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MATCH
Match Report
【Match Report】
Last week, Verdy recovered from consecutive draws by earning a victory against Tochigi SC. With only seven matches remaining this season, they now returned home with every fixture a must-win. The squad differed from last week with changes up front. Kota Watanabe paired with Yuhei Sato at inside half, while Kanya Fujimoto and Alan took up spots on the right and left wing respectively.
As the match began, it was Verdy who had control. They would create their first chance within only five minutes. Fujimoto took the ball wide on the right and put in an early cross to the running Alan. Alan out-jumped his marker to head a shot on goal, but there was no angle and the ball traveled straight into the arms of the goal keeper. Verdy would continue to retain possession, but their careful build up play failed to create avenues for the finish and as time wore on, a series of mistakes would allow Kofu to build momentum. In the 31st minute, the opposition broke on the counter with an equal number of attackers to defenders. As the play developed, the Verdy defense failed to contain Junior Barros, allowing him space for a shot, unmarked. Naoto Kamifukumoto was late to react, but the ball would flash just wide of goal. Later, in the 43rd minute, Fujimoto made a run into the space in front of goal after a quick restart from a free kick, but the play was whistled dead and called back by the referee.
Hoping to reclaim the momentum, Verdy would receive firm instructions to increase their attacking intent at the break, but it would be Kofu who created chances as the second half began. In the 54th minute, a counter attack would stretch the Verdy defense wide, leaving space for a cross to Barros, but once again his shot would fly over the bar. Just as the manager began play his cards and prepare substitutions, Kota Watanabe received his second yellow card of the match in the 62 second minute, becoming the first Verdy player of the Lotina era to be sent off in a league match. Verdy now found themselves at a numerical disadvantage with plenty of time left to endure. The players retreated back into their own area, hoping to slow the opposition attack, but would press forward as one in search of a goal when they won the ball, no longer thinking about wearing down their stamina. In the 70th minute, Douglas broke free on the left and played a cross that was deflected at the near post by a defender, allowing Lee Yong Jick to run onto the second ball and maintain his momentum to turn in the box and shoot. The effort was saved by the goal keeper, but Verdy still showed their ability to threaten, despite being a man down. They would be unable, however, to sustain the pressure. In the 72nd minute, cracks emerged in the team’s normally reliable defensive shape and Barros took advantage to create space and find the net. The Verdy players would respond by pouring forward in attack, belying their numerical disadvantage, but their opponents were now content to see out the result and tightened up in front of goal. Verdy were thus unable to build numbers and forced to rely on long balls into the box, preventing them from earning clear chances before the final whistle.
There can be no doubt that a loss at this point in the season has done damage to the team’s hopes. However, the players cannot afford to quit now, look down on themselves, or let the result affect them any further. All they can do is hope to perform in the next match. With belief in themselves and the best preparations in training, the team must now show their true desire to win.
Post-match comments
Manager Miguel Ángel Lotina
Your thoughts on the match?
In the first half, we moved the ball and approached their penalty area. Things went well to that point, but from there, we weren’t able to create clear chances. The opposition only had one chance themselves, but it was a very dangerous one on the counter. The second half was much more open and there were many occasions where we lost the ball. I tried to make some substitutions to enable us to better control the game, but in that moment, we went down a man. Against a quality opponent who can play between the lines, it was always going to be difficult to contain them with ten men. We tried moving two more forwards and Ibayashi to the front line so we could put pressure on them with long balls. We created chances that way but couldn’t get a goal.
Did you think about taking Watanabe off earlier, because of the yellow card he picked up in the first half, or did you keep him on because of his performance?
I did think about taking him off. At half time, I told him not to commit even a single foul. It looked like he was getting a little too fired up for this one. I do think he was a bit unlucky to pick up two cards for just two fouls.
Why did you decide to bring on Lee Yong Jick after Kouta Watanabe was sent off?
Yong Jick is able to play at a variety of positions with high intensity. I put him in because I thought we needed someone who could make more forays into the penalty area.
Given the team’s difficulties with their buildup in the second half, what did you ask from Jin Izumisawa?
We began the match with two forwards because I wanted to take advantage of Alan’s speed but it didn’t go well. I put Jin in so that he could receive the ball between the lines and in the wide areas. I wanted him to create the sort of one v one chances that he excels at. Unfortunately, we went a man down right after he came on and I think the extra work he had to do in defense left him tired in attack. Even so, I think he did a good job given the circumstances.
MF 16Yuhei Sato
The second half was played with a lot of intensity.
Once we were down a man, we all had to work harder. As a team, we wanted to cover for Kouta (Watanabe) as well. We felt he was unlucky to get sent off like that. The card he got in the first half, as well, was down to the way we play as a team. However, just as we planned to cover for his loss, we gave up a goal. We all understand where we are in the league right now and so after that, we decided the risks were worth it and tried to attack. I did want us to get out of this match with a draw, but the loss is something we have to take as a team. Starting from next week, we really can’t afford any more defeats, so we need to learn from this one and prepare.
What improvements do you think the team has to make in attack?
We had possession at the start of the match but lacked quality in our final ball. On my side, and on the right side, we just couldn’t take up deep positions. They were playing with five men back at all times, so it was important that our crosses be accurate. I talked about that with Douglas and we agreed that they were very good at closing down the space, so crosses seemed like the answer. In the second half, we were trying to get further up the pitch and that’s when the sending off happened, so it was very difficult for us after that.
You couldn’t carry the ball forward at the start of the second half, either.
We didn’t get off to a good start and honestly, both the sending off and the goal we gave up happened because we tried to clear the ball to the front in places where we could have built from the back. Overall, we were a bit top heavy. Personally, I think I probably could have played the ball from side to side more, so it’s a bit frustrating.
