working hard.

Q: Kashiwa has been playing soccer to neutralize the opponent's strengths. What kind of play do you want to make in response to that?
A, I think NELSINHO is a very experienced coach. We have room for improvement in our response to counterattacks. They may exploit that. It is also their weapon, so I hope we can prove our growth by responding to their counterattacks. They are a team that is higher in the standings than us. I respect that they are doing a great job and I think that should be recognized.

Q, I think Kashiwa's NELSINHO coach has a track record of 19 seasons as a foreign coach in Japan. I think it's not easy for a foreign coach to stay in Japan for a long time. What are your thoughts on taking command for a long time overseas?
A, I think NELSINHO has a lot of experience both overseas and in Japan, and has accumulated very valuable experience. I think it would be difficult to lead a team for 19 seasons in the J-League. In that sense, NELSINHO has more experience than Japanese coaches. To continue leading a team in the same league for a long time, you need to gain more experience and reach a level where you are more familiar with the characteristics of that league than anyone else. It is naturally difficult to compete against a team led by such a coach.

[Player Interview] 
＜Player Masato MORISHIGE＞

Q, How was your condition in the Levain Cup Fukuoka match?
A, I think it was a good 45 minutes because I have the impression that I was able to play (longer) than I expected.

Q, while I was away from the team, the team did not produce any results.
I think it is common for the results to not come even if you play a good game. However, it is important to score when you have the chance. The composure in front of the goal, the persistence in defense in front of the goal, and such factors have a greater impact on the outcome than the overall game. I am not so pessimistic. It gives me the impression that what I had anticipated is happening now.

Q: What kind of play do you want to bring when you come back? What do you want to bring to the team?
A, it is common for the forward players to not be able to score. On the other hand, it is also common for the back players to not be able to hold on even when goals are being scored. Even if goals are not being scored, I think that if the back players can keep a clean sheet, eventually goals will be scored. Looking back at the past, there have been such situations, so I hope to calmly proceed with the game so that I can be at the center of it.

Q: Do you think you returned early, or did you move up the timing?
A, within myself, I would call it impatience, a desire to return quickly, but the trainer managed it well. Considering the condition, everyone agreed on the decision to play for 45 minutes in the Fukuoka match, so I think that went according to plan.

Q, Coach Albert Puig Ortoneda says he is moving on to the next phase. How do the players feel about connecting more balls and aiming for goals in the attacking phase?
A, I think everyone understands what the team is trying to do and what they are aiming for to some extent. From now on, I think we will add ideas and launch attacks that are difficult for the opponent to defend against, and move the ball so that it doesn't become monotonous.

Q, it will take some time, won't it?
A, I think the coach is saying that it will take time to protect the players. We always have to seek results and there is not a single player who thinks it's okay to lose a game. While choosing to connect the ball as a means to prioritize winning, we must not forget how much we can improve our quality in a short period of time.

Q: Considering the current situation of three consecutive losses, does the Kashiwa match become a game where we have to go for both the content and the result?
A, we also want to win, and I think the fans and supporters watching also feel the same. I think we need to show that kind of attitude.

Q: This year, Tokyo has a low number of goals conceded, which I think is a selling point. What are the factors behind this low number of goals conceded?
A, it is often the case that if the attacking time is long, the defensive concentration cannot be maintained. I think the defenders feel the difficulty there. However, the coach also demands intensity such as defensive strength as a basic premise, so I think the balance there is important. Just because we play attacking soccer doesn't mean we only focus on attacking, so I think we need to look at the balance there.

Q It is difficult to defend with the same tightness no matter which player is on the field. What do you think?
A, it would be ideal if everyone could play at the same level, and it is important for the team's level to rise to the point where it troubles the coach. However, each player has their own characteristics, and I think there are unavoidable aspects in that.

Q: Do you want the players around you to grow more by pushing yourself?
A, Makoto OKAZAKI also played well, and Henrique is a left-handed player who can hold the ball, so there are many good players, so it depends on which player the coach chooses.

Q: Does Kashiwa need patience to play soccer that erases the opponent's characteristics?
A: Yes, that's right. I feel that they are the perfect opponent for us right now. I think that in the future, we will struggle against teams like them, so I hope we can enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to break them down. They will try to neutralize our strengths, so if we can think about how to disrupt them and find spaces to move the ball, I believe we can play enjoyable soccer.

Q: Are you also aiming for goals from set plays?
A: Yes, that's right. I have returned and since tomorrow is my birthday, I want to aim for it.

＜Ryoya OGAWA player＞

Q: In the league matches, we suffered three consecutive losses from Sec. 11. Where do you feel the team's challenges lie?
A, in these three matches, Masato MORISHIGE and Henrique TREVISAN were absent due to injury, so the defense was not stable. In the attacking aspect, there were many situations where the players couldn't coordinate well in the vital area and couldn't break through. However, we are able to control the game while maintaining possession of the ball, so I believe that if we improve our accuracy in the final stages, we will score more goals.

Q, I played as a center back in the Fukuoka and Iwata matches, which is not my usual position.
A, wearing the Tokyo uniform, I will do my best no matter which position I play on the pitch. Anyone can be absent due to injury. Even in tough situations, all the players who can fight will cover for each other and do their best to extend the points as much as possible.

Q: As a professional full-back, how do you feel about the new playing style that Coach Albert Puig Ortoneda is promoting?
A, Albert Pobor, the coach, is looking for a wide range of plays, such as making game plays like a midfielder and moving from the side to the center, even as a side back. It is difficult to judge the plays, but there is also enjoyment in it, and I think I have been able to make good plays compared to the time of the camp. Personally, I have more opportunities to play in positions closer to the goal, so I want to increase the number of plays that lead to assists or goals. I am consciously working to grow into a higher level side back than last season.

Q, please tell the fans and supporters about your enthusiasm for the upcoming match against Kashiwa.
A, I feel that the team is growing with each game this season, so the players are not satisfied with the record of 3 consecutive losses in the league. We want to continue to grow while winning games. We will do our best so that everyone who comes to Ajinomoto can go home with a smile!

Matchday Program is here