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MATCH
Match Report
【Match Report】
After a period of three straight victories, Verdy were held to draws in their last two matches. With only eight matches left to firm their position in the top half of the table, there was no room left for error as the team travelled to face Tochigi SC. The match began with Manager Lotina making changes to the squad from the previous week. Naoya Tamura made his return from injury by starting at right back, while Yuta Narawa returned to his normal position on the left. Tatsuya Uchida was also recalled to the squad and replaced Shion Inoue at anchor. At inside half, Kota Watanabe was chosen to pair with Ryota Kajikawa, while Jin Izumisawa began on the right wing, across from Yuhei Sato on the left.
Preliminary information suggested that the pitch condition within the stadium was poor, but the reactions of the players during the pre-match check were not overly negative. However, when the whistle actually sounded, it became clear that the overgrown grass was dampening the momentum of the ball, preventing Verdy from carrying out their usual smooth buildup. As the players were forced to take a longer time to control the ball, they also opened themselves up to the opposition press and fell into a cycle of repeatedly losing the ball and suffering potent attacks on the counter. In the 15th minute, the Verdy players were late in closing down the ball holder, granting Nishitani space for a powerful shot, but Naoto Kamifukumoto was on hand to make a super save. From that point, Vedy continued to see plenty of the ball but could not shift gears in their passing tempo as they looked to set up the finish, allowing time to slip away. In the final seconds of the half, they would lose the ball to Henik and once again, Nishitani put in a sharp effort that only drifted just wide.
After Verdy failed to create a single shot in the first half, Lotina and Coach Ivan immediately set about making changes to the team’s positioning at half time, aiming for a compete reorganization of the attack and defense. Lotina’s final words before taking the pitch were “don’t be timid! Take the game to them!”, as he called for his players to not let their trouble with ball control impact the forward nature of their play.
In the second half, Verdy began to move the ball better, but they still struggled to create clear opportunities on the front line. The players tried a variety of ideas, attacking through the center, from wide, running at the defense, and one-two combinations, but the final ball was lacking in precision. On the other hand, Tochigi continued to create opportunities on the counter. In the 57th minute, Hamashita was allowed to dribble through the defense in the Verdy half, making his way into the penalty area, but the defense were saved by his imprecise finish and the goal was averted. The biggest chance to score from the run of play came in the 79th minute. Narawa broke down the left side, causing the Tochigi defense to shift in his direction, but they failed to contain him and the side back managed to push into the penalty area. A defender then attempted a desperate last-minute clearance, but the ball deflected off Narawa himself and bounced toward the goal. The goal keeper was late to react and could only get a touch on the ball with his foot, sending it off the post and into the path of Douglas. However, his shot was finally blocked by the keeper. Moments later, Verdy would face their biggest danger of the match. The corner kick that resulted from the previous attack was caught by the goal keeper and thrown forward immediately for a counter attack. Tochigi played the ball to a deep position on the wide right and then put a cross across the face of goal where Oguro had made the run on the far side. Unmarked, the forward took his shot first time and the powerful effort sailed over the fingertips of Kamifukumoto and looked on target, only to crash against the cross bar and avoid the net. At that point, the match had descended into chaos and looked like it could go either way, but it was a move by the manager that would ultimately settle the fate of the score line. After ordering Kanya Fujimoto to warm up and prepare to come on as a sub, the flow of the game caused Lotina to change his mind and bring on Ryohei Hayashi instead. After taking the pitch on the left wing in the 84th minute, Hayashi made himself a target and began receiving the ball on the front line. Douglas followed suit and received the ball in a deep position on the wide right, He then won a corner kick by playing his subsequent touch off the defender. It was Kajikawa who took the set piece and his sharp cross curled dramatically as it dropped into the box, just missing the leap of Tomohiro Taira and continuing on behind him to the far side. There, Ryohei Hayashi was waiting in perfect position and his leaping header would find the net, giving Verdy the goal they desperately needed at the last possible moment. After taking the lead, Verdy controlled the remainder of the game with great intelligence. Alan carried the ball into high areas and Yong-jik Lee even had a chance to set up a finish, signifying the impact the subs had on the result.
This was a day when Verdy were forced to endure for long periods, repeatedly threatened by the Tochigi counter attack and even conceding nearly four times as many shots as they created. It was clear to everyone that the players were lacking in rhythm and unable to build a good tempo. Even so, they never wavered in their efforts, stuck to their style of play, and eventually earned the victory by grabbing a goal from a set piece. Verdy are still suffering from the previous weeks’ consecutive draws, but with the result today, they have now gone seven matches unbeaten. Without exaggeration, it can be said that the players showed glimpses of a strong competitive spirit. There remains plenty to complain about in terms of the team’s usual play model, but the result makes it appear less an issue that needs to be settled and more something they can take hope from when their normal levels return. The players know they can do even better. With the victory in hand, they must now prepare to turn that ambition into dominance in the next match.
Post-match comments
Manager Miguel Ángel Lotina
Your thoughts on the match?