This loss hurts at a time when the team are trying to achieve automatic promotion.
Yes, it does. It was the first time we had a sending off and we changed systems twice to stay flexible and deal with the problem but ultimately ended up playing long balls, which is not the way we usually play. That wasn’t easy for us. With regard to the second ball, as well, because they had greater numbers, they were able to concentrate more players on winning those battles and with us being down a man, the amount of space each of us had to cover grew in size. We also weren’t able to take the risk of chasing the ball. All of those things made it a difficult match.
MF 23Naoya Tamura
Your thoughts on the match?
Kofu’s back three was a lot more athletic than I imagined and once the match progressed, I realized that balls that we can usually play easily to Douglas just weren’t going to connect. That wasn’t the case last time we played them, so I was surprised by their physical presence at the back. We could have countered that by playing with a better rhythm, but we just didn’t have that today. We kept trying to put the ball in and if the clearances had gone out for a throw, that would have been one thing, but they were working hard to prevent that and I think that kept our number of shots down.
The team had its first sending off of the Lotina era.
Once that happened, we had to hold the score to zero but instead, we gave up a goal and wasted any opportunities we had for a result. We hoped that the opponent would push too far forward and we could hit them at the back, but the one thing we couldn’t do was give up a goal, so that hurt. After Yong Jick entered the match, he used his power to create opportunities for us, but the goal just came at a bad time.
In the first half, was it a bit stressful that you couldn’t get in a shot?
Yes, it was. We also had trouble creating shots last week and we wanted to do better this time. Yuhei (Sato) had the most opportunities to play a final ball, but since he also can finish well, we were content to have him shoot in those situations. There’s no doubt that he contributes a lot to our play, in attack and defense. Just as an example, if we can all raise our desire to shoot, that will lead to more loose balls in front of goal and Alan packs a punch in those areas, so I think that could be another way for us to build an attacking rhythm.
Is there a clear reason for the team’s inability to create shots?
In order to create more avenues for passing, we need to overlap more when someone has the ball. Even if you instruct players to shoot, it’s not something you can just do. It’s important for us to overlap or make decoy runs. After that, it comes down to making runs into the box to get on the end of crosses or positioning ourselves to win the second ball before the cross is played.
How do you feel about picking up the loss this week?
Last week we managed to win ugly, so this week, we needed to get at least a draw. We’re in a tough position and with only six matches left, we can’t afford to lose another. We just have to move on from this one and do our best next week. However, we also have to address our inability to score and make sure we do so in the next match.
DF 17Lee Yong Jick
Immediately after entering the match, you pressed from the front and set up an opportunity to finish.
I am a natural defender and watching the way they played, I felt there was an opening for me to put pressure on them and win the ball. It came off like I planned and since it was the first play, I wanted to take a shot, but I didn’t get enough power behind it and it ended up a corner.
You seemed to be playing on the right side of a 4-4-1.
Yes. I lined up on the right and in the beginning, I was told that I could get further forward but they started playing the ball into the space behind me when I made a run, so I prioritized defense and tried to start from further back. Either way, I was still trying to get into the box like I did last match and I used my own judgment on when to do so and when to tighten up my positioning in defense.
You stayed up front toward the end as the team pushed for a goal.
We ended up like that, but in doing so, we became unable to win the second ball and couldn’t recycle our attacks. Our long balls were being played just a little too far behind theｍ. There was uncertainty about who should be challenging to win the ball and even when I took the pitch, we weren’t on the same page about whether I should go forward or not. With that said, if I could have gotten on the end of passes from Jin, I think we could have earned a draw today. That is something I regret.
How did the match look from the bench?
We kept passing it at the back and I felt like the ball wasn’t getting forward once it reached the holding midfielders. That led to us losing the ball and being hit on the counter. Overall, I felt that were too passive or trying too hard to break them down with our passing game. Of course, we were able to get behind them with Doug(las) and Alan, but other than that, I personally felt like we were lacking in options. Once I was on the pitch, I just focused on causing the opposition problems. It looked like they were having an easy time defending and I didn’t think they were particularly strong in that area, so I felt we had to do more there.
The team seemed to lack aggressiveness, today.
We aren’t accomplishing the things we have in training and I wonder why we aren’t doing more of that in actual match time. I understand that we want to win by playing our way and it is a good thing that we have so many players who are willing to follow the manager’s instructions so closely, but at the end of the day, it’s the players who are out on the pitch and if we don’t occasionally use our own judgment and blend or break the rules, I don’t think we’re going to score. At the same time, we also have only six matches remaining, so we definitely can’t just go out and play without thinking. In the midst of that, we have to test how much we are able to carve out our own destiny. I think that’s the area where the team is most lacking at the moment. Like Ryohei Hayashi in the last match, we need a new hero every week and without that, the team is going to run out of gas. I think we need more players with that kind of ambition if we have any hope of moving to the next level.
We expected that the team would be more aggressive in putting in shots after the Tochigi match, but instead, it did seem like the team were trying to pass their way into the goal.
We had some clear data from our scouting of the opposition, so it was important that we play like we did today, but we don’t have enough players who can make adjustments on the pitch when things aren’t going as planned. We’re all in this together and we all want to play that way, but I do think that we need to talk to each other more about other improvements we can make.
Today’s loss hurts the team’s chances to achieve automatic promotion.
In the locker room, we all discussed the fact that it was a wasteful loss. All of us have the desire to take on that challenge, but with our current position in the table and so many teams competing for the automatic promotion spots, we have to impose our will on the match more. I also think that our current position is the reason that we are seeing more supporters now and we gradually have more people, including during today’s match, who have the feeling that their lives could change, depending on the result. With that said, it’s too late to be thinking about that now and we needed that feeling about ten matches ago. We can’t be satisfied with just making the playoffs.