Number 8 is in the center of the pitch.
He pulls out the ball while making big gestures and repeating hand movements, searching for a switch in attack through precise passing exchanges. If you watch a Tokyo game, you will immediately notice his presence.
This season, Takahiro KO joined Albirex Niigata on a full transfer. Although he struggled to get playing time at the beginning of the season, he took advantage of the opportunities that came his way and became an essential player as a strong linkman for the blue and red team.
His invisible weapon──. That is the power to read the game. In order to stack up victories against teams that often decide games based on individual abilities, we are trying to add the power of adjustment and communication.
Both individuals and teams are still in the process of development. However, he clearly sees the path for Tokyo to become stronger.
Text = Tomoaki Aoyama
──First, how do you feel looking back on the battles so far?
Looking back at the first half, there were many games where I feel like we could have gone higher, taken more points, and had to win. However, on the other hand, there were also games where we were able to come back and draw in difficult situations, and even win. In order to go even higher, it is absolutely necessary to minimize our ups and downs and go on a winning streak. Also, I strongly believe that we need to win at home in the second half, so I think that's how we can go higher.
──Looking back overall, it seems there are times when you play good soccer and times when you struggle to find an attacking approach. Since the season opener, what do you think you have built up, and what challenges remain?
I definitely feel that too. As I mentioned earlier, there are ups and downs in the content. It depends on how boldly we can take the initiative and challenge from the start. When things click well, I think we can play our soccer and ride the momentum. However, when things aren’t going well, we tend to be on the defensive and often struggle to take on challenges. When the willingness to receive the ball is weak and the reaction to second balls is slow, I feel the game becomes difficult.
──I want to think about solving that issue. My impression is that even in matches where we maintain possession, we struggle when it comes to making changes or switching up the attack once we enter the attacking third.
For my part, I want to create a bit more rhythm, so if there are players who can be used easily, we should use them simply, and if we can get behind the defense, I think it’s fine to run and use them easily. Tokyo has many players with high individual ability, so there are moments when individuals can break free and create breakthroughs on their own. Of course, that’s not a bad thing, so it would be good to differentiate between individual strength and creating rhythm as a team. As we enter the summer period, I think it will also become important to consider our style of play.
──On the other hand, when shifting focus to defense, I was concerned about the number of avoidable goals conceded by the team.
To be honest, there were many easy goals conceded. There were few scenes where we were completely broken down or goals conceded from such situations, so most of the goals were due to self-inflicted errors. I think that is a matter of concentration. Recently, those kinds of goals have decreased, so I want to make adjustments so that each individual can take responsibility and perform accordingly.
──Conversely, if we reduce easy goals conceded, the team's results should improve as well.
That's absolutely true. I believe that by conceding fewer goals, we can aim higher. The top teams have fewer goals conceded, so this is an area we must be very particular about. We've been able to improve little by little, and recently, I have the impression that players are putting their bodies on the line in front of the goal and their concentration has increased.
──Player Taka transferred to Tokyo this season, and there was a period at the beginning of the season when he struggled to get playing time.
The most difficult thing after transferring to Tokyo was playing while moving. Albirex Niigata was a team with a set framework where each player played while maintaining their individual positions. However, at Tokyo, it was more about the individual moving freely and connecting within the organization, so that was a challenge for me.
──He got his first opportunity to play in Sec. 4 of the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League against Avispa Fukuoka. By bringing the team its first victory of the season in this match, he completely became the blue and red “link man” from that point on.
Personally, I truly think that Avispa Fukuoka match was a turning point. I had heard that the team hadn’t won away in Fukuoka for about 20 seasons, so I thought, “I’ve got the luck.” I felt gradually improving form during the camp and practice matches, and since the team hadn’t won in the first three opening matches, I was prepared to be ready whenever called upon. More than that, I approached the match with the resolve that “if I don’t produce results here, my life in Tokyo is over.” I think it was a very good game both in content and result, and I was able to show what I had prepared thoroughly.
──As a defensive midfielder acting as the team's linkman, Takahashi gives the impression of constantly talking and giving instructions with gestures during the match. What do you see, feel, think, and keep in mind on the pitch? Please tell us about your thoughts and actions.
I see myself as a position that connects with those around me, so being involved in both offense and defense at all times, speaking up is a given—or rather, I consider it the most important thing. What’s necessary for that is “seeing.” Of course, it’s about grasping the flow of the game during the match, but I also think about how to design the entire 90 minutes, how to guide the team in a positive direction, and whether I can work backward from winning. It’s about how well I can sense the flow during the match. Since soccer involves an opponent, while aiming to play our own style, I also take into account the opponent’s system and condition, as well as the situation of my teammates, making judgments and communicating accordingly.
──As I mentioned earlier, you described me as a “link man,” and I do have the impression that, as a defensive midfielder, I connect the strengths of each player.
Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI’s style of football is about quickly advancing vertically, but personally, I want to create a good rhythm there. It is absolutely necessary to differentiate between attacks that push forward quickly and those that control time and the ball. I have discussed this with the coach, and he has told me, “You can make decisions on the pitch,” so I focus on connecting well with the players around me and playing in an organized manner.
