<Match Review>
Albert Tokyo, who won the opening match for the first time in three seasons, aims for consecutive wins in the next match. They headed to SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium. There were two changes in the starting lineup from the previous match. Koki TSUKAGAWA was in the inside half, and Ryoma WATANABE was on the right wing. In addition, Yuto NAGATOMO and Masato MORISHIGE, who made their first appearance this season, were on the bench, along with rookie Tsubasa TERAYAMA, high school rookie Yuta ARAI, and second-year pro Kota TAWARATSUMIDA.
During the pre-match interview, coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA said, "I expect the young players to perform well," and the emergence of a new hero was also expected in this match. Can they take advantage of the open spaces while breaking through the aggressive press of Kashiwa Reysol, who are aiming for their first home victory of the season? The battle in that area will be the key to victory in this match.
1st HALF - Despite conceding the first goal, they persistently catch up.
The intensity of the battle between the two teams, who value intensity, was evident from the kick-off with fierce battles in the ball and situations. In the midst of this, the first chance came in the 9th minute of the first half, when Yasuki KIMOTO fed the ball to Hotaka NAKAMURA, who broke through and entered the area to put in a cross ball. However, the lack of precision here did not lead to a chance. In the 16th minute of the first half, they welcomed a great opportunity. Diego OLIVEIRA, who picked up the opponent's clearance mistake, reacted to the ball that fell in front of the goal and took a shot. It seemed like the opening goal, but the ball went over the goal.
After that, the pace gradually shifted to Kashiwa. As scenes of the ball being moved in the midfield increased, in the 25th minute of the first half, a large swing from the right side to the left side resulted in a goal being conceded due to a through pass that the defense couldn't catch up to. Jakub SLOWIK reacted to Hosoya's shot, but it slipped through his fingertips.
After missing a great opportunity, it's common to bow your head, but Tokyo this season can still fight tenaciously. In the 36th minute of the first half, Koki TSUKAGAWA, who took the back of the opponent defender from the right side throw-in, sent a cross in the minus direction after taking it out near the goal. Adailton reacted to the ball that flowed to the front of the goal and scored the equalizer with one touch. They caught up in the first half and turned the game around.
2nd HALF - Draw as the game is dominated but not decided
In the second half, where they stood against the wind, there were many scenes where they won the ball with sharp movements. The starting positions of both fullbacks became higher and the movement of the ball improved, allowing Tsukagawa, who had not been able to play as well as he wanted in the first half, to become more involved with the ball and add depth to the attack.
In the second half, Diego had shooting chances in the 15th and 17th minutes in succession. Although he couldn't score, the flow of the game became more dynamic. After the 30th minute of the second half, there were more scoring opportunities. After a pass exchange with Diego, Nakamura took a powerful shot, and in the 35th minute of the second half, Henrique Trevisan and Ryoma Watanabe both had shots on goal with a header and half-volley respectively. However, an accident was waiting just after that. In the 37th minute of the second half, Nakamura received his second warning and was sent off. Despite continuing to push the opponent and attack, they were forced to fight at a numerical disadvantage in enemy territory.
The remaining time, put Nagatomo on the right side back and move the game forward with an emphasis on not conceding. It was a game that we wanted to win, but we were able to take home at least one point considering the situation. After finishing the first two games, we have one win, one draw, and no losses. Next week, we want to restart in Kyoto, away from home.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA/Yasuki KIMOTO/Henrique TREVISAN (45+5 minutes: Masato MORISHIGE)/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Kei KOIZUMI/Keigo HIGASHI/Koki TSUKAGAWA (35 minutes: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)
FW Ryoma WATANABE/Diego OLIVEIRA/Adailton (42 minutes: Yuto NAGATOMO)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
MF Tsubasa TERAYAMA
FW Perotti/Yuta ARAI
GOAL
36' First Half: Adailton
＜Kashiwa Reysol＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Masato SASAKI
DF Eiichi KATAYAMA/Yugo TATSUTA/Taiyo KOGA/Hiromu MITSUMARU
MF Tomoki TAKAMINE/Kota YAMADA (21st minute of the second half: Keiya SHIIHASHI)/Keiya SENTO (42nd minute of the second half: Ota YAMAMOTO)
FW Matheus SAVIO/Mao HOSOYA/Tomoya KOYAMATSU (27th minute of the second half: Keita NAKAMURA)
SUBS
GK Tatsuya MORITA
DF Naoki KAWAGUCHI/Takumi TSUCHIYA
FW Yuki MUTO
GOAL
First Half 25th Minute: Mao HOSOYA
[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]
Q: please review the game.
