"We just have to talk it out thoroughly."
The guardian who first became a member of the FIFA World Cup from the blue and red team always said so. Whether during practice or matches, he constantly kept calling out. If there was a problem, he would hold an impromptu meeting and immediately resolve it. The solid defense back then was undoubtedly supported by the voice of Yoichi DOI. Nearly 20 years later, I remembered it through my son's words.
Lost 2-3 against Urawa Reds in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 17 match. What the team lacked might have been precisely the daily effort and communication.
The scene of the first conceded goal in the 32nd minute of the first half, after taking the lead by one goal. When the ball was passed to the right side on the opponent's counterattack, Doi closed the near side on the ball side.
However, the marking behind became unclear, and Urawa exploited that gap as Yu OKUBO made a run from the second line and connected with a header.
"In this situation, the defensive midfielder did not communicate whether to follow the cross ball or to pass it on. That was the lacking part. This way of conceding goals has happened many times this season, and we also conceded in that manner in the Yokohama FC match (Sec. 22)."
The header shot hit the bar, but Ishihara pushed in the rebound to equalize the score.
We scored an additional goal to pull away, but after that, we couldn't get a third goal. "The build-up play was good, but overall we weren't running enough."
It was the 35th minute of the second half when the entire team started to lose their footing. The ball spilled from a corner kick and was picked up on the left side, then crossed back into the goal area. In the end, it hit Matsumoto and they managed to equalize.
"The timing to go for the second ball after this corner kick was delayed. We must also reflect on the fact that we allowed an easy cross, but the defense inside the area was inconsistent, with some marking by zone and others by man-to-man, so we needed to clarify that as well."
Looking back, the match against Urawa two months ago had many defensive issues. In the end, during additional time, the ball spilled from a left corner kick, and Yuto NAGATOMO and Masato MORISHIGE blocked the shot with their bodies, but the ball that came up from the left side went over Doi's head. In the zone defense, there should have been someone behind, but there was Matsumoto waiting alone free. Doi stretched out his right foot but couldn't reach the ball. The final round goal was conceded, and all was lost.
The three goals conceded were due to the ambiguity of the zone defense and a lack of communication. Doi sighed, "As a center back, you still have to defend in that situation."
After that, the team couldn't stop conceding goals from crosses, so during the June break, they changed the system to a four-back formation. As a result, they say, "Since switching to two center backs, marking players has become clear."
However, since the system change, Doi himself has been warming the bench more often. Accepting the current situation, he said, "I have no choice but to show it in practice," and continued like this.
"After all, if I can increase the number of times I win the ball in defense more than Alexander SCHOLZ and Masato MORISHIGE, and then connect that to an attack, it will catch the eye of Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI. I want to be particular about that."
Before the rematch with Urawa, Doi let out words that made you realize he really is "that person's" son after all.
"First of all, as a defensive player, the most important thing is to handle crosses and not concede goals from set plays. It was the same in that Urawa match, but I think we lacked spirit and concentration in the last 10 minutes, and I also feel there are few players who speak up then. That becomes crucial in the final moments to close out the game. Since switching to a back four, marking assignments have become fixed over the past few matches. However, in the moments when we conceded goals, there were times when players didn't fully get back or couldn't trap the opponent, so we need to tighten up those areas more. To do that, I think we need to communicate more loudly and actively."
It was the same nearly 20 years ago. After practice, he would look at me and say, "You again?" while repeatedly talking about soccer. At first, he would say, "Isn't that enough already?" but he patiently explained until I understood. Even though he was already a veteran at the time, I admired his attitude of striving to learn soccer deeply every day.
Talking with Kanta, who seems easygoing at first glance unlike his father, sometimes brings a sense of nostalgia. This is because glimpses of his underlying passion and competitive spirit can be seen in his words.
Just like that passionate guardian who never stopped shouting from the very back, the man who inherits his blood is also walking the path to become the boss who leads this blue and red defense.
For that, "We just have to talk it out thoroughly."──.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Tadashi BABA (Freelance Writer)
