＜Match Review＞
As the league matches entered the break period during the national team activities, Tokyo faced Fuji University, the representative of Iwate Prefecture, in the 2nd round of the Emperor's Cup.
The team was composed mainly of players who have played a lot of minutes in league matches. In goal, there is player Go Hatano. The defense line consists of Hotaka Nakamura, Yasuki Kimoto, Masato Morishige, and Ryoya Ogawa from right to left. In the anchor position, Keigo Higashi, who was also used in the league match against Shimizu S-Pulse, is placed. In the midfield, there is a combination of Ryoma Watanabe and Shuto Abe. Up front, Keita Yamashita is deployed as the center forward, with Kensuke Nagai on the right wing and Adailton on the left wing.
The game progresses with Tokyo holding the ball and Fuji University defending and looking for counterattacks. From the beginning, Tokyo pushes the opponent by starting from the sides, creating scenes where they bring the ball from Yamashita's post-play to a shot, but they are unable to hit the target. Compared to league matches, Tokyo has more room in the ball contest, but they observe the timing of attacks by changing sides through the center-back while facing opponents who slide quickly towards the ball side.
In the 24th minute of the first half, Kimoto headed Ogawa's free kick in front of the goal, but the shot hit the post. In the 26th minute of the first half, Adailton used his strong physicality to dribble past one and two opponents and took a shot inside the penalty area, but it was blocked. Although they held onto the ball, they struggled to penetrate deep into the opponent's territory. However, in the 36th minute of the first half, Adailton created a chance with a breakthrough. After making a move on the left side and entering the penalty area, Adailton passed the ball in a negative direction along the goal line. Nakamura, who was positioned in front of the goal, left the ball with his body, and Watanabe calmly slotted it in, taking the lead.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, Adailton, who received a side change from the right side, was fouled in the left end of the penalty area while trying to evade the defender by floating the ball. Adailton himself confidently converted the penalty kick to extend the lead just before the end of the first half.
Kajiwara Yuuki was substituted for Nagai at half-time. Watanabe was moved to the right wing. In the 10th minute of the second half, they were threatened with a counter-attack when the opponent used the space with a long ball, but the shot from the cut-in from the left side missed the target. In the 13th minute of the second half, Yamashita entered the gap in the defense line and received a pass while facing the goal, but his one-touch shot went straight to the opponent's goalkeeper. In the 14th minute of the second half, Adailton broke through and passed the ball between the opponent's goalkeeper and defender, but it narrowly missed Yamashita who was diving in. Watanabe picked up the ball that had flowed to the opposite side and attempted a looping shot, but it also narrowly missed the left side of the goal.
In the 17th minute of the second half, Kazuya KONNO was substituted for Yamashita, and Kashif BANGNAGANDE was substituted for Ogawa. In the 18th minute of the second half, Kashif BANGNAGANDE made a move on the left side and completely shook off the marker to cross. Adailton, in front of the goal, escaped the opponent's mark with a one-touch, but the shot while turning missed to the left of the goal. In the 35th minute of the second half, Kojiro YASUDA was sent to the pitch instead of Watanabe. In the 43rd minute of the second half, Adailton took a powerful shot from the front of the goal, creating several scenes where they approached the opponent's goal towards the end of the game. However, they were unable to shake the goal net in front of Fuji University's tenacious defense. They couldn't score additional points, but they maintained their lead from the first half and advanced to the third round.
The third round will be held on June 22 (Wed) in Nagasaki and will compete against V-Varen Nagasaki.
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q: please review the game.
A, for us, it was an important match to continue growing. We played aiming to dominate the game and create many decisive chances. Throughout the game, we were able to create numerous opportunities and dominate the match for the full 90 minutes.
The remaining improvement point is that despite creating so many clear chances, we only scored 2 goals. If we create chances but lack finishing ability, there is a risk that the game will become even more difficult if the opponent scores.
However, there were also many positive aspects. Keigo HIGASHI expressed his excellent play for the full 90 minutes. Kashif BANGNAGANDE also showed parts where he fully expressed his strengths.
You may doubt, but for us, it was one of the most difficult matches of this season. In that sense, I want to praise the opposing team. I told the opposing players directly after the match, but they expressed what young players should do boldly and bravely through their play. In that regard, I want to praise their play today. I think it was because they were making bold and wonderful plays that our fans and supporters gave them warm applause.
Q, please tell us about the significance of approaching this game with key players and the positioning of this match.
A, regardless of the opposing team, we must continue to grow. In that sense, I thought it was a very important match for us to grow, and I conveyed that to the players. (Continuing this style) After several years, if the team has grown, I think we need to convey the message to the players, "Don't relax against college students." However, we are not in a mature state yet, and we are still a team that needs to continue to grow. That's why I conveyed the message to the players to connect today's match to our growth.
Q: It was said that the match against Fuji University was one of the difficult matches of this season. Specifically, which parts were difficult?
A, today's match was one of the difficult matches. The opposing team had nothing to lose. I believe that in order to surpass the opponent, we must play with equal intensity. University students have nothing to lose, and it was natural to expect them to play with high intensity. In the face of such opponents, we were able to create chances, but it is also possible to consider a situation where we couldn't shake the goal net. If the scoreless situation continues for a long time, it becomes a nervous situation. In that sense, I think it was a difficult match. However, our players concentrated and understood the difficulty of this match and played. I would like to evaluate the players' performance.