A, I expected the wind to be a major factor. The impact of the wind was greater than the quality of the soccer. I love soccer-specific stadiums, but because there are few roofs, I think the stadium was greatly affected by the wind. In the first half, when playing against the wind, I tried to take advantage of the space between the lines as usual, but I couldn't find that space easily, and Kashiwa also pressed well, taking advantage of the tailwind. Therefore, in the first half, we tried to break through by using long balls more than usual. Diego OLIVEIRA had a scoring opportunity in the first half as well. If we had scored first, the game would have taken a different direction. Considering the performance in the first half, I think it was fair to end the half with a draw.
On the other hand, in the second half we created multiple decisive chances. We took 18 shots and were able to create seven or eight clear-cut chances. And we did not allow Kashiwa to create any chances.
If we were to find a positive aspect in today's match, it would be that the team started the season with a focus on winning. Today, the players showed that attitude and played well enough to deserve the victory. I believe that continuing to play like this is the key to the growth of both the players and the team. However, due to the wind, it was quite difficult to break through the opponent tactically.
Today, I would like to celebrate player Tawaratsukita, who made his debut as a professional player. Naturally, I think it was a very difficult match situation for him to debut in. Due to the influence of the wind, it was a challenging development, and I believe it was a tough time for him to be brought into the game. While I feel joy for Tawaratsukita's debut, I am very disappointed about Hotaka NAKAMURA's ejection. I conveyed this directly to the referee after the match, but I think that when the first card is shown early in the game, there tends to be an increase in the number of cards. However, I do not believe that the referee's decisions today had a significant impact on the match result at all. One of the wonderful things about Japan is that even after a heated match, we can communicate calmly and have a mutual awareness of learning from mistakes. I hope the referee can also learn from the early cards.
I am satisfied that the players fought hard and continued to strive for victory. However, it is regrettable and frustrating that we were unable to score despite creating many chances. Nevertheless, the league is a long battle and we need to continue fighting. There are games where we play well but cannot win, and there are also games where we do not deserve to win but still do. Either way, I believe that games where we strive for victory like today are the path we should take. I think the one point we took away from the away game is an important point. When we returned to the locker room, I was very proud to see the players angry about not being able to win despite their determination for victory. I think that was the positive aspect of today.
Q: The midfield formation was fluid, what was Kei Koizumi's role?
A: It varies depending on the match, so we need to analyze and play accordingly. If we clearly dominate the game, controlling the ball leads to protecting the sides of the anchor. Kashiwa's strength lies in recovering second balls from long balls. In that sense, it was necessary to be cautious and defend the sides of the anchor. In the inverted triangle midfield system we usually adopt, the three midfielders do not always maintain that inverted triangle; it is common for the shape to become a regular triangle depending on the flow of the game. Today, our aim was for one of the three midfielders to move in and create a numerical advantage in midfield, but due to the influence of the wind, we were unable to execute the intended play in that aspect.
[Player Interview]
<Keigo HIGASHI>
Q: please review the game.
A: It’s definitely frustrating. We want to win games like this and move up, and winning in this kind of atmosphere is important, so it’s disappointing.
Q, I think it was a good flow to catch up despite being scored against away in the first half.
A, we had many chances in the second half. If we talk about whether we scored or not, it’s endless, but we pressed that much and I think the opponent had almost no clear chances, so that is an issue. In soccer, that’s what decides the outcome, so we need to be conscious of it starting from practice.
Q: What was the intention behind starting the second half of the opening match in a similar way to the start?
A, we have updated our defensive approach compared to last season, and there were moments on the pitch where we communicated with each other and the coach, marking opponents closely, which worked well. It depends on the opponent, but we want to make it even clearer.
