The conversation between coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA and Kazuyuki TODA at the 2022 FC Tokyo New System Announcement held on January 15, 2022, and the continuation of the conversation in a separate room due to insufficient time on stage will be posted.
If you would like to see the conversation in video, please check the YouTube link at the end of this article.
＜New System Announcement Meeting＞
Mr. Toda
Hello. I usually work as a coach, but I also do commentary (game analysis), so I was invited to this event.
Coach Albert
But, I used to be a little good at soccer...
Mr. Toda
He was not that skilled, but he played with great effort (laughs)
Coach Albert
I heard he was a little good at handling the ball (laughs)
Mr. Toda
It's just a little bit (laughs). After finishing the challenge in Niigata, a new challenge begins at the club in the capital this time. From the previous conversation (the conversation conducted before the interview with Coach Albert), I can feel your understanding of Japan, but first, please tell us how you saw FC Tokyo's last season.
Coach Albert
I watched various matches. FC Tokyo had some good matches, but I think there were also many matches that were not so good. The previous coach had been in charge for several years, and there were certainly some great seasons. However, people's memories are often based on how things ended. In that sense, I think it is remembered that the end of last season did not necessarily end well.
Mr. Toda
I would like to talk about the style of soccer.
The style that Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has been promoting, which was also mentioned in a previous interview, is "traveling together" where we hold the ball firmly, control the game, and of course, press. This style is probably different from the pressing that FC Tokyo has been advocating, as well as the style of counter-attacking from defense. It is also a challenge in a new place, but I think it is a decision that the club has made in terms of the style of football. In order to permeate Coach Albert's philosophy from now on, how much time do you think will be needed and what kind of things do you think will be necessary in training?
Manager Albert
It is still possible to predict how much time is needed. In my imagination, I think the first 6 months will be a difficult time. In the first 6 months, we need to try various things and make adjustments. And after about 6 months, I think the team and players will start to understand the new playing style and be able to play well, but of course, mistakes will continue to happen. After continuing this for one season, it is expected that the second season will start with a good start. And if the project continues until the third season, it is expected to play at an even higher level. After that, I think we can achieve even greater success. For me, the key to success is to continue creating a flow where young players from the academy keep moving up to the top team in a team that has built such a base. And the foreign players who join there must be players who can clearly provide something different to the team.
Mr. Toda
In that sense, with the arrival of a new coach, he has set standards and expectations for what the team should work on as a whole, and regardless of age, will he be looking at it from a training perspective?
Manager Albert
Off the pitch, you must respect your superiors. But on the pitch, it's different. Whether you're 35 or 16, once you step onto the pitch, it's the same. And in football, it gives equal opportunities to tall players, short players, thin players, and overweight players. Tomorrow, I will meet all the players for the first time, and there is one message I want to convey to them. The most important thing is that the team is united. Without that, we cannot achieve success. The important thing is that the team is united as one, and age and nationality don't matter.
And the playing style I seek requires combination between players. Combination cannot be expressed without a strong bond between players. Players are not robots. I want each individual to express their imagination and their own personality on the pitch. On the other hand, each individual must sweat for the team. They must run. Because if even one person slacks off, the completeness of the team will dramatically decrease. Therefore, the most important thing is for the team to be united.
Mr. Toda
I think that Tokyo has a team of players who can run very dedicatedly. On the other hand, I think that in terms of the philosophy and style of Coach Albert, it is the opposite. I don't think they will do the same thing as Niigata, but is it generally difficult to successfully guide players who have breakthrough ability and are very good at running under the philosophy of the coach?
Manager Albert
The playing style that I am looking for in Tokyo is not different from Niigata. However, it is the team that maximizes the individuality of each player on the pitch. In that sense, understanding the individuality of the players in front of me now and bringing out that individuality is what defines the playing style. For example, even if Guardiola led Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, they expressed different styles of play. In Barcelona, there were players like Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi, so they hardly lost the ball. Although there is a base playing style, the individuality expressed by the players and the team's identity naturally change when the players change.
Mr. Toda
Since it is now the appointed time, there is still something I would like to ask, so for the convenience of the proceedings, I would like to continue listening to your story in a separate room.
Coach Albert
Thank you very much.
After the announcement of the new system, in a separate room
Manager Albert
The playing style varies depending on the player, but it doesn't necessarily require players with extraordinary abilities. There are various playing styles and personal preferences, but as a manager, the most important thing to prioritize is the growth of the players. I like a playing style that can encourage player development. Naturally, the higher the quality of the players, the more success we can achieve. This applies to other playing styles as well, as having a higher level of players will lead to more success. However, if there is a difference between other playing styles and the one I prefer, it is that I believe my preferred playing style can simultaneously promote player growth.
