-Day 1-
Day 1, gather at Narita Airport.
Departing from Narita Airport on the night flight, we will transfer at Doha International Airport and head to Frankfurt Airport (Germany).
It took a total of 23 hours and a full day of travel to get from the airport to the hotel, with a 12-hour flight to Doha International Airport, followed by a 3-hour layover in Doha and a 6-hour flight to Frankfurt Airport. However, the players showed no signs of fatigue and traveled with a lively expression, showcasing their youth.
After arriving at the hotel, the training was scheduled, but due to heavy rain, the training was cancelled. We changed to taking a walk instead. We enjoyed German cuisine for dinner and fully enjoyed the local cuisine until the end.
After the meal, there was a voice from the players saying, "Since the rain has stopped, I want to go for a run," and almost all of the desired players ran through the streets of Germany at night. Even from the staff's perspective, the high motivation of the players could be seen, and I am looking forward to the growth of the players during this overseas training.
Day 2
The second day featured a match against 1.FSV Mainz 05 U19.
1.FSV Mainz 05's U-18 generation is a powerhouse team, having advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating Barcelona and Manchester City in the Champions League.
Before the match, there were concerns about jet lag and travel burden, but once the game started, the players' motivation and skills surpassed them, and they successfully turned the first half around with a 2-0 lead.
Although we conceded a goal early in the second half, the game continued with a back-and-forth battle and the substitute players made a great impact. In the end, both teams held their ground and the game ended in a draw. We were able to secure a 2-1 victory in our first away game.
From Coach SATO, the theme for this expedition is "maximum value."
This is an attempt to bring out the maximum potential of each individual and team, both on and off the pitch. Especially in the tough environment of overseas, we hope to be able to go on trips that will bring out the maximum potential of FC Tokyo U-18, including the staff, by building the team and competing together while living together.
With that said, I would like to conclude the report of the first and second day of the Germany expedition with a photo of the Rhine River and Coach Yukihiko SATO.