Overall, I thought it was a very competitive game. In defense, I thought we concentrated hard and performed well, whether it was winning the aerial battles or the second ball. I think our start was positive in the first half. We had plenty of the ball and achieved the kind of football we like to play. With that said, Tochigi pressed hard and it was difficult for us to carry the ball forward. In the second half, we continued to have possession and managed to dictate play closer to the opposition half but were barely able to create chances. As time wore on, I turned to our substitutes and you’ll note that each of them, from Alan and Ryohei (Hayashi) at the forward position, to Yong-jik (Lee) in the midfield, were players skilled at getting into the opposition area. We may have given up some share of the possession, but I thought it would be of greater advantage to make more forays into the penalty area. Ryohei was then able to score from the one of the chances they created. It was a very difficult match on a very difficult ground, but we managed to get the win.
Ryohei Hayashi was able to get a goal today, despite playing only a few minutes. Is that down to his finishing ability, mental strength, or the strength of the team?
I think it is all three of those things. I am very satisfied with Ryohei’s performance today. He may not have played many minutes, but he gave his top performance when he was on the pitch. He also showed the desire to help his teammates a lot. We play with only one striker up top and Douglas also played well. Right now, he has made more appearances, but that doesn’t change the fact that we have complete trust in Ryohei as a player. Goals are important for the team, no matter who scores, and I am always happy, no matter who scores. However, the fact that Ryohei scored today after not making an appearance for several matches makes me especially happy.
You didn’t have many shots in the second half. Is that because the players were too concerned with trying to break them down?
One element is that the opposition played very well and defended very well. They were very compact and didn’t allow us any space. Because of that, it was difficult for us to approach their goal.
FW 11Ryohei Hayashi
You came on as a substitute during a difficult point of the match.
I had truly prepared myself mentally and told myself that if given the chance, I would change this match from a draw to a win with a goal of my own. To be honest, it was actually Kanya (Fujimoto) who had gotten the call first, so I went back to the bench, However, the other players were then told to continue warming up, along with Kanya, and I felt like I would be given a chance. In the end, the manager did call on me and I was determined to decide the result. I think mentality is very important and I was able to have the right one, today.
What did you have in mind during the build up to your goal from the set piece?
I stayed calm and relaxed, despite being marked, and my marker was Oguro. We had played together in the past and I knew he could be a bit loose defensively, so I intentionally faked going to the near post and then stopped, after which I saw the ball was going to reach the far side. I then was determined to get my head to the ball. I think my passion helped in that instance.
You managed to get the flight of the header right, despite having teammates in front of you.
I wanted to head it down, but I also thought that if it went down the middle, it would be an easy save for the keeper. Once I saw the ball was coming my way, I faked a run to the near post and then ran to the far side. It was a good ball, so at that point I thought “this is it!”
Tell us about today’s goal performance.
I hit my knee and ended up rolling around. I actually intended to do a performance where I fell flat and didn’t move. However, I got a little carried away, caught my feet in the grass, and fell hard. I took that one from Krzysztof Piątek who is a forward for Genoa in the Seriea and the Poland National Team. He’s been called the next Lewandowski and is currently the top goal scorer in Italy. Maybe a bit of an obscure reference… In general, I try to do the performance twice, so that everyone will get it.
You were pretty fired up at the final whistle too.
I knew it was going to be a difficult match today. It was very important for us to get the full three points and a game we had to win. As such, I was very happy and the most important thing is that the team won. Over the last few matches, I haven’t had a chance to appear on the pitch, but I’ve continued training well and I was well prepared. I was always given a spot on the bench, so I knew that if I had the chance to play, I had to make an impact.
After the match, you shared some pretty passionate hugs with the manager and coaches.
Coach Ivan had pulled me aside a few days ago and told me that I was training very well and that my professional attitude was having a good effect on the team. He also told me that even though I haven’t been playing, I was still at the level of a starter. I was very grateful to him and so, gave him a hug after the match.
The supporters also were in full voice, singing your chant.
Really? Honestly though, scoring in those is situations feels great as a forward and I have tried to always be prepared to do that when called upon. I think that effort led to my success today. It’s important that I keep training well so I can make an impact again in the future.
The manager said he was especially happy for your goal, due to the fact that you made a difference despite your limited minutes.
It’s the same with any job. When I’m not on the pitch, I think about what I would do if I was and how I could make an impact if I played. I think that makes the difference between success and failure when your turn finally comes around. For me, whether I play or not, I try to remain conscious of what I need to do. I do hope that has an overall positive effect on the team.
The Champion’s League has started now and there will be big matches abroad, this week, once again. Is that part of your motivation?
That never changes. Even today, I watched all the highlights on DAZN from morning and tried to motivate myself.
DF 5Tomohiro Taira
Your thoughts on the match?
It was a home fixture for them and we knew how they would play. However, we allowed the game to develop at their rhythm and in terms of content, it was a difficult one for us. Their style takes advantage of the specific characteristics of the pitch and they also have a lot of height. I think the way they attack is built on those elements.
On your end, too, the squad didn’t change make any changes from your normal approach.
We talked about being aware of the grass, but they also put a lot of pressure on us and that made the first half very difficult.
You seemed to have trouble finding open teammates when you did have the ball.
