＜Match Review＞
Yuto Nagatomo and Kuryu Matsuki, who were active in the national team, returned to the team, and the league match returned after a long time, sandwiched between the group stage third match of the Levain Cup. In April, Tokyo has a tight schedule, playing 7 consecutive matches in 2-3 days, including postponed matches. The start of that schedule was a series of matches against three clubs, Yokohama F.Marinos, Vissel Kobe, and Urawa Reds, who are participating in the AFC Champions League (ACL).
The first match is away against Yokohama FM. The opponent has positioned this match as a commemorative match for their 30th anniversary and has approached it with great ambition as a club. Despite having played more matches due to the concentrated schedule of the ACL, they are positioned higher than Tokyo in the standings. It is also a match to repay the debt of a tough defeat from last season.
Only one position change in the Tokyo lineup from the previous match against Kyoto Sanga F.C. Henrique TREVISAN was used as the left full-back, replacing Ryoya OGAWA.
Both teams, with similar styles of high press, short counterattacks, and ball possession, fully demonstrated their strengths. At the beginning, it seemed that Yokohama FM's momentum was dominating, but Tokyo unsettled the opponent with precise passing and wide attacks. Koya Konno, the right winger, frequently changed sides and used Adailton, the left winger, to threaten Yokohama FM's goal. While both teams carried the ball towards the penalty area, Tokyo conceded the first goal. In the 8th minute of the first half, a cross was delivered from a deep position on the right side, and Tokyo failed to mark Takuma Nishimura, who headed the ball into the goal.
However, Tokyo quickly counterattacks. In the 12th minute of the first half, just 4 minutes after conceding a goal, Diego OLIVEIRA steals the ball by pressing high when the opponent is moving the ball in the defensive line. He immediately initiates a short counterattack and passes the ball to the right side in a numerical advantage situation. Shuto ABE, who has moved forward, controls the ball and enters the penalty area, calmly scoring a goal in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper to equalize the score. In the 18th minute of the first half, Yukihiro KIMOTO passes the ball through to the right side, and Nagatomo, who breaks free, goes straight to the goal. With teammates also in front of the goal, Nagatomo aims for a shot but narrowly misses the target.
From around the middle of the first half, Tokyo continued to have the ball held by the opponent, but they did not loosen their high press and created chances. In the 21st minute of the first half, Konno player aggressively pressed the opponent's pass between the defense and cut off the ball. The shot in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper was saved, and the three consecutive shots that Diego player and Adailton player followed up were blocked by the resilient Yokohama FM defense. In the 33rd minute of the first half, Abe player stole the ball near the left side of the halfway line and Diego player carried it forward. The ball was moved to Konno player on the opposite side, and Konno player took a left-footed shot from his favorite area, but it went just above the left top corner of the goal. Matsuki player quickly intercepted the goal kick and immediately brought it to a shot, but it missed to the right of the goal.
Both teams made substitution cards at halftime. Tokyo replaced Adailton with Kensuke Nagai. It was predicted that there would be intense battles in the midfield from the start, but they were caught off guard for a moment. In the 1st minute of the second half, the space behind Enrique was targeted, and the ball was crossed deep into the left side, where it was met by Anderson LOPES and scored. Tokyo, who wanted to counterattack, intensified their pressing from the front line, but they were unable to break through the opponent's passing play. As the scenes of Tokyo entering deep into the opponent's territory increased gradually, Tokyo made substitution cards to seize the momentum. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Hirotaka Mita was substituted for Konno, and Ryoma Watanabe was substituted for Takuya Aoki.
As the tempo of the passing work increases by moving the ball with few touches, Mita on the right wing and Nagai on the left wing are able to create situations where they approach the opponent's goal. However, in the 30th minute of the second half, Matsuki received his second warning and was sent off, disrupting the beginning of the offensive. In a numerical disadvantageous situation, an attempt was made to turn the situation around by substituting Keita Yamashita for Abe towards the end. However, they were unable to calm the ball and launch an attack, and the game ended without closing the one-point gap.
Although we missed the victory, we created more chances than the opponent in the first half and showed our team's growth on the pitch. We have back-to-back matches with only 3 days of rest. We will switch our focus to the next match at home, Ajinomoto Stadium, and continue preparing for the game against Vissel Kobe.
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, please look back on today's game.
We started the game a little nervously for about 5 to 10 minutes and conceded a goal during that time. Additionally, a yellow card was shown inappropriately right after the start of the match. However, the team reacted well afterwards. We had 7 shots in the first half alone and created many chances.
I think the opponent intended to take a central position with the side back and create a numerical advantage in the center. In that situation, we were able to create many chances by quickly transitioning between offense and defense to the space behind the side back. That was the development of the first half, I think.
And immediately after the start of the second half, we made a mistake and allowed the opponent's wing to be free, resulting in a goal against us. However, the team reacted well afterwards, recovered, and was able to create chances. The 10 players left on the pitch fought until the end, aiming for a draw and a victory. I am truly proud of their attitude.
Football is all about results. I naturally accept that. And regardless of today's match result, I want the players to always express their fighting spirit on the pitch and I believe that is the path we should continue to pursue. This season, I hope to continue growing even further.
Q: There was a discussion about the pace of play in yesterday's press conference, but I believe that Yokohama FM was faster in terms of pace of play compared to their opponents in today's match. Is it safe to say that Tokyo wants to match the pace of play they showed against this opponent?
A, I don't think so about today's game. I think today's game was a game development where the wings became the main characters. Marinos also used wide wings to create chances from there. And we were able to create many chances, especially in the first half, by effectively utilizing the wings.
