＜Match Preview＞
The J1 League, which was interrupted due to national team activities, will resume. This 17th round will be the last match of the first half of the 34-game league season. The opponent is Shonan Bellmare. They also faced each other in the group stage of the Levain Cup, and this will be their third official match this season. In the Levain Cup, they won at home by fielding players who had also participated in the league matches.
The away game, in which the members were selected mainly from young players, ended in defeat.
Although player Kuryu MATSUKI is absent due to his overseas expedition with the U-21 Japan national team, player Yuto NAGATOMO has returned from the Japan national team, and the players who were absent due to injury have also rejoined the team, so the main players are ready for this match. It will be a different battle from the Levain Cup, where young players have been actively used.
特にリーグ戦では直近の2試合で連勝しており、特に清水エスパルス戦ではアルベル監督が「選手たちにも直接伝えましたが、今日はFC東京のプレースタイルが変わり始めたスタートの日であったと思います。（中略）ボールを愛するサッカーがどのようなものであるかを、しっかりと実感できたという意味でも大きな一歩になりました」と手放しで賞賛したように、内容の面でも相手を圧倒して勝利という結果を両立させた。
In the match against the top-ranked Kashima Antlers, player Ryo Watanabe, who was deployed as a right winger, successfully participated in the attacking build-up by moving into the central area, scoring goals with quick transitions between attack and defense from a compact formation. Additionally, the team demonstrated their game-savvy ability to maintain a lead while possessing the ball, as expressed by coach Albert. This proved the team's growth and the establishment of their playing style.
However, it is a fact that further training is necessary to consistently develop our own style and achieve results. In this round, I would like to pay attention to the player selection and positioning choices that Coach Albert will make in the absence of player Matsuki, who has been a key player in the midfield despite being a rookie.
In particular, in the midfield, player Keigo Higashi has been used as an anchor and has been performing excellently, increasing the team's options. The question is whether or not the team can maintain its quality regardless of who is on the field and "play with the ball". In order to continue accumulating victories while growing in the second half of the season, the team will expand its range of player selections along with improving its soccer style.
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q: What did you work on during the two-week break in the league?
A, we were able to spend a lot of time on tactical training. It is also great news that several injured players have returned. I am very satisfied with the team's growth over the past two weeks. The team is progressing well. It has been a completely positive two weeks.
Q: Where specifically have you grown in the past two weeks?
A, especially in the attacking aspect. Players without the ball constantly provide various options to the ball carrier. We are making progress in training that fluidity in a positive direction. The time has finally come to work on it because the players are already able to play with confidence. They have gained the confidence to play, so this is the next step from there.
Q, do you think you will be able to demonstrate the results of that practice in tomorrow's game? What kind of image do you have towards Shonan?
A, there is a strong impression of valuing the ball very much. In terms of the quality of play, I don't think the current ranking reflects the quality of play well. In that sense, I think it will be a game of competing for the ball. Therefore, our defensive part becomes important, and it becomes important to prevent the opponent from playing the soccer they want. We have already experienced that it becomes a difficult game development if we give the ball to Shonan when we played against them in the Levain Cup.
Q, what will be important tomorrow based on that experience?
A, it is most important to score more goals than the opponent as usual. Football is a sport that competes in the number of goals, so it becomes important. And in order to win the game, it is important to firmly express our own playing style more than the opponent. Teams that can express themselves have a higher chance of winning.
Q: Where did you feel that the players gained confidence from?
If you compare their play at the beginning of the season with their play now, you can easily understand how much confidence they have gained. At the start of the season, I think there was a situation where the players were afraid of receiving the ball. On the contrary, now they feel joy in receiving the ball. I think everyone is standing on the pitch in a way that they want to receive the ball. If there is confidence and hope to possess the ball, I think they can make better decisions in attack. As I have said many times, this season is about building a foundation with the team's players. Based on that foundation, I believe the team will continue to leap forward in the next season. In any case, there is no doubt that we are moving in a good direction. I am happy that the players can play with confidence, and I have a sense that they will continue to grow.
Q, What can be expected in the future as the players gain confidence?
A, you can expect further growth in all aspects. It was a team that had played a different play style for several seasons. It is a different play style that does not value the ball as much as it does now. Of course, they achieved results and won titles, but there seems to have been a gradual decline. I think that we are able to further improve that trend in this season. I think that we are giving the players motivation again and moving in a good direction by changing the play style. However, there is no doubt that this project has just begun. The road ahead is still long.
Q, what are your thoughts on the inside half position with player Matsuki representing the team?
A, there are good players and there are players who can fill his absence, so I am not worried at all. Every player has been growing since the beginning of this season. In that sense, selecting players is not as difficult as it is at the beginning of the season. If I have only one obligation as a coach, it is to make all players grow. Whether we win or lose a game is influenced by various factors, so I cannot control it. On the other hand, I believe it is my duty as a coach to encourage the growth of the players, and the players are currently growing in a good way. From among them, I would like to choose players in a good condition.
[Player Interview]
＜Player Ryoma WATANABE＞
Q, we had the Emperor's Cup in between, so there was a gap in the league matches. What kind of preparations have you made?
A, I had breaks in the midst of consecutive matches and was able to recover from fatigue. I was able to move well in a good condition, so instead of resting completely, I was conscious of moving my body. It has been a while since the league match, but I am well prepared.
Q, I think the team has been able to increase the number of scenes where they hold the ball and bring it to a shot, and they have also been able to score with two consecutive wins.
A, it's been the past few games since we started scoring goals again, and although we won the Emperor's Cup, things didn't go well, so we need to work on improving that.
Q, Watanabe player has been able to score in that. I feel like I can play the game in a state where I can see the image of the goal and the movement of the opponent well, but was there any trigger for the change?
A, there is no particular trigger, but I think the factor that I can produce results is that I can approach the game with a good feeling after shooting practice after practice. I want to continue to grow through the game. I still want to score goals and make assists, and I always want to focus on my own results while playing for the team to win.
Q, where will the key points be in building a new soccer style in the future?
First and foremost, it is important for everyone to have a shared understanding. It is not good if one person cannot do it, and it is meaningless if everyone cannot embody it, so we need to be aware of that.
Q, what kind of analysis is the team doing against Shonan?
A, we need to be careful of their sharp counterattacks after stealing the ball.
Q: We have played against Shonan many times this season, but as an individual, what kind of play do you want to focus on?
A, I want to focus on winning the ball in the physical battles with the opponent and increasing the time of ball possession while also striving for results.
Q, please share your enthusiasm with the fans and supporters as we aim for a third consecutive victory.
A, we have very important matches coming up, and we will need the support of the fans and supporters. The match against Sapporo on July 6th allows us to have vocal support, and I believe the players will gain even more energy from it. Everyone is working hard to repay with results, so please support us until the end.
