<Match Review>
The J1 League, which had a three-week interval due to national team activities, is finally resuming. This round marks the halfway point of the season, with 34 games to be played. The last game of the first half was against Shonan Bellmare at their home ground. This is the third time facing Shonan this season, with one win and one loss in the Levain Cup. However, unlike the Levain Cup where young players were actively used, the league match was played with the best players. Most of the injured players have returned, and except for Kuryu MATSUKI, who is participating in the U-21 Japan national team's overseas expedition, almost all the best players were ready for this match.
The composition of the Tokyo team is based on the previous match against Kashima Antlers before the break. Yuto NAGATOMO, who has just returned from national team activities, took a rest, and Hotaka NAKAMURA entered as the right full-back. In the absence of Matsuki in the inside half position, Ryoma WATANABE and Shuto ABE were lined up. Henrique TREVISAN and Leandro also made the bench after recovering from injury. Despite the impact of national team activities, Coach Albert chose today's starting eleven as the best current option.
After the kickoff, as the match progressed, the rain intensified, creating difficult conditions where both teams disrupted each other's ball possession with pressing from the front line and coordinated sliding to the ball side from the midfield. In the early stages, Tokyo utilized a mix of short and mid-range passes to push Shonan back and approach the goal, but they could not get a shot off. Conversely, in the 12th minute of the first half, a player was drawn into the penalty area, allowing a free mid-range shot from a backward pass. In the 14th minute, Shonan threatened the goal with a close-range shot following a ball loss in midfield. Then, in the 26th minute of the first half, while claiming a handball and becoming a ball-watcher, a floated pass was sent behind the defensive line, and Masaki IKEDA scored with a looping shot over Jakub SLOWIK's head, allowing the first goal. As Shonan effectively filled the spaces in their own half, Tokyo struggled to find attacking opportunities. Kensuke NAGAI and Adailton's speed was difficult to utilize due to the lack of space behind. While searching for attacking options by moving the ball, they were repeatedly countered due to mistakes, ending the first half in that manner.
Tokyo, wanting to counterattack, saw Nagai receive a cross from Ryoya Ogawa in the 5th minute of the second half. He made a move and delivered a cross into the goal area, where Adailton jumped in for a header. Although it missed the target, it created a chance with a simple attack from a wide play, something they struggled to do in the first half. However, after that, they couldn't carry the ball to a shooting opportunity, and in the 14th minute of the second half, they made three substitutions at once. Kashif BANGNAGANDE came on for Nakamura, Keigo HIGASHI for Takuya AOKI, and Leandro for Nagai. Immediately after, the substitutes got involved with the ball, creating a situation that threatened the opponent's goal, showing signs of change. On the right side, Leandro held the ball high and made a move, while Kashif BANGNAGANDE did the same on the left, delivering a sharp ball into the goal area. However, before they could seize control, they conceded a goal from a corner kick in the 25th minute of the second half, widening the deficit.
Tokyo continued to counterattack without losing momentum, and in the 31st minute of the second half, Adailton broke through with a long feed and threatened the Shonan goal, but his shot was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper. In the 39th minute of the second half, substitute player Kazuya Konno put in an early cross in front of the goal, and once again Adailton jumped in and took a header shot, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. Tokyo continued to attack while changing sides. In the 41st minute of the second half, Yoshitomo Kashiwagi received the ball in a deep position on the left side and sent a fast and accurate ball to Diego Oliveira, who had jumped in front of the goal. Diego took a one-touch shot, but it also missed the goal. In the 45+5th minute of the second half, Tokyo created a situation where many players entered the opponent's penalty area from the left side, but Kyosuke Kimoto's shot near the goal was also unable to find the net.
Despite launching a fierce attack towards the end, we were unable to counter and ended the first half of the season with a disappointing defeat. We will face V-Varen Nagasaki in the 3rd round of the Emperor's Cup in just 3 days, followed by our first match of the second half of the J1 League against Sagan Tosu in another 3 days.
[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]
Q: please review the game.
A: First, I would like to commend Shonan, our opponent today. Although we kicked off in the rain, in a situation where we had to show a strong determination to win from the start, I think Shonan demonstrated a stronger will to win this match than we did.
Throughout the first half, especially in the first 20 minutes, we were unable to play well. The intensity, particularly in defense, was not at the level we expected. As a result, we allowed the opponent to create chances. I believe that conceding a goal at that point had a significant impact on the subsequent flow of the game.
After that, Shonan tightened their defense. Therefore, in the early stages of the second half, they made three substitutions and brought in attacking players who could play in a narrower space. I think there was improvement in the second half. However, they conceded an additional goal from a corner kick, making the game even more challenging.
This season, I think the J1 League is a very competitive league. If you are even slightly outmatched in intensity by the opponent, results like today's can occur in this season's J1 League.
There were times when we were able to play well in terms of the quality of football. However, I think it was a match where we were not able to fully express our characteristic intensity and defensive intensity.
This season, the team must continue to grow. This includes mentality. The playing style also needs to grow, and I think we need to change the mentality of the entire club, including not only the players but also our staff, to a winning mentality. To become a club that is always in the top competition, the improvement of the quality of football and the change in mentality become important. The second half of the season will begin next week, but I want to firmly grow these two things.
Our playing style is gradually improving. I am very satisfied with that aspect. Furthermore, I want to stabilize the winning mentality and develop it so that we can express a mentality that is committed to competing. If we are satisfied with our current ranking, we cannot aim higher. We must have a winning mentality that is always focused on being at the top. I have conveyed this to the players, and including myself, we must turn the criticism inward and reflect on today’s match. To establish a foundational style and winning mentality for this club this season, we must learn from today’s game.
Q, scenes where frustration with the judgment could be seen were also observed.
