＜Match Preview＞
After a break due to national team activities, the J1 League is finally entering the final stage of the season. Tokyo will play a total of 5 matches, including a postponed match due to a typhoon. They will have 3 home games and 2 away games.
The opponent after the break is Kashima Antlers. They are currently in 5th place, 4 points behind Tokyo, so it will be a very important match to keep up with the top teams.
In the first half, we faced each other in the 16th round of the league, and thanks to Ryoma WATANABE's two goals, we won 3-1. Although there were moments where Kashima pushed us back with their intensity in the ball contest, we took the lead and then controlled the ball, breaking through their defense with a coordinated build-up and scoring additional points.
On the occasion of his 100th game as manager of the J.League, Albert Puig Ortoneda achieved a record of 300 wins in the J1 League as a team. It was a significant match in terms of the team's performance and results in football.
After many matches since this one, Kashima's team situation has changed with the appointment of new coach Daiki IWAMASA in the middle of the season, and in the league they have been far from victory with 4 draws and 1 loss in the last 5 matches. With their first home game in about a month, they should have a strong determination for the match against Tokyo.
In the previous match at the Japan National Stadium, Tokyo won 2-0 against Kyoto Sanga F.C., setting a new record for the highest number of home game attendees. Tokyo maintained possession of the ball calmly, despite the high intensity and fast-paced attacking style of the opponent. They managed to handle the opponent's pressure, maintain their balance, and switch to an attacking mode until the finish, controlling the game at their own pace.
The focus is on Adailton, who is competing for the top spot in the scoring rankings and is close to reaching 50 goals in the J1 League, as well as which player will score the milestone 1000th goal for the team. In this season's league matches, Tokyo has a 100% winning rate in games where they scored the first goal. We want to stick to Tokyo's style and actively aim for the first goal.
[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]
Q: It's been a while, but what kind of preparations have you made for the match against Kashima?
A: As usual, we have spent the past two weeks making continuous adjustments to the tactical details. We are focusing on and refining every aspect of tactics and technique. We are currently in a growth phase, and I believe this is a good time and situation to feel that growth. The players are gaining confidence in their play day by day. Tomorrow’s match will be very challenging, but I hope we can approach it in a good way.
Q, the season will end in one month. Has the progress been smooth up until now?
A: Now that some time has passed, I think it can be expressed in the past tense that we have changed our style. This season, we had various themes and goals, one of which was to change our playing style, and another was to give young players opportunities to play and promote their growth. Additionally, we aimed to build a foundation for the team, a base for the future, and I believe we are firmly achieving these three goals now. For me, these were the three objectives I set, and I think they have been sufficiently accomplished. There are five matches remaining from here. Naturally, within those, I want us to grow further and finish the season strong. I believe many players found it difficult to adapt to these changes, but I am satisfied that they have adjusted well. I want to compete in the remaining five matches in an even better form, achieve better results, and conclude the season positively.
Q: Has the playing style changed significantly throughout the matches so far this season?
A, If you watch the team's play now, you can clearly see that they are playing in a different way from last season. They are producing top-level numbers in terms of possession rate and other statistics. It is more difficult to remember the games they lost in terms of possession rate. Of course, changes in style will continue, as growth is always necessary in the world of soccer. However, it is clear to everyone that the team has changed its style from one that emphasized lowering the defensive block and focusing on counterattacks. There is also a clear difference in the speed of building up from a low position and switching between offense and defense. Regarding style, there are preferences and differences of opinion. However, it is not necessarily guaranteed that changing the style will always lead to winning the game. There is still a long way to go. Looking at it from a longer span, the team is in a stage of growth.
Q: What is the plan you are considering since player Morishige cannot participate in the game?
A, of course, his absence is an important point for tomorrow's match. However, from another perspective, this can be seen as an opportunity for other players, especially the younger ones. In that sense, I expect them to make the most of this chance and perform well.
Q: Players, do you think there have been any new learnings or discoveries this season? Also, it was a new experience for the coach to lead the team at a new club.
A, first of all, I was very surprised by the players' strong desire to learn and the rapid progress in their growth. I myself also learned a lot about adapting to the characteristics of each individual player. When changing the style, we attempted to do so gradually rather than making drastic changes. I think that went well, and it was also important that we were able to make these changes while steadily accumulating points. This is because if we had not accumulated points, we could have faced difficulties toward the end of the season. I believe J1 is a more competitive league than J2. In that sense, every match is very tough, and any team in J1 can face the possibility of relegation. Since failing to accumulate points could lead to a dangerous situation, I think the gradual changes worked well in that regard. The fact that several clubs with larger management scales than ours are struggling in the relegation battle is exactly proof of this. Because it is such a tightly contested league, drastic changes are very risky. In that sense, I think it is highly commendable that I adapted to the players, and the players adapted to me and the new style, allowing us to proceed with the gradual style changes.
[Player Interview]
＜Keigo HIGASHI＞
Q: In the past, we haven't had good results against Kashima, but this season we won 3-1 at home. This time, the match will be at Kashima Stadium. What is your impression of playing away?
A: Even though Kashima changes their coach every year, their playing style does not change, and I have the impression that everyone carries on Kashima's traditional style of play. I have been with Tokyo for a long time, but my impression is that we have few wins against them and not a very good record. However, the stadium itself is truly a wonderful soccer-specific stadium, and as a player, it is really a privilege to be able to play in such a place. I want to play boldly there.
Q: During the break, the interval was one week longer than usual. What aspects have the team been able to build up during this time?
A: From this season, Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has been in charge, and we are challenging ourselves with building up from the back. We have made progress in valuing possession of the ball, and I hope we can continue to build on this going forward. Although it is a difficult away match at a tough stadium, I think it will be very important whether we can do what we want to do even against such opponents.
Q, I think we were able to defend from the front and keep possession of the ball until the finish in the previous match against Kyoto.
A: Even when we say to value possession of the ball, it’s not just about passing it around. I think Tokyo’s strength is also in quick attacks, which are important, and intensity and running ability are also crucial. So, I have the impression that we need to do all of these simultaneously.
Q, if we can win here, can we see the AFC Champions League area?
A: As long as there is a possibility, we aim for it, and as long as I am part of this team, it is always our goal. We want to come together as one and fight in such important matches.
Q: Do you have a sense that Tokyo's style has been analyzed by the opponents during the second half of the season?
A, as the second half of the season progresses, our approach becomes more fixed, so to some extent, we get analyzed. That goes for us as well, but in that sense, matches tend to be closely contested. The J.League has 18 teams, and there are no easy opponents to beat, so I think every match will be a tough battle.
Q, in the previous match against Kyoto, there were many scenes where we were able to bring the ball to the shooting position, and I believe that goals were also scored from there.
A, you have to shoot when you can, but sometimes it’s better to shoot at the right timing, and if there is a free player beside you, it’s better to use that option. Since it depends on individual judgment, it’s hard to say definitively, but I want to create many chances.
Q, please tell us your enthusiasm for the Kashima game.
A, we need to keep winning consecutively and steadily accumulate points, so in that sense, this is a really important match, and I want to somehow bring back points.
