＜Match Preview＞
In the previous match, we lost 0-2 to Shonan at home and our winning streak of 2 games came to an end. The content of the match was dominated by the opponent's sharp start and physicality, but Diego OLIVEIRA emphasized a positive attitude after the game.
"Instead of hanging our heads here, we want to prepare well for the next match against Cerezo Osaka. We want to show the fans and supporters a desperate fight and a desperate run to win at home, no matter who is on the pitch."
Cerezo Osaka, who will face off this week, has a high motivation as they approach the YBC Levain Cup final on the 22nd of this month. It is also a positive factor that MF Hiroshi Kiyotake, who has been out of action for a long time until the end of August, has finally regained his form. Tokyo must surpass their opponents with the mental strength and intensity in the game, as Diego Oliveira said, and show a fighting spirit to the home fans and supporters.
Adailton, who has scored his first 10 goals this season, is likely to be the key player in the attack. He said, "I want to be the player with the most goals at the end of the season," and he is aiming to score as many goals as possible until the end. In the last three matches, Tokyo will give their all and aim to show a culmination of this season's battles.
Matchday program is here
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, what do you think about the need for a reevaluation in terms of details such as set piece positioning and the space around the anchor?
A, of course, such details are important. However, it is necessary to think about how we lost by being done in one shot, rather than focusing too much on that. For example, in the Kashima game, Abe scored a wonderful goal. With that, the tactics for one game were excellent. In soccer, if there are no mistakes, there are no goals conceded, of course. If we talk about the details of the goal conceded in the Shonan game, that goal was born from the throw-in. We must delve into the details of the small parts and of course, reduce mistakes. However, the biggest mistake we made was not going towards the goal direction from the beginning. I think Shonan plays good soccer by fielding young players and maintaining possession of the ball. However, in games where they concede the opening goal, their youthfulness often leads to losing game control.
We lost to Shimizu and Iwata, for example. However, in the annual ranking table, we are competing for the top positions while they are at the bottom. I wonder what that means. We need to look at the overall picture. In recent years, the league matches have become very competitive. Therefore, the points we have gained while gradually changing our style this season have become important. If we only focus on the immediate results, we will lose. For example, before this season started, many people expected this club to be in a relegation battle. We changed our style and improved our ranking. The composition of the team hasn't changed much. I also had a very sad night, and I understand that everyone had hopes of going higher, so it was a difficult night. Of course, I think I have to take the most responsibility and I feel sad. However, I cannot consider criticizing the players or losing the overall perspective.
What position has the club built its history on? What kind of club do we want to become in the future? As I always say, it is necessary for everyone to travel together in order to achieve things. I have said it many times, but the biggest thing about this club is the name Tokyo. It is a burden that weighs on everyone. What we need to think about is becoming a club that lives up to the name Tokyo. However, that name should not become a pressure to quickly reach a certain position. Have we become champions in the league? How many times? What is the best position we have achieved in the league so far, and how many times have we competed for the championship? Please calm down. If those around the club cannot understand this, we will always move in a negative direction. Because unnecessary pressure will be applied. It's fine for me personally, but it shouldn't become a pressure that prevents the players from staying calm and moving in a positive direction.
I understand that it is sad in this game, of course. And I understand that we need to be more aggressive from the first half. I also understand that we need to delve into many details. And I understand that Shonan is a good team and had a good game. However, we must not perceive everything as bad just because of that. If we don't have that composure, I don't think we will have a good future for Tokyo Club. There is still a lot of work to be done. And when we lose, it is my responsibility and the players' responsibility. So, we must change this firmly. Of course, there will be difficult games from now on, and I think there will be sad games next year as well. However, we will reduce such sad games. And it is important to gradually raise the level of the team, little by little.
Q: In the first 10 minutes of the Shonan match, we were completely pushed back. In the C Osaka match, do you think it is necessary to change the situation, for example, by pushing the opponent with a score of 10-0 or by evenly pushing back? What are your thoughts on that?
A, I also told the players, but it is not a problem to have more options behind when trying to play on the opponent's court without becoming passive in the first high press. However, it should not be allowed to be pushed back by the opponent for 10 minutes. There are two important things to dominate the game along with the ball. It is important to possess the ball, but it is not enough to just possess the ball. It is necessary to take it to the point where the opponent fears by showing the attitude of moving towards the goal while possessing the ball. That is defending while possessing the ball. Therefore, it is necessary to express the act of moving towards the goal while possessing the ball from the beginning. The concept of always being with the ball remains unchanged. That will be tested tomorrow.
Q: What members will you face with tomorrow?
A, of course there will be changes in the members.
Q: We played against C Osaka in the early spring. What is your impression?
A, I think there has been a change in style between the two teams. They have become a stronger team. We are pursuing ball possession. Currently, C Osaka has become a team focused on intensity. They use pressing and quick transitions in attack as their weapons. Of course, we had good aspects from the beginning. However, we are pursuing ball possession more than them. Therefore, it is evident in the data that scoring the first goal becomes even more important. I want everyone to understand one thing. Every match is difficult, as I mentioned before, so I conveyed the message to the players that we will be attacking from the beginning. At first, the team was even afraid of possessing the ball. Now, we must continue to play with the consciousness of moving towards the goal while maintaining ball possession. I think that is the challenge that will connect us to the remaining three matches of this season and the next season.
