Q: please review the first half of the league.
A. From this season, we started working on a new system and secured a victory in the league opener against Yokohama FC, getting off to a good start. However, in the following 4 to 5 matches, we were unable to accumulate wins and faced the challenge of "the content isn’t bad, but we can’t score." The forwards, including myself, and the attacking players struggled to finish off chances, resulting in matches where we dropped points. It left me with a very frustrating and regretful feeling. As the league progressed and we drifted away from victories, a negative atmosphere gradually spread, and that mood showed in the matches. The negative elements born from not being able to win seemed to be reflected in the results of the first half of the league.
Q. If you were to name the match that was the key point in the first half of the league, which match would it be?
A. Regarding the 4 to 5 matches from the start of the season, despite playing good games, we continued to have matches where we couldn’t earn points and ended up losing. In Sec. 5 against Shonan Bellmare, we controlled the match but couldn’t score, resulting in a goalless draw. In the match just before that, Sec. 4 against Kashima Antlers, we created many decisive chances until the middle of the game, but conceded two goals from set-piece situations. These two matches stand out as key and memorable games for me personally. Even with good performances, the lack of results seemed to bring the players down, I think.
Q. To summarize the first half of the league, would you say that "patience" and "mental resilience" are the areas with the most challenges?
A. Yes, that's right. It is no exaggeration to say that soccer is a mental sport. Of course, we all create a good atmosphere together to enter the pitch with good energy for the match, but there have been times when we couldn't maintain a good state after conceding goals, making mistakes, or errors during the game. It is important to solve the issues from the matches we lost, but above all, the inability to achieve consecutive wins had a major impact. Victories amplify our strengths even more. I believe that the continued losses gradually diminished our strengths and momentum. Also, there were many scenes where easy mistakes directly led to conceding goals. The first half of the season ended up having ups and downs in performance.
Q. Please tell us your evaluation of Nakagawa's performance in the first half of the season when focusing on him individually.
A. In the first half of the league, I mainly played in the shadow position, but I also took on the role of the lone striker. While experiencing both the appeal and the difficulty of this position, there were periods when I couldn’t maintain top condition, and honestly, my performance fluctuated. There were moments when I struggled with whether to get involved in midfield possession or to leave it to the players behind and focus on looking for chances up front, deepening my involvement in the attacking third. I keenly felt that this indecision was reflected in the team’s results. It’s a matter of “what if,” but there were times I thought it might have been better to fully commit to one approach or the other, and this is where I especially felt the “difficulty” I mentioned earlier.
Q. There was about a two-week interval. From Nakagawa's perspective, what challenges is the team working on, and how do you feel the team is trying to change?
A. There may be little I can strongly say, but first of all, we have been able to work in a good atmosphere during daily training, and I think the tactical adjustments are also progressing. I want to further improve from here, and the match against Cerezo Osaka on June 14 will undoubtedly be a turning point. It is an important game. We must start well for the second half of the league and accumulate points. Above all, I want to focus on victory and earning 3 points. I want to show a fighting spirit as if our lives depend on it. If we can string together consecutive wins that we couldn’t achieve in the first half of the league, we can definitely aim higher. By winning consecutively, I want to change the scenery we see.
Above all, the warm support from our fans and supporters gives us courage. It is truly encouraging. We want to raise each other up once again with everyone who loves Tokyo and fight together through the second half of the league.
Q. In the previous match against Kyoto Sanga F.C., I believe the passionate feelings of the fans and supporters were conveyed through their cheering until the very end. How do you plan to respond to that support?
A. Even after the match ended and we went to greet the fans, they kept cheering us on. I can only feel gratitude for that support. Speaking of the previous match, despite fans coming all the way to Kyoto and delivering passionate support for over 90 minutes, the result ended up as it did. I also felt a sense of shame recalling the similarly disappointing away match in Kyoto last season. For all the fans and supporters who came to the Kyoto match and everyone supporting Tokyo, I am wholeheartedly determined to deliver victory. Honestly, I think "winning is difficult." That is precisely why I will give my all to play for the win and respond to the cheers.
The feelings of joy, anger, sadness, and happiness experienced throughout the match are shared by both the players and the fans and supporters. Despite the tough world we compete in, and the results against Kyoto that could have justifiably drawn boos, you still delivered your cheers. I believe each player felt something that resonated with them. To bring smiles to our fans and supporters, we want to unite even more in the second half of the league and pull victory closer. Also, as a whole club, we aim to increase positive moments one or two at a time and share many moments of smiles together.