In today's match, we could see better coordination in the attacking aspect than ever before. Through today's match, we believe that the team has further grown. Go HATANO, who guarded the goal today, also made fantastic plays. I think he is one of the young players with great potential who may carry this club and this country in the future. He is still a young player, but he proves himself to be a mature player every time he steps onto the pitch. Keigo HIGASHI played like a brother of Busquets.
[Player Interview]
＜Ryoma WATANABE Player＞
Q, I think today's position was inside half. What was the difference from when you were wide?
A, it's about defense. I was aware that the positioning and pressing methods when going to get the ball from the front are completely different from when playing in the wide position, so I approached it with that in mind. I also focused on playing to target the opponent's back.
Q: In the first half, it seemed like the team as a whole was not quite clicking. What do you think was the difficulty in getting into the game or where do you think the problem lies?
A, at this stage immediately after the match, I haven't been able to sort out what wasn't working well, but overall, there was a lack of distance. Even when passing the ball in the back, there were times when the ball got stuck with the side back. I reflect on whether it was due to my positioning being bad or the distance with player Ryo NAGAI being far, and what I should have prioritized in my play.
Q, how do you feel about winning the first match despite the challenging game situation?
A, from before the match, everyone knew that this match would be difficult, so it was important to approach it with the understanding that the most important thing was to win the match, regardless of how we felt or even if we couldn't score many points like 5 or 6. That was a good point.
Q, please look back on the goal scene.
A, I missed the first touch and couldn't shoot at the timing I wanted, but I feel that if we have more gritty goals like that, the number of goals will increase, so I want to aim for another goal.
＜Kashif BANGNAGANDE player＞
Q: I think the first match of the Emperor's Cup will be difficult, but how have you prepared?
A, in last season's Emperor's Cup, we lost in the first match against Juntendo University, so we have been conscious of winning and it's good that it led to a result. It was Ryoya OGAWA's last game at Ajinomoto Stadium. Since I returned from injury, I have been in and out of the team, but it was a match that I really wanted to play because it was Ryoya's last game and we lost to Juntendo University last season. It was a match against fellow university students. I had a knee injury a week ago and took a little rest, but it was good to be able to play with Ryoya as a substitute. I had a chance to assist, but I'm really frustrated that I couldn't score in the end. I want to push forward from here.
Q: What do you focus on during training, considering injuries and other factors?
From coach Albert Puig Ortoneda, I have been told that it's okay to make mistakes and to challenge myself. He demands that I show my strengths in everyday practice, and since I believe my strength lies in attacking, it doesn't make sense for me to be on the field as a side back if I can't create a difference in the attacking aspect compared to other players. In those aspects, I have nothing to lose, so I entered the game with the mindset of challenging myself more and more.
Q: What were the differences between last season's Emperor's Cup battles?
A, last season we had opportunities in the matches, but we couldn't convert them and ended up conceding goals and going into extra time. This season, we have been attacking aggressively from the beginning and it would have been great if we could have scored more goals. However, our finishing ability has been gradually improving, including in league matches, and as a result, the team's performance has also been improving. I think that difference in finishing ability was a key point compared to last season.
Q: You mentioned that your strength is in the attacking aspect, and today you also felt the potential in crosses. How do you plan to coordinate with the incoming players in front of the goal?
A, from my regular training, when I actively cross the ball, my teammates also take positions thinking "this kind of ball will come". Today, when I looked up, I made eye contact with Adailton. I think it's the result of my challenges in training and everyone helping me. Today, I also took corner kicks, but if I continue to focus on crossing the ball to my teammates, including set plays, from my regular training, I think it will lead to assists in actual matches.
Yuki KAJIURA
Q: How was it looking back on playing against college students?
A, I was able to make several scenes where I turned well with a pass from Thales and gave a through pass to Yuto YAMASHITA immediately after participating in the game. However, I made many mistakes afterwards, so I want to improve. Personally, it was a frustrating game because I wanted to continue the first play.
Q: You entered the game in the second half, what was your intention when you came on?
Since I played as an inside half, I entered the game with the intention of fulfilling my role and making runs behind the opponent. However, I realized painfully in today's match that I lacked intensity, so I think I need to work on that more.
Q: The opposing team also seemed to connect the ball well. How did you feel about that?
I think I needed to control the way I press while talking to the surrounding players. I want to watch the plays of Abe and Matsuki more and re-recognize how much intensity I need to raise, and I want to work on it from practice.
Q, I think as a team we were definitely able to convert our chances into goals.
A, it is important to score goals reliably, and I want to be able to score more goals from various positions.
Q, I think you were actively involved with the ball.
A, I made a few mistakes. They were simple mistakes when going to receive the ball, and I think I need to eliminate those mistakes because it's a position where I can't afford to make mistakes. So, I want to improve in that aspect.
Q: What kind of preparations do you want to make for the next game?
A, I have been watching from the outside for a long time, and this time I was able to feel that I still have a long way to go when I play in the game. I want to increase the intensity from practice to grow to the level where I can participate in league matches and be ready to play in any game.
