[Match Information]
91st Emperor's Cup All Japan Soccer Championship Final
FC Tokyo 4-2 Kyoto Sanga F.C.
It took time for that wound to scab over and peel off. But 12 years later, Masato MORISHIGE says.
"That time was necessary"
In the final match of the 2010 J1 League, Kyoto Sanga F.C. lost 0-2 and was relegated to the J2 League. Immediately after the match, he said in a weak voice, "I'm sorry," and choked on his words. In his first year with the team, he was still recovering from an injury and his condition was not optimal, resulting in unnecessary fouls throughout the season. As a result, he received multiple yellow cards and often disrupted the flow of the game. He was suspended for a total of four matches throughout the year, which made him keenly aware of the weight of his responsibility.
It was the team's first day of training for the following year. When I was stopped in the interview area at Kodaiguchi Ground, I gathered my courage and spoke.
"Relegation is my responsibility. I think of myself as the worst player of the year. I ruined the game with my mistakes and caused trouble for the team. I have to grow as a person from here."
That oath was the beginning. It changed the way of facing soccer and set daily goals for oneself. Repeating thorough preparation and spending each day carefully. "Humans have weak points. How to fight and overcome them. I have been desperately doing it within myself." By nurturing that self-discipline, it will lead to grasping success afterwards.
Now, looking back on that day, when I became a man with a bitter expression on my face.
"I think it was necessary to take the time to stop and organize my soccer life. Undoubtedly, my soccer style was created after that. It became a catalyst for me to face soccer as a player, to think about daily preparations, care, and what is necessary as a player, and make them my own. Success also proved the correctness and gave me the confidence that I can do it. From there, it created a cycle of setting new goals when results are achieved."
Emperor's Cup victory immediately after winning the J2 League. And to the ACL
And now, here is the main topic of this column――. A nostalgic card will be held at the renovated sacred ground, Kokuritsu. So, I decided to pull out the footage of the Emperor's Cup final on January 1, 2012 from the archives and take a look back at it after a long time.
AO-AKA STREET won the J2 League in 2011 and achieved their ultimate goal of returning to the J1 League. On New Year's Day of the following year, they stood on the National pitch. The opponent they faced in their quest for their first championship was none other than Kyoto, who had been relegated in the previous season's final round.
The first J2 showdown since the establishment of the J-League begins. I was surprised by the commentary from Kenta Hasegawa, and seeing familiar faces in the footage other than the players brought back a sense of nostalgia. Before the match, the familiar chant of "National~ National~ Our National~♪" echoed from the stands.
The match allowed Kyoto to take the lead in the 13th minute of the first half, and there was a negative flow of "Is this how it will be for Kyoto if they take the lead?". However, two minutes later, Yasuyuki KONNO equalized from a set play, immediately resetting the game.
"Because I continued to feel regret, I was able to come back and win even if we were initially behind."
And then, the broadcast resumes with footage of earthquake information that occurred during the match. Immediately after that, Tatsuya Yazawa is brought down in the opponent's territory and earns a direct free kick. The distance to the goal is 30 meters. The stands erupt with calls for Morishige. Ishikawa stands alongside the set ball, and the two exchange a brief conversation.
"I was good at no-spin. I asked if he could move a little and do a Chung to the right front because it's easier to kick. There was also a distance, so there was no intention for Nao-san to aim. It was like saying, 'Well, I'll give it a shot'."
Having turned professional from Hiroshima Minami High School, there was a strong attachment to the National Stadium, which was also a sacred place for high school soccer.
"It was a place that I thought was just a dream, a distant existence that I admired but felt was out of reach because we were not a team that could compete for the championship nationwide."
Morishige swung his right foot vigorously on that dream stage. The bone on the top of his foot is larger than most people's, and if he hits the protruding part with a "thud," the ball will curve. The powerful blow, accompanied by the commentary "the ball curved as if riding on the Morishige call that could be heard from his back," was sucked into the goal without rotation.
After taking the lead with this super goal, Lucas then dominated with two goals, leaving Kyoto behind. The repeated cheers of "Ole" every time the passes connected, and the numerous support songs that still echo in my ears. All of these were part of the good memories. When the final whistle blew, I embraced my teammates with smiles.
"Not only did we win the J2 championship after two years of struggle, but we also won the Emperor's Cup. It was my first title in the Emperor's Cup, and I'm glad that I could celebrate with the fans and supporters after all the hardships we went through."
After the award ceremony, Morishige appeared in the mixed zone and finished the surrounding interview, sitting down on the stairs. When asked, "Did you have such a shot?" he smirked and said, "I had it." Perhaps because he was able to give a reward to the fans and supporters who had made him sad, as it was his first time going to the AFC Champions League (ACL). Relief was evident in his expression. I can't forget that face. When I conveyed this, he said, "You're cheeky," and spoke like this.
"I was able to experience how enjoyable and exciting it is to compete against Asian teams as a club in the J-League, rather than representing the national team in that era. It was something that players, staff, and fans/supporters could all enjoy together. I think that was significant."
A rematch at the National Stadium in 10 years and "Tokyo's current soccer"
Over 10 years have passed, and the two teams from that day will meet again at the Japan National Stadium. Morishige missed the Gamba Osaka match on April 29, the first J1 League match held at the new National Stadium, due to injury. This time, if he steps onto the pitch at the National Stadium, it will be the first time since the 2020 season's YBC Levain Cup final.
"Tokyo is strong when it comes to festivals. I've felt for over ten years that this team is strong when the motivation is high. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But in important matches and during festivals, the winning percentage is high."
12 years ago, I called myself the person who brought about the J2 demotion with a sense of self-blame. I will never forget the pain of that day's wound. Jokingly, I say, "I've been doing it while relaxing so that I won't be caught," but I still spend my days with careful preparation, just as before. As the length of time accumulated increases, so do the many memories we have shared.
"I grew up in Tokyo. The fans and supporters who have always supported me have watched over me in good times and bad times. I feel like I need to accomplish something soon. I can't just sit back and relax. Showing my fighting spirit as a player will benefit the team and make people feel something when they watch. I don't want to forget that. In addition, I want to express the soccer that Tokyo is currently working on."
I'm not the type to openly talk about love. But if you dare to ask, "Love for Tokyo? I have more than anyone else. I have proven it in these 13 years," he says. Furthermore, he probes, "Have we become mutually in love?" The lingering feeling left in response, "I don't know myself..." was filled with "things left undone."
The title of the Emperor's Cup, which Mori Shige has won for the first time in his career with Tokyo, has become the catalyst for opening the way to Asia. There have been painful matches and matches that have been saved. That's how the relationship with AkaAo has deepened. Soccer has a significant impact on life. I know that from my own experience.
So, how is soccer in Tokyo now?
"I think that the most important thing is to play soccer that I want to do more and more, and that I find enjoyable. I am a person who cannot continue if it is not fun. I am happy that I can do enjoyable things. However, it's not just about having fun. It's fun because we win. I want to continue to prepare well so that I can enjoy it for as long as possible. The ball? I still want to kick it, right?"
Sometimes, I think I created an intimidating atmosphere and focused too much on myself, as I immersed myself in my daily life. But things have changed. Lately, the word "together" that I never used before has started to appear in my comments. A 35-year-old who has more than one scar and peeled scab thinks about the simple way to enjoy soccer. When I said "I want to enjoy it for as long as possible" at that time, I also heard the word "together" attached to it.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