Q: There is data that says when you score the opening goal, you have a perfect record.
A, of course, I think that data will eventually break, but it also becomes a message for players to go on the offensive from the beginning. As a message, we must play with a strong awareness that we have to go for the opening goal from the beginning. It is difficult to change the style from the beginning, and there are doubts such as what to do if we hold the ball and lose it by making a mistake, or if we fail a pass and easily lose the ball, we might get scolded by the coach. Such things come up in the style of holding the ball. Overcoming that leads to confidence and maturity afterwards. Complete confidence and maturity is in the third year of the team. I hope to communicate firmly with the fans and supporters not only on the pitch but also off the pitch and lead the club in a positive direction.
[Player Interview]
＜Adailton
Q: You have scored 10 goals so far this season. You are also in a position to aim for the top scorer title. What are your thoughts on that?
Regarding the fact that I have been able to score, I think it is thanks to God. Another reason is that I believe my own efforts have contributed, not only since I came to Japan but also throughout my career. I think that what I have been doing since coming to Japan has finally shown visible results this season.
Q, Adailton has been seen taking many shots this season. Do you have anything in particular that you are conscious of when it comes to shooting?
A, of course, in order to score, you have to take shots, so I am always conscious of shooting. From practice, I have been playing while being conscious of the shooting aspect, so I think the number of times I can naturally take shots in the game has increased. If you don't take shots, you won't score, so I want to increase those opportunities.
Q: Fans must be hoping for a top scorer from Tokyo. Do you personally have any specific goals of becoming the top scorer?
A, I also think it is possible to become the top scorer, so I want to aim for it. However, more than that, I think I have to fight each game in front of me seriously like a final round, so of course I want to become the top scorer, but I think it is more important for me to fight each game in front of me firmly. I think it would be great if I could become the top scorer in the result.
Q: This season, we have been fighting under the guidance of Coach Albert for a year, and many players have expressed difficulties in adapting to the significant changes in tactics. How do you feel about it?
A, I felt a certain level of difficulty, and there were certainly games that I think would have been easier if we had played like last season. However, I don't think I was the only one feeling the difficulty. As we played more games, the range of what the coach expects and what we can do has expanded. Now, we are able to do a lot more and I think we are able to express the style of play that the coach wants. I see this as a year of change and I am taking it very positively. We have reached this level of completion at this stage of the league, so I think it will lead to next year.
Q: This season, you achieved your 200th appearance in J1 in September. What do you think is the factor that has allowed you to have a long and successful career in Japan?
A, in my case, I think patience is important. In a completely different culture from my home country, I thought that I would try to get used to the culture with patience, and as a result, I think I have been able to spend a long season in Japan.
Q, are you enjoying life in Japan?
A, since I have been living in Japan for a long time, of course I have gotten used to it and it is a calm environment, so I think it is a really comfortable place to live once you get used to it.
Q, How do you feel about being able to hear cheers at the stadium starting from the middle of this season?
A, I think it's something that every player feels, not just me, but I believe that the cheers of the fans and supporters reach us during the game and serve as a source of encouragement. I feel really positive about being able to hear everyone's voices in some of the matches.
Q, finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
A, no matter what kind of team the opponent is, we will give our all in the game. I believe that is the key. We want to aim for victory and have a game where we can share the joy with our fans and supporters.
＜Ryoma WATANABE player＞
Q: The impression was that it was difficult to do well in the final finish while holding the ball against Shonan. How was it?
A, I think it was good that the team was able to hold the ball until the final finishing part, but it was a game that did not result in a goal. I want to improve the accuracy of the finishing part in practice.
Q: What preparations did you make in the three days between the Shonan match?
A, this season, we have 3 league matches, so we are discussing as a team to win them and finish strong. We have also confirmed the team's adjustments in the finer details rather than focusing on major tactical aspects.
Q, there are only 3 games left, how do you feel about the penetration rate of the new style that has been built up so far?
A, each game is getting better, and I think there are times when things don't go well as a team, but I think it's important to continue to be patient.
Q: How do you feel, Watanabe TSUBASA?
It is very important to incorporate what the coach is saying into oneself and how to output it, so I am making efforts in trial and error in that area. Communication with the people around me becomes important in order to aim for high goals in the coming season, so I hope to make these three games smooth in that regard.
Q, what do you think is necessary to reduce the impact of the waves that inevitably occur as a team?
A, I think we need to improve our tactical understanding individually so that we can play our own soccer no matter how the opponent defends. I hope that we can eliminate fluctuations in the next season, considering that we have practice and official matches for that purpose.
I think this will be an important match to narrow the point difference with C Osaka. What is your impression of the opponent?
I think everyone understands that the attacking and crossing of the fullbacks are dangerous, so we need to be careful.
Q, please tell us your enthusiasm for the game.
A, with only 3 games left this season and only 2 home games, we want to deliver a solid victory to the fans and supporters, and we want to do our best to earn 3 points while playing our own style of football.