In today's match, I think ball possession rate and place speed were not as important. I think Marinos is a team that specializes in fast attacks utilizing the wings, and they were able to express that.
[Player Interview]
Shuto ABE player
Q, what do you think about the parts where you were able to do well against Yokohama FM, how do you reflect on them?
A, in the first half, we were able to steal the ball in the front line and the short counterattack worked well. Looking at the stats of the first half, we had 7 shots while the opponent had only 1 shot, so we were told at halftime that we could continue like this in the second half. However, I made a passing mistake at the beginning of the second half and we conceded a goal through a counterattack, which disrupted the flow of the game.
Q: In the second half, why did we become unable to advance as much as in the first half or unable to possess the ball?
We had discussed going forward even during halftime, but we struggled because Yokohama F.Marinos changed their positions and such.
Q: Is the part where Abe player was overturned when he aimed for a pass in the scene of the second goal conceded a point of reflection, which is the goal for this season?
A, I was aiming for Nagai player, but considering Nagai player's characteristics, I think I should have played the ball behind rather than at his feet. If I had made a firm decision, I don't think I would have lost the ball there, so I have to reflect on my own judgment mistake and I have to be more thorough in passing the ball if I want to keep it at my feet.
Q: Did you score your first goal of the season as planned?
A short counter is Tokyo's style, and it is also a strength of this team that the inside half can go out there. There was a similar situation in the Hiroshima game, but we missed it, so we were able to make a good improvement.
Yuto NAGATOMO
Q, please reflect on the entire game, including the parts where we were able to compete against the strong Marinos and the parts where we conceded goals.
A, we conceded a goal early in the first half, which made the game difficult for us. Additionally, we had numerous opportunities but couldn't convert them into goals. I feel that was the reason for our defeat. I also feel responsible for it.
Q: As a style to aim for, do you think high-tempo soccer like today's will be a benchmark for the future?
A, there were parts where the high-tempo and speedy attacks, as well as the short counters, worked well. However, I think there was also a need for time to possess the ball and calm down. There were scenes where we hurried too much from the first half and lost the ball, leading to counters. I hope that as a team, we can make clearer decisions individually on when to go for short counters and when to possess the ball.
Q, do you feel like you have adapted to Marinos' style of play?
A, there were some aspects like that. Our team also has speedy wing players, and I think it was good that we were able to aim for the back. Marinos is also a clever team in aiming for the back, and I felt that they are a top-class team in the J-League that can break through while using the midfield. That's why I think if we had more time to possess the ball, the outcome might have been different.
Q, how do you feel about the group stage draw for the World Cup?
A, we can have a match against the best opponents on the greatest stage called the World Cup. Of course, it is tough, but no matter which country we play against, the qualifying matches will be tough.
I have also played in 134 matches for the national team and have competed against most of the top countries. Spain and Germany are two countries that I have never played against in the 134 matches, and I truly believe that they are strong contenders to win the World Cup. Being able to compete against such teams in a serious match is an experience that not many soccer players can have, and I feel that it holds great significance for the Japanese soccer world to be able to show the fans and supporters an intense match.
If we aim for the Best 8, we have to face strong countries in the Best 16 or the group stage, and if we can't win there, we won't be able to achieve our goal, so I think we are being tested.
＜Hirotaka MITA player＞
Q, please tell us what you felt during the match.
A, Yokohama FM is a team that has been playing this style for a long time. We have been working on it since this year, but I think we were dominated in the game because of that difference.
Q: I think we were able to launch a good attack after taking the ball, but do you also feel a sense of accomplishment?
A, I felt that there were many scenes where we easily lost the ball we had taken from the opponent while watching from the bench in the first half. When I entered the game, I tried to create time and take care of the ball in those situations, but I feel that there were both successful and unsuccessful moments. I think that is also a challenge for the team.
Q, what did you try to change when you came on as a substitute?
A, I played on the right side until we were one player short, but I think we were able to enter the game with good momentum and there was a feeling that the tide was about to turn.
However, the expulsion of Kuryu Matsuki is the responsibility of everyone, and I believe that even after becoming 10 people, the attitude of going to steal from the front line together with everyone did not change.
That's something the coach has always been telling us, and it's also the style of play the team has been aiming for this year, so it was good to be able to demonstrate that even with 10 players.
Q, in April we have back-to-back matches, with only 3 days of rest before facing Kobe at Ajinomoto Stadium. Please tell us your enthusiasm.
A, I really think this April is a total war. Everyone will make good preparations and fight in the same direction together. We will definitely win at home.
Kensuke NAGAI
Q, how did you watch the matches until you participated?
A, the defensive line was a little low and we couldn't defend from the front. I think we didn't have enough time to hold onto the ball after taking it from the opponent.
Q: What instructions did you receive from the coach when you played?
A, I was told to go from the front line to defense. I thought that I couldn't take the ball from the opponent unless I chased it twice, and if I defended deep in my own territory, I often had the ball taken away from me immediately after I took it, so I made an effort to defend from the front line.
The time zone of conceding the goal was early, so I need to reflect on it, but I also want to improve my accuracy as an individual so that I can score a second goal.
Q: You were able to carry the ball to a deep position, but what was missing to score a goal?
A, there is also a problem with individual accuracy, and I think it is necessary to increase the number of times. It is important to stick to practice, and I think that there will be a change even within myself if I can score a goal. I want to increase the number of times I invade the penalty area towards the goal and threaten the opponent.
Q, what kind of unity did you have on the pitch after being one player down?
I told them to go forward from the front line so that the defense line does not drop. There were a few dangerous scenes, but they defended until the end without conceding a goal, so I want to strengthen our team so that we can achieve a draw today.