When we were playing the ball on one side of the pitch, they would adjust very quickly. There was space in front of me, but because they were marking us man-to-man, any delay in the pass meant that the course would disappear. If we could have shed their markers, I think we would have created chances, but we allowed ourselves to get a bit stagnant.
What were you thinking about at the close of the match?
The score was still 0-0, so both teams were in a position to win with a single goal. We hadn’t been keeping a lot of clean sheets lately and while we were saved by the goalkeeper today, if we can keep the score at 0-0 in any match, we have a lot of players who can come on as substitutes and change the game like Ryohei Hayashi did today.
You did manage to maintain the clean sheet in the end.
Although we did push them back a lot in the second half, the number of times we allowed them to get forward on the counter stood out. Those of us at the back needed to do a better job of risk management. They broke with a lot of speed and had a lot of tall players on the front line, so we had to stop that sort of play before it began. If we had left an extra defender at the back to stay tight on their forwards, we could have put pressure on them before they could turn with the ball, but today, we allowed them to hurt us with their speed. The positioning between our center backs and the central midfielders was not good. At the same time, we had to stop them before they approached our goal.
MF 33Kota Watanabe
Your thoughts on the match?
They played a lot of long balls and I think we let ourselves over-adjust as we tried to deal with that.
You knew from the pre-match buildup that the pitch condition would be difficult, but how did it actually feel during the match?
It was actually easier than we expected and because of that, I think we could have played more to our strengths.
Although the first half began fairly well, why do you think things took a turn for the worse after that?
Overall, we had only a small amount of movement on the front line and there was stagnation at nearly every position. We needed to be more fluid. Too often, we were looking for options only after receiving the ball, rather than anticipating. We need to play more one and two-touch passes and try to build a rhythm. In the second half, I think we had more opportunities to retain the ball and carry it into their area of the pitch. I myself did not contribute much at all and have to do more.
This was your first start since coming home from the Asian games. Do you feel you were not up to your normal standard, physically?
I do not know what the exact reason was, but I do feel that, individually, I can do more.
They were dropping numbers back in defense and slowing down your attack so that you couldn’t break through. What improvements do you think could have been made to address that?
If we don’t keep things simple in the areas where simplicity is required, then they won’t feel the need to come out of their shell, but if we could have increased our number of shots and crosses into the box, I think they would eventually have come forward. Individually, I feel like I had the chance to put in two or three shots on my own, but I ended up passing. I should have taken the shot.
Despite having a number of issues to address in terms of the team’s play, you did get your first win in three matches. How would you like to carry that forward to the next?
I am glad that we won, but it really feels more like a loss. With that said, I hope we can take advantage of the result and go on a run of victories.
MF 8Tatsuya Uchida
Your thoughts on the match?
Lately, we’ve had a tendency to concede the opening goal, but I think our ability to hold them to zero today is the reason that we were able to win. That aspect was positive.
Was the plan to stay afloat and try to get a goal at the end?
I don’t feel like we simply coasted through. They attacked very well, but it wasn’t like the match was one-way traffic. It’s just that they had players like Oguro who are very good at creating space for a shot on their own and because of that, they created a lot of danger for us through long balls and counter attacks. Of course, I know that’s the way they play, but we weren’t under constant attack. It was that kind of difficult match.
Throughout both halves, you struggled to create opportunities to finish.
I felt that they were strong in defense and we were lacking in tempo. The ground had some effect and it just felt like we were out of sorts. There was no smoothness in our play and Tochigi defended well.
You knew from the pre-match buildup that the pitch condition would be difficult, but how did it actually feel during the match?
It was better than we expected. Partly because it was wet. I don’t think it was that bad.
Although the first half began fairly well, why do you think things took a turn for the worse after that?
I think we just made too many individual mistakes. At the start of the match, we thought we would have to kick more direct balls, but we found ourselves actually able to connect passes. We have to play without mistakes, even on that kind of pitch, and if we do make mistakes, it will lead to that sort of game. They play a very direct football that aims to take advantage of mistakes, so we played into their strategy today.
In the end, Ryohei Hayashi got a goal from a set piece.
Not only Ryohei, but the entire team had struggled to score from set pieces lately. In a 0-0 match like this, I was reminded how important they can be.
DF 17Lee Yong Jick
You came on at a very difficult moment in the match.
I felt like I was brought on to try to get on the end of crosses and add some intensity to the midfield. At first, I played on the wing, but then Alan came in right after me, so I moved a bit more to the center. The plan had been for me to continue on the right wing, but I felt that the midfield was struggling more than I initially thought and when I couldn’t change the momentum from the wing, I pushed inside in tandem with Alan coming on. I tried to maintain the balance of the shape and get forward when the opportunity presented itself.
After watching the match from the bench, what did you plan to do after you took the pitch?
I knew the pitch was bad, so I expected it to be an aerial battle. However, they retreated a lot more than we expected and we didn’t have a plan for how to create gaps in their shape, so it was difficult for me, individually. I did figure that the match would be decided by a set piece. I knew that we had a lot of tall players enter as subs and if we could create some of those, I felt we would have a chance.