Q: Are there any areas for improvement for the next match, other than finishing?
A, I think we could be a bit calmer. Today, with the wind and everything, it was a very severe environment where a single mistake could lead to conceding a goal, so I hope we can calm things down where needed and create moments to value possession of the ball.
Q: Do you think it's not bad to take 1 point away even with a player sent off, but do you still feel frustrated because the goal for this season is high?
A: Regardless of whether it is home or away, we have to keep winning, so it was not a good match to settle for a draw, and there were chances to win. We need to be even more hungry for victory and push forward.
Q, what is necessary to thoroughly implement our football even in such games as our football is becoming more popular?
A, it may sound like an excuse, but with the increasing number of injured players and young players on the bench, it’s a full-scale battle to see who can step up from there. Since there are 34 matches, the strength of the players who come in as substitutes is being tested, and conversely, it’s also an opportunity. I don’t think there were any moments today where the players who came on made a significant impact. In the opening match against Urawa, the substitutes performed well and helped secure the victory, so I think it’s also a challenge for the 18 players who traveled to have that kind of mindset.
Q: As for yourself, I think there was also frustration in being substituted in the first half of the opening match. In today's game, were you able to overcome that frustration?
A: It hasn't changed since the opening match, but I would be happy if that leads to a victory. Personally, today marked my 350th appearance in the J1 League, so before the match, I recalled how I felt when I made my debut. Since then, I have accumulated 350 matches and experienced many things, both joyful and frustrating. After reflecting on all of this, I approached the game wanting to express the joy of playing, so winning would have been the best outcome. I will continue to work hard from the training after the break aiming for my 351st match.
<Koki TSUKAGAWA>
Q, this was my first start of the season.
A, I had various influences and got a chance, but I believe that not being able to help the team win was due to my lack of ability.
Q, there was also an assist scene that led to a tie, please reflect on it.
A, in that scene, Watanabe skillfully exploited the opponent's gap and delivered a well-placed cross into space. He smartly positioned himself to block the defender. Adailton then firmly finished the flowing ball, so I think it was a good play.
Q, there were many difficult scenes in the first half, and in the second half, there were many chances to score if we could finish them.
A, in the first half, we were playing against the wind, so the opponents came at us with momentum. I considered dropping back to receive the ball, but I took a more advanced position while aiming to support Diego and Adailton when the ball came to them. There were many times when I couldn’t get involved with the ball effectively. I also thought about dropping back to take up a position midway through, but since the whole team was strongly focused on pushing forward, I felt it wouldn’t be good to drop back, so I didn’t. However, I believe the content of the match would have changed if I had dropped back more and been able to distribute the ball better.
Q, I think it was the minimum result of 1 point away.
A, I have been saying this since the start of the season, but since we are aiming for the championship, this was a match we had to win. I don't think we should be satisfied with this result.
Q, was it difficult to choose to connect more in the first half?
A, there were times when I judged it would be effective to drop back, but I played thinking it was better to stay up front and pick up second balls.
Q: There was a comment about winning the championship. I think we need to win a game like today's in order to become champions. Can you please reflect on today's match?
A, I think we must finish decisively when it counts. I believe the important thing lies in such details, so I want to further refine them going forward.
Q, there were scenes where it seemed that points such as the use of Waki by player Higashi were being studied.
A, today I played as the attacking midfielder, with Higashi and Koizumi as the double defensive midfielders, so I think there wasn’t much space on the flanks. There was a scene where Matheus SAVIO came inside to receive the ball, but that position was supposed to be covered by the full-back or center-back. Since we had a double defensive midfield today, I think it was necessary to clearly decide who would go to press. Going forward, I believe organizing these roles will be essential.
<Kei KOIZUMI>
Q, what were you conscious of throughout the game while taking positions in detail according to the situation?
A, since there was sunlight and wind, I thought it would be a match where we would be competing for second balls. Therefore, I focused on not losing those second-ball battles. In terms of build-up play, I wanted to get involved a little more effectively. There were good moments and we created many chances, so I think all that’s left is to finish them. Fundamentally, we were able to fight well, and although there were tough moments due to a player being sent off, we managed to secure at least 1 point, so I believe it was a match that will lead to the next one.
