TOKYOism

Only the final round remains for the 2022 season. How far has the penetration and construction of the new playing style progressed? And what kind of growth do they envision for Tokyo's future? With sports writer Atsushi Iio as the interviewer, we asked coach Albert Puig Ortoneda to review this season.

Q, the first season of adventure in Tokyo is about to end. What kind of response and feeling do you have before the final match, currently in 6th place in the league?
A, it was my job to instill a clearly different style than before and achieve a revival as a team. I believed that we had to make changes without causing too much hardship because if we couldn't gain points by seeking drastic changes from the beginning of the season, there was a possibility that the players would become nervous. So I aimed for gradual changes. The players' high abilities and their dedicated efforts, as well as the warm support from the fans and supporters who understood that this endeavor was not easy, allowed us to smoothly bring about changes beyond our expectations.

Q, Kashima Antlers, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Cerezo Osaka achieved a season double against the top teams, showing their strength and competitiveness. However, they also had some instability, losing to lower-ranked teams such as Shonan Bellmare and Vissel Kobe.
It is true that we had proud battles against Kashima, Hiroshima, and C Osaka. However, I believe we should not make a simplistic judgment of struggling against lower-ranked teams and performing well against higher-ranked teams. Kobe recently achieved a 5-game winning streak. Shonan has achieved a season double against Kawasaki Frontale. There is a danger of losing sight of other aspects when focusing on specific parts. For example, although Sagan Tosu is not a large club in terms of scale, they have shown a fantastic performance this season, haven't they? Yokohama F.Marinos, who are leading the league, suffered consecutive defeats against Gamba Osaka and Júbilo Iwata, who are fighting to avoid relegation. The J1 League is an incredibly competitive league unlike any other in the world. As a developing team, it is natural for us to have unstable aspects. Nevertheless, if we look at the season as a whole, I believe we have grown and been able to play with stability.

Q, certainly we only suffered two consecutive defeats in the 2nd round.
A, as I mentioned before, I am a realist. I am the type of person who continues to aim for what is realistically achievable. When I was leading Albirex Niigata before, there were many pessimists, so I had to become an optimist. But here, there are idealists who say, "We can win the AFC Champions League just by winning a few matches" (laughs). Maybe people from regional cities and the capital have different personalities. However, I repeat, I am a realist. This club has not yet reached a position where it can win many titles. That is why I believe we should focus on making steady efforts and building our physical foundation. I am appealing for us to "travel together," but first, we must know where we are and where we want to go. Our management scale is not at the top in J1, and our highest position in past league matches was second place. If we understand this reality, I think it will become clear where we need to aim and fight.

Q, considering that it is a competitive league and that we attempted a style change, there was a risk of sliding down after the heavy losses against Avispa Fukuoka (Sec. 11 on May 3rd) and Tosu (Sec. 18 on June 26th). What do you think were the factors that allowed us to hold our ground and move forward again?
A, I think the unity of the players is great. The attitude of the leaders who took on the role of bringing everyone together was amazing. Experienced players like Morishige, Nagatomo, and Higashigoto not only brought the team together, but also adapted to the new style and showed great performances. We must also be grateful for Takahagi's leadership, even though he is no longer with us. When the team faced difficult situations, they motivated the team and provided positive encouragement, which was significant. The dedication of the foreign players to the team is also noteworthy. The growth of the young players has also been a tailwind for us. Matsuki joined the team at the age of 18 and has become a key player. The presence of the three players we acquired in the summer, Phellipe, Tsukagawa, and Kimura, was also significant. I believe that everything coming together is the reason why we did not get involved in the relegation battle.

Q, before the opening, I couldn't imagine that young players like Kuryu MATSUKI and Kashif BANGNAGANDE, as well as the veteran Ryoma WATANABE, would perform so well.
A, it's not just them. Hotaka Nakamura has also achieved remarkable growth. Shuto Abe and Kazuya Konno have also made significant progress. Seiji Kimura has also shown tremendous growth. I think the combination of young players in the growth stage and experienced veterans has led the team in a positive direction.