A: I have not seen the footage, but regarding the scene where a handball was appealed, the VAR check concluded that it was not a handball, so that is likely the case. I do not think the referee influenced the outcome of today’s match. Regarding today’s result, I believe we should direct our focus inward. If the opponent is fighting fiercely, we must show an equal or greater fighting spirit.
The scene where I received a yellow card involved the ball going out, and the assistant referee raised the flag indicating it was out. However, the ball curved back onto the pitch. It was by no means an important action.
Q: Does the compatibility of playing style with Shonan affect the results?
A: I think soccer is very simple. At the very least, you have to compete with the same level of intensity as your opponent. Regardless of the system or playing style, if the intensity is not equal or higher, you cannot compete. If you are expressing the same intensity, then you can talk about tactics related to the system and other aspects of soccer, but today was not such a scenario. To achieve success in the future, we must develop these two aspects.
Our team has expressed a winner's mentality up to now, but if we say that we have been able to express it consistently, the situation is still unstable. There have been times when we played with high intensity but ended up losing the match in the final moments. Regarding today's match, I analyze that we lost due to a lack of intensity. The rain may have also had an impact. In any case, I believe that today we were not able to compete in an appropriate manner.
[Player Interview]
＜Ryoya OGAWA Player＞
Q: please review the game.
A, we made many mistakes, and the tempo couldn't pick up, resulting in a game like this where we couldn't push up the defensive line. We also ended with no goals on the offensive side, so we must take this match as a lesson and apply it to the next game.
Q, where do you think the factor lies that prevented us from expressing our own uniqueness?
A, in the transition after winning the ball, passes that normally wouldn’t be off-target were misplaced, and the ball quickly went back to the opponent, increasing our defensive time and gradually wearing us down. I feel that we allowed the opponent to play in the way they wanted.
Q, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA took office and the first half of the season ended with today's game. We lost today, but how do you feel about the progress and response so far?
A, I believe there are definitely areas where we are growing, and although I can't say every match has been good, there have been games with good content as well as matches like today where we still have a long way to go. This season, the coach has said it is a season for building up, so we need to be patient and keep going. While it is very frustrating, we must continue unwaveringly with what we want to do.
Q, the number of league matches for FC Tokyo has also decreased for you.
A, I still don't quite feel it yet, but the match at Ajinomoto has ended, and I was able to give a speech in front of everyone. My determination to take on a challenge overseas is firm. Now, the next league match for FC Tokyo will be my last one, so I want to make sure to win it.
Q, what kind of play do you want to show in the last game?
A, Tosu is a very aggressive team and a team we do not have a good record against. We want to win by playing our style of football, neutralizing Tosu’s style, increasing our possession time, and achieving a performance we can be satisfied with. If possible, I would like to repay the team with goals or assists, but more than that, I want to express the feelings I have built up over seven and a half seasons playing for FC Tokyo by helping the team win.
<Shuto ABE>
Q, I felt it was difficult to bring the ball to the finish while holding it.
A, I think there were many simple mistakes. There were also scenes where we conceded counterattacks after losing the ball. I believe that directly affected the result.
Q, Was there a period without matches, and did you have a feeling that the ball didn't stick to your feet?
A, I felt that the whole team seemed sluggish and wasn’t moving much. As preparation for entering the match, we need to work harder on warming up properly, otherwise our sharpness won’t come out, and the game will unfold like this. So next time, I want to be more conscious of that.
Q: The opponent mentioned that they have made significant preparations since losing in the Levain Cup. Did you feel their enthusiasm and any areas where they made adjustments?
A, simply put, I think the opponent had a stronger determination for today’s match. We lost in the crucial battles for the ball in key moments, and if you can’t win there, it reflects in the match result. We lost in really simple aspects, and the opponent also won mentally.
<Kazuya KONNO>
Q, how did you feel watching the game from the bench?
A, I felt that from the first half we struggled to find our own rhythm. Even so, I thought the opponent’s (work rate) would drop in the second half, so I was thinking about what I could do when I entered the pitch in that situation.
Q, I felt that the flow changed with the player substitution, but we were unable to score.
A, I think we were able to create our own flow and had many chances. However, if we don't score goals, it means nothing, so I felt that we need to fine-tune the final details. I want to build on that, even just a little, heading into the next match.
Q, today's game marked the halfway point of the league. Please share your enthusiasm for the second half.
A, none of us are satisfied with our current standing. From here on, we want to build up from practice to avoid matches like this and aim to climb higher.
Kensuke NAGAI
Q, how was the game looking back?
A, there were many easy mistakes, and the way we lost the ball was poor. Because of that, I feel the burden on the defense increased significantly. I believe there are many things we need to work on and improve from now on.
Q, what specific points do you feel did not go well?
A, throughout the game, we made mistakes just when the momentum seemed to be shifting our way, and we conceded goals without being able to seize the flow. Towards the end of the first half, there were times when we pressed forward, but there were few crosses or shots, and I felt that unless we increase those numbers, we won’t be able to score. I want to work on being able to commit more players there and also on eliminating mistakes.
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q: please review the game.
A, we lost possession of the ball many times throughout the match. We ended up draining our own stamina.
Q: It was a chasing game, but what was the team's focus in playing towards a comeback?
A, it would have been good to push into the opponent's territory, but we lost the ball before that. As a result, the defenders had to cover a wider area. I think the mistakes in build-up play were everything today.
Q: What preparations will you make for the next game?
A: I think we have no choice but to improve the accuracy of our play. Since we play soccer aiming for the goal while maintaining possession of the ball, if we lose the ball due to simple mistakes before heading toward the goal, our stamina also becomes strained. Personally, I think today we ended up tightening the noose around our own necks, and that led to the result.