Q, there were many scenes where the game was interrupted.
A, it was a match where we could and should have taken all three points. However, I don't think every game will go perfectly. I think it was good that we managed to secure at least one point today, even with a player sent off away from home. But if we aim to win the championship, we need to take all three points in matches like this; otherwise, the gap with the top team will widen. We want to prepare to win the next match.
Q: Did you aim for victory even after the player was sent off, rather than settling for a draw?
A, even after one player was sent off, there were calls to avoid falling into a defensive mindset. Since we were one player down, Keigo HIGASHI and I took care of the counterattack situations. Towards the end, there were moments where we played with a more pragmatic approach. I believe we must continue to maintain our fighting spirit.
Q, have you gotten used to playing as a double pivot?
A, I have been playing as an inside half, and in defensive situations, I take up a position similar to a double pivot to defend. I want to use my head more when switching between attack and defense, and during build-up, I want to be more involved and do what I can to carry the ball forward.
Q, in the scene where Matheus SAVIO player came inside and played, he became free. Isn't it necessary to organize who will mark him?
A, it is difficult for the center backs to cover, and I think it is also difficult for the midfielders to mark him. The opposing team has analyzed us and will likely continue to target similar spaces, so we want to make sure to take proper care of that. Even if they use that space, we want to respond appropriately afterward.
Q: How do you feel about facing your former team?
A, it was a team I belonged to for a year and a half. I had also faced them when I was with Kashima and Tosu, but I think there were some fans and supporters of Kashiwa who personally cheered for me, so I’m glad I was able to show that I’m doing my best even with a different team.
Q, were you able to show your efforts?
A, to be honest, I wanted to win and show a better performance, so I am frustrated. The league matches continue, and since the next game is also away, I want to do my best.
<Kota TAWARATSUMIDA>
Q, it was my J debut.
A, first of all, I am happy to have made my debut. However, I want to keep working hard without being satisfied with this.
Q: What instructions did you receive from the coach?
A, I was told to play boldly above all else and to show my own play without fearing mistakes.
Q: I think it became a difficult situation with a player being sent off, what did you keep in mind?
A, no matter the situation, we must act for the team's victory. Even when one player down, I thought we should defend solidly and make plays that lead to goals.
Q, were you nervous?
A, I was beyond nervous. It was more than just being nervous.
Q, the first play was calm, wasn't it?
A: I was told to start with defense, so I was conscious of that.
Q, did you think about pressing back and actively initiating it yourself?
A, no matter how good the attack is, if you can't defend, you can't continue to play in matches. I was thinking first about defense.
Q, have you felt anything in the offensive part?
A, I felt that I could do it. So, if I get the chance to play next time and dribble, I want to take on the challenge actively.
What are you feeling now after making your Q, J debut?
A, I want to achieve results even in a short amount of playing time. First, I aim for one assist and one goal, and I want to steadily build up from there.
Q: What kind of encouragement did Player Nagatomo give?
A, I was told that since I'm young, it's okay to make mistakes. I was encouraged to keep going boldly.
Q: What are the future challenges?
A, I think it depends on the situation of the match, but even in a numerically disadvantaged situation like today, I want to be creative with my off-the-ball movements to bring out my strengths. Also, if I communicate more with the players around me and get them to understand me better, I believe the ball will come to me more often. I want to be conscious of those aspects.
Q, did your parents come to watch?
A: Yes, they came to watch. First of all, I think I was able to give back a little by making my debut, so I want to express my gratitude.
Q: Please tell us your thoughts on scoring your first goal of the season.
A, I am very happy about scoring my first goal. Although the result was not what we hoped for, when I think about it calmly, I believe earning points away from home is not a bad outcome.
Q, this was the third consecutive goal at this stadium.
A, I am very lucky. I hope to continue this and score goals again in the future.
Q, I was the top scorer for the team last season. I think there are expectations for me to lead the team in scoring this season as well.
The coach always says that each individual should maximize their own abilities. Within that, I hope to contribute by scoring goals. Also, even if I can't score, I want to contribute to the team in other ways, so that by the end of the year, everyone on the team can celebrate together.
