Albert Tokyo, betray me more and more!
Disappointed since the opening game. Of course, in a good way.
When watching Albert's first game in Tokyo, there were both high expectations and equal amounts of anxiety about what changes would be brought.
At the new system announcement, coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA stated, "It may be difficult for the first 6 months until we establish our style." Even during the camp in Okinawa and after returning to Tokyo, coach Albert repeatedly mentioned that it is still in the stage of basic construction and that they have only been working on this style for a month, emphasizing that it takes time.
Furthermore, during the pre-match coverage, it was evident that there were high expectations for the reigning champions, Kawasaki Frontale, and their level of completion was highly praised.
That premonition came true as soon as the opening match started. From the kick-off, everyone was in a frenzy and even when trying to build up, the ball wouldn't move forward and instead, Kawasaki took advantage of our unbalanced state and repeatedly attacked the space behind our last line, causing us trouble. At the 15-minute mark, the premonition turned into anxiety and I was left scratching my head.
However, the big betrayal came from here. After about 15 minutes, we gradually regained our composure and took control of the game. The ball started rolling forward at a fast pace after the 25-minute mark.
One of the reasons for this is that Takuya AOKI, who played as an anchor position, and both side backs Ryoya OGAWA and Ryoma WATANABE increased their number of touches on the ball.
From around the 15th to 25th minute when they made a comeback, it was more of a strong feeling of pushing back with the speed and power of Diego OLIVEIRA, Leandro, and Kensuke NAGAI in the front line. They were too fast vertically and the surrounding players couldn't keep up, but Aoki maintained the overall balance and spread passes wide, while Ogawa and Watanabe, who have excellent game-making abilities, effectively positioned themselves while observing both teammates and opponents, giving the build-up a sharpness.
As a result, the time spent playing in the opponent's half naturally increased, leading to a strong attack and pushing Kawasaki back, creating a continuous positive cycle. It can be said that in the second half, they completely dominated the game. Shuto ABE and Kuryu MATSUKI, the inside halves, spent most of their time playing towards Kawasaki's goal, and the fierce attack they showed towards the end was a completely different sight from before.
Match Highlights
Considering that it was still the opening match, it is not important that we were unable to score despite creating many scoring opportunities and even failed to bring back even one point. What is more important is that in the first 90 minutes of this season, under the guidance of Coach Albert, FC Tokyo has shown that they are heading in the right direction, walking the right path, and trying to change.
After making such "pessimistic" remarks, it was impressive to see the content that was presented. It made me think that Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is a "director".
After the match, the blue and red fans and supporters gathered in front of the visitor's seats and passionately cheered. During the camp, the players were encouraged to think of the ball as their lover and work hard to incorporate tactics. Coach Albert Puig Ortoneda is skilled at manipulating actions and words, attracting people, and getting those around him on board. With that in mind, it may have been part of the plan to consistently lower expectations from the pre-season and surprise everyone with their performance in the opening game.
＜Passion shown by coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA in front of fans and supporters after the match＞
Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, who has always maintained a cautious attitude without being greedy and rushing, has one more thing to say as the season begins.
"It is important to stick to our own style in any game, against any opponent."
The football shown at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium, which was the stage for the start of the 2022 season, gave many people hope and expectations. Now, what I strongly desire is to experience it at home at Ajinomoto Stadium. I can't wait to see the next 90 minutes directed by coach Albert Puig Ortoneda.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golazo, FC Tokyo Correspondent)