I will ask Toda-san a question in return.
I think you have been playing as a player for a long time, but what kind of playing style do you think is suitable for Japanese people's characteristics?
Mr. Toda
Basically, I think that in terms of physical aspects and power, Japanese players are inferior compared to those from Western Europe and South America. On the other hand, Japanese people have a mentality of working together with everyone to create things, including a spirit of self-criticism. I have experience playing in Europe, and I think Japanese players also have a high willingness to learn. On the other hand, they greatly respect and value older or superior people, and they have the ability to adjust well to the atmosphere of the situation rather than expressing their own thoughts. In order to effectively demonstrate this on the pitch, it is necessary to remove the barrier of age and have the courage to challenge without fear of making mistakes.
In simple terms, there are few Japanese people who are assertive. If we can lead them in a positive direction, it will lead to playing with a team and group consciousness. Perhaps, depending on the behavior of the coach and such people, there may be a part of Japanese people who tend to lean towards not wanting to fail or in that direction.
Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
What we are talking about now is the appropriate mentality to focus on winning.
Mr. Toda was playing in Europe, right?
Mr. Toda
had played in England and the Netherlands.
Coach Alberto
I think there was a big difference between England and the Netherlands.
Mr. Toda
It was completely different.
I played for Tottenham and ADO Den Haag in the 2003-2004 season.
Coach Albert
Were you particularly focused on winning in England?
Mr. Toda
was strong, wasn't he?
Coach Albert
The Netherlands...
Mr. Toda
It's about playing more in the Netherlands, right?
Manager Albert
In terms of playing style, the Netherlands has a very clear one, but I think they lack a bit of determination in the game. I think the previous discussion hit the nail on the head, Japanese players have a very high level of technique. And in a broad sense, they are not bad in terms of tactics. However, I think there are areas for improvement in terms of situational judgment and making decisions on their own. And I think the fear of making mistakes and the difficulty in making bold judgments are connected. What is interesting is that Japanese players, despite not surpassing European, South American, and African players physically, I was honestly surprised that there are many teams in Japan that prioritize physical play like England.
Mr. Toda
In terms of style, Tokyo was also like that.
Mr. Alber
I am not criticizing anything in particular. However, in my opinion, it is important to demonstrate our own individuality and strengths. For example, the Spanish national team was unable to win anything for a long time. However, domestic clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have always been competing for dominance in Europe. Despite having fantastic clubs, the performance of the Spanish national team, which represents them, was always criticized for being so poor. At that time, the Spanish national team emphasized the importance of "having to fight", but then coach Luis Aragones came and changed everything. He said, "The ball must roll. Let's play good football." It was the Spanish national team that effectively utilized the talents of Xavi and Iniesta. The national team, which had achieved nothing, became European champions, won the World Cup, and since then has become a country that consistently competes at the top.
I believe that we must aim for something that suits our own individuality. Including Mr. Toda, as coaches, I think our mission is to understand the individuality of each player in front of us and bring out that individuality. In many cases, coaches try to change players or treat them like pawns. I think there are times when people try to change their partner to their own liking when they get married, but it doesn't work well and in most cases, people cannot change (laughs).
I think that the playing style we prefer also leads to the expression of the players' individuality. And like a puzzle, it is one of the coach's jobs to find a better and appropriate combination that can complement the strengths and weaknesses of each player by slightly changing the positioning of the players. For example, let's say there is a side back with abundant athleticism who is good at participating in attacks on the side. And let's say there is also a winger who is good at making runs into space. Now, what would happen if we used these two players on the same side? I think their strengths would overlap and they wouldn't be able to play well. I believe that by combining players with different characteristics, we can bring out each other's strengths and allow them to express their individuality.
Mr. Toda
Earlier, you mentioned that Japanese players have a good understanding of tactics. As someone who has coached in Niigata, what is your impression of Japanese players' understanding of positions and tactics? I have had the opportunity to go to Spain and see various things and gain experience, but I think it is highly possible that Japanese players have not received such guidance and rely more on their instincts.
Mr. Alber
In any field, it is difficult for the other person to understand what you want to convey. First of all, as a coach, it is difficult to convey what you want to express to the players if you do not deeply understand what you want to express in detail. When I went to Niigata two years ago, there were many players who had never played in the playing style that I expected, including foreign players. And many of the players we reinforced were also players who had not been fortunate enough to play much in the club they belonged to. First of all, we had to organize the team, but in addition to that, we also had to improve the work within the club to make it more suitable as a professional club, not just the playing style. And we also had to observe which players are suitable for which positions by actually watching the play of the players who have not played in this playing style until now.