Q, I think it was also significant that Tsukagawa, who was acquired in the middle of the season, fit smoothly into the team. I remember being impressed by the fact that after his acquisition, it was said that "Tsukagawa's playing style has changed from before."
When I was leading Niigata, I watched his play in Matsumoto. After that, Tsukagawa spent a year and a half in Kawasaki, and his playing style clearly changed, transforming into a player who fits our team. It is common for a team's style to help players grow. The players who played under me in Niigata also changed their preferred playing style. For example, Akito Fukuta, who is currently playing in Tosu. By learning to value the ball in Niigata, he now contributes not only in defense but also in attack. I think the same thing is happening in Tokyo. Yuto was reportedly viewed with suspicion last season. However, this season, there is no one criticizing his performance, right? Moreover, he is playing on the right side, not the familiar left side. Furthermore, he plays in the center of the pitch like a midfielder, even though he is a full-back. Regardless of age, he is proving that growth is encouraged by his attitude and dedication. The same goes for Keigo, right? Soccer players grow alongside the soccer ball. I don't think there is any other way. And the soccer ball cooperates with players who have a strong desire to grow.

Q, it's a good word, isn't it? So, please tell us about the phase. The team that has been able to control the ball since the Shimizu S-Pulse match in the first half of the season (Sec. 15 on May 25th) and the Kashima match (Sec. 16 on May 29th) is now entering the phase of "moving towards the goal while maintaining possession of the ball". Is the timing of this transition phase going according to plan?
Thanks to the high quality of the players and their efforts, we have been able to transition to the next phase faster than I expected. However, it doesn't mean that we can win every game or guarantee winning the title next season. What's important is to build a foundation, and that foundation is progressing well right now.

Q, can we say that a solid foundation has been built in this past year regarding the base?
A, what I mean by "base" is whether the players understand what our style is. For example, in cooking, it is important to understand what ingredients to use and how to cook them. That is the base. In that regard, we have built it. However, in cooking, if the quality of the ingredients improves, the quality of the dish also improves. Similarly, in a soccer team, if the quality of the players improves, the quality of the plays they can express also improves. That's why Manchester City and Liverpool always try to acquire better players.

Q, Coach Albert Puig Ortoneda has often been asked about the importance of ball possession, and the players have gained a deeper understanding.
A, that's right. I have talked many times to make them understand and showed them videos to deepen their understanding. However, even if I explain the soccer we aim for in words and they understand, everyone feels anxious and skeptical if we cannot accumulate points. In that sense, I think it is a positive point for this season that we were able to progress the process while accumulating points, looking towards the second year.

Q, what phase will the team enter in the future?
A phase of "dominating the game in a more perfect way". However, I do not envision dominating the game with an extremely high ball possession rate. It is not just about passing the ball, but about possessing the ball in the appropriate way to dominate the game and aim to win. I will continue to play with the ball to boost the players' confidence, as I believe it leads to growth and game domination. However, first and foremost, the newly joined players must understand our style and adapt to the team. On the other hand, what I absolutely will not do is adopt a Japanese-style.

Q, what do you mean by a Japanese-style?
A, "We aim for victory" and "We will achieve the triple crown," is spreading a big futon (laughs).

Q, I see, is that so (wry smile).
A, what I believe without doubt is that a clear idea and daily effort will lead to success. I do not guarantee results. For me, success is not about what I am doing now, but what I leave behind. Niigata achieved victory in the J2 League this season and secured promotion to the J1 League. President Yukio Nakano, Director of Strengthening Ability Norito Terakawa, and Coach Rikizo Matsuhashi achieved success. They brought continuity to the team after I left. Thanks to their continued efforts, I have become more convinced that the right ideas and consistent effort lead to success. I want to accomplish the same thing in Tokyo. Niigata's next goal will be to become a team that can stay in the J1 League for a long time. On the other hand, Tokyo aims to consistently be among the top 3-4 teams every year and always be in the race for the championship. I am currently challenging myself to build that foundation. It is not enough to just work hard on the field. We must acquire high-quality players every year and gradually expand the scale of management. We also need to gradually increase the number of fans and supporters filling the stadium. It is important for everyone to cooperate and make efforts in the same direction.

Q, this weekend will finally be the last game of the season in the Tama River Clasico against Kawasaki. Since we also played against Kawasaki in the opening match, it will be a game where we can confirm the growth of this season.
I hope it will be a great game. I hope both teams play aggressively and put on an exciting match. And since it's the final home game, it would be amazing if we could bring great joy to the fans and supporters. However, I don't think we should evaluate the team's growth based on the performance and results of the opening game and this match. Because the performance and results of a game are influenced by various factors. It could be our mistakes or Kawasaki's mistakes. Various elements can affect the flow and content of the game. So, I want everyone to enjoy this season's last game, separate from the opening game.

Text by Atsushi Iio (Sports Writer)