──In Sec. 21 of the J1 League against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, I heard that in the second half you talked with Riki HARAKAWA about how "the opponent's stamina was dropping, so this is the decisive moment," and the team increased the pressure. Do you feel that your ability to read the flow of the game has improved as well?
I definitely have that quite a bit. Tokyo has many players with strong individual qualities, and the key is how to connect them. I think Tokyo is a club that demands more wins, so I feel that my sense of controlling the game and getting closer to victory has been greatly developed. In the match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, while talking with Riki, we clearly noticed that the opponent relaxed during that period, so we said, "This is the moment to finish them off."
──Has your awareness changed since coming to Tokyo, especially in terms of being mindful of playing by reading the flow of the game?
Definitely changing. I feel again how important it is to see those aspects as a defensive midfielder since I came to Tokyo.
──How can we respond when the opponent implements countermeasures against Tokyo and things don’t go smoothly? I think that will be a major point in the second half of the season.
There will definitely be games throughout the season where we are forced into a disadvantage, like the away Sec. 19 match against Shonan Bellmare. The ability to win those kinds of matches is extremely important, so securing 3 points there was a big deal. However, playing multiple games like that is physically and mentally tough (laughs). As I mentioned at the start, it’s crucial to reduce the ups and downs as much as possible. The team must firmly hold the line and keep the score at zero during difficult periods. While it’s necessary to discuss and make adjustments during halftime or after the match, the ability to sense the atmosphere and rhythm during the game and make corrections on the fly is absolutely essential. What actions we can take while making those adjustments will be very important from here on. We are gradually getting better at this, but there are still areas where I feel we lack strength. So, not only as a team but also personally, I want to become even more perceptive, communicate more, and help connect the team effectively.
──As a team, one-touch passes and vertical passes that change Takahashi’s rhythm have become the switch for our attacks.
This season, it feels like the number of challenging balls in the attacking third has increased quite a bit. There are also scenes where that has successfully led to goals. Since we have many powerful players up front, I want to keep challenging while supplying the ball to them in good situations. The only thing is that the way we lose the ball shouldn’t be bad. When trying up front, the ball can be recovered, so personally, I want to keep improving the quality while continuing to challenge.
──Now, on July 13th, there will be a match against Niigata at the Japan National Stadium.
I truly think the atmosphere at the Japan National Stadium is amazing. I was also impressed by the player entrance production, and since many fans and supporters come, it really boosts motivation. I noticed the projection mapping during the team huddle. It’s pure entertainment (laughs).
──Speaking of the Japan National Stadium, there was the “phantom goal” in the match against the Urawa Reds (J1 League Sec. 7). It was a brilliant long-range shot, but…
Yes, there was (laughs). It was disallowed because Kuryu MATSUKI was in an offside position.
──You still haven't scored your first goal for Tokyo. While you seem to have become the central pillar in terms of creating the game, personally, wouldn't you also want to do match-deciding work like finishing or assisting?
I definitely have the desire to aim for that, and since I haven't been able to take many shots, I do want to get into the penalty area more often. However, as a basic premise, I prioritize risk management and the team's balance, so I approach it with the mindset that if an opportunity arises within that framework, then I'll go for it.
──This season, the team plays in a way where the opposite side-back makes runs into the box following a cross from the side-back, so managing risks in the backline becomes a key point.
That's right. This year, there are many scenes where the side-backs push forward into the penalty area, so it's inevitable that we midfielders stay back to maintain balance. On top of that, I want to take on decisive roles like providing the final pass or taking shots. If the midfielders can score, it will ease the burden on the team, so I always try to be conscious of aiming for middle-range shots as well.
──The opponent is my former team, Niigata. We won the last match away.
This time as well, we definitely want to win and achieve a season double. I often watch Niigata’s games, and I really think they are a wonderful team. They value the buildup of connecting passes, and it seems that both the players and staff fight consistently without wavering.
──So, how shall we finish them off this time?
It’s about deciding at which line we set our block and how we apply pressure. When we played away last time, the plan I had in mind worked quite well. It also depends on the opponent’s lineup, but while watching the flow on the pitch and thinking things through, I want to execute well again this time.
──Finally, how do you view Tokyo's potential this season?
There were games in the first half of the season where we could have earned more points, so if we develop the mental toughness to secure those results and strengthen as a team, we should be able to climb even higher. Also, the importance of winning at home cannot be overstated. We started the second half of the season with a win against Sapporo at Ajinomoto Stadium, and the home consecutive matches included the Fukuoka game, which was definitely a match we wanted to win consecutively, but unfortunately, we lost. I personally feel strongly that we need to become a team that can firmly close out matches like that. The word "adaptability" will continue to be a key theme, so both as a team and individually, we must become more flexible and responsive to our opponents. Personally, I want to make a stronger impact both offensively and defensively. First, without getting carried away by emotions, I want to stay grounded and fight to win each match steadily.