In the second season, we kept players who adapted to my playing style and acquired suitable players from outside. And in order to enhance the team's completion in a more speedy manner, we formed a team centered around Japanese players in the second year. In that sense, I think we were able to make good plays from the start of the second season. The team's completion level improved, and we were able to express the expected plays as a team, but we were lacking in finishing power when it came to the final finish.
For Niigata, the 2022 season, which is my third season since taking office, I think many players will remain and continue the team's style. I sincerely hope that they will continue to grow. Last season, we had a wonderful and high-quality group of forwards. I am very satisfied with their play. However, it was often the case that the opposing team adapted to our playing style and defended with more players in front of the goal. It is still not easy to score against such teams.
I am proud that we were able to create a very good atmosphere within the team. I felt that the fans and supporters in Niigata also liked this playing style. It is my pride that over 10,000 fans and supporters came to the stadium. And I sincerely hope for Niigata's success in the new season. I also want to implement similar reforms here in Tokyo and of course, I want to bring out the individuality of each player.
Mr. Toda
Tokyo has a lot of fast, strong, and skilled players. As you may know, the base style is 4-4-2, with a focus on attacking. Within that, I think they will work on controlling the opponent and releasing the press by slowing down the speed a bit and positioning themselves well between the center midfielders and center backs. The style will change quite a bit, and it may seem difficult from an outsider's perspective, but I wonder how they will approach it.
Director Albert
I believe it is certainly complicated. But I believe it can be done.
Mr. Toda
Since the club had a style similar to Athletic Bilbao, it will be a challenging job. That's why I'm looking forward to watching it. In recent years, excellent coaches from Spain have come to the J-League, and I believe that Japanese soccer has definitely been changing.
Coach Alber
Speaking of Spain, it cannot be generalized, and there are various differences. Even when it comes to valuing the ball, there are various ways to do so. However, I think that in the youth development stage, the play that values the ball is generally expressed throughout Spain. It is difficult to find a club or team in the youth development stage that does not value the ball. However, there are various differences in playing style among top teams.
Mr. Toda
There are also people like Director Bordalas.
Coach Albert
It is true that many coaches think of the ball as the main character. In the Netherlands, most coaches tend to aim for the same style.
Mr. TODA
I like the diversity of Spain. In Tokyo, there are players who are physically strong, can run, and can break through within Japan. However, they have been more focused on aiming for the goal in a straight line. With Coach Albert coming in, there is an expectation that things will change, as there are many players who are eager to learn. I am looking forward to that.
Director Alber
I mentioned in the new management announcement that there may be difficulties in the first six months or so, but assuming that the team is united, the higher the quality of the players, the shorter the time required for completion. However, unity is still necessary to achieve anything. This applies not only within the team, but also requires unity throughout the entire club. And it is not only the players, but also the unity with the fans and supporters that is necessary.
Mr. Toda
Not only in Niigata, but the support from Tokyo supporters is also amazing.
Coach Albert
In my first season in Niigata, I couldn't achieve good results, but many fans and supporters were hoping for my continued tenure. In that sense, a professional club relies on its fans and supporters, so it depends on how many fans and supporters will follow and support us.
Mr. Toda
I am definitely looking forward to everyone's support and I am excited for the new challenge.
Coach Albert
For me and for the club, the presence of the fans and supporters is very important. That's why we must not lie to them. I believe that we must speak honestly to the fans and supporters with sincerity, as we cannot guarantee something that we cannot guarantee, such as achieving or leaving behind such game results. Of course, we guarantee that we will give our all to aim for victory in every match. However, we anticipate that it is natural to struggle to achieve good results at the start of the season, considering the playing style we aim for.
Mr. Toda
Since I may be reporting the game as a commentator, I will watch it carefully and make an effort to convey what I am working on in a polite manner.
Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I will check it properly later, so if you criticize it, it won't be for nothing (laughs). If you were criticizing, I would go watch Mr. Toda's game and give him strict feedback instead (laughs).
Mr. Toda
As a coach myself, I understand the difficulty of creating something new and how precious it is. I will make efforts to convey it properly.
Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA
I would like to keep the door open for Mr. Toda, so please feel free to come for practice and to the office at any time.
[Video of the conversation]
① New System Announcement (24 minutes 02 seconds ~)
② Announcement of the new system and appearance after the presentation - in a separate room
