"Lack of Ability"
It may be a bit early, but looking back on this season, I think this phrase sums it up. As a captain and as a player, I deeply feel that "I could have done more." There are countless minor points to reflect on, and ideally, I should have noticed and addressed them each time. The fact that I couldn’t do that itself is exactly what I consider a lack of ability.
This season, I was entrusted with the captaincy, and last season I also took on that role as one of a three-person leadership group. The experience of facing the team as captain is a great asset to me. However, looking back on my career so far, I have believed that the captain should ideally be a player who appears in many matches as a central figure of the team. That is why I feel frustration toward myself for not being able to embody that ideal. There has always been a conflict between my desire that "the captain should be the one to deliver results on the pitch" and the reality.
In my professional career so far, there has never been a season where difficult times lasted as long as this one. There were periods when I felt like “nothing was going right” and overthinking only made things worse. More than the frustration of not being able to play in matches, I was so caught up in thinking about “how I should behave” in the face of the team sinking into a relegation battle that I couldn’t deliver a satisfactory performance even in practice.
What supported me during that time was the presence of my family. They stayed close by my side, and the voices of my teammates also became a great source of strength. I was especially helped by vice-captains Takahiro KO and Keigo HIGASHI. I am truly grateful that they wore the armband and led the team in the matches I couldn’t play.
I also vividly remember the night after a certain match when Masato MORISHIGE suddenly called me, saying my performance was not good at all. I was surprised because he had never called me on his own before, and I honestly felt happy about it.
And I believe Sei MUROYA's joining brought a significant change to the entire team. It’s not about technique or anything like that, but he showed how much spirit and mentality can influence a team. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that if he hadn’t joined in June, our ranking would have been even lower. His fighting spirit and energy undoubtedly became a driving force that moved the team forward.
Speaking of recent matches, we had consecutive games against FC Machida Zelvia. I believe the team atmosphere was more focused than ever as we headed into the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round. Even immediately after winning the league match, everyone was saying, "It means nothing unless we win the next one," and the practice sessions carried a good tension. The loss in the Semifinal Round was truly a frustrating result, but it is a fact that for the first time in the three seasons since I joined FC Tokyo, we were in a position to aim for the title late into the season. That said, I feel sorry that we couldn’t win the championship and respond to the hopes of our fans and supporters.
There are two league matches remaining from here. The only thing we need to do is to give our all in each and every game. Our current position is the result of our own actions, and we have no choice but to face that reality and prepare as best as we can. First, we must win the away match against Vissel Kobe and carry that momentum into the final home game. We want to continue the winning streak we have built with victories against Okayama and Machida.
During the first half of the league, there was a strong sense of crisis that 'if things continue like this, we will really be relegated,' and it caused pain for the fans and supporters as well. Even so, they never once turned their backs and continued to support us no matter the circumstances, which was a great source of strength for all the players. Especially in the away match against Kyoto Sanga F.C., despite losing 0-3, they cheered us on instead of booing. That scene is unforgettable.
That is precisely why we want the last two matches to be games where we show our gratitude to everyone who has supported us through our play. Including myself, everyone on the pitch will give their all and fight until the very end.
