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MATCH
Match Report
In the off period after the previous week’s match against Zweigen Kanazawa, Verdy made the decision to change managers. Hideki Nagai, manager of the Verdy youth team, was promoted to take the reigns and began preparation for the next match.
The influence of the change in manager was seen immediately as the squad took the pitch with a new look back four. Lee Yong Jick was partnered with Tomohiro Taira at center back, while Junki Koike and Takuya Nagata slotted in at right and left back respectively. In midfield, Shion Inoue took up the anchor position behind Kanya Fujimoto and newly appointed captain Kota Watanabe as the inside halves. Finally, Leandro was called on to play at the center of a front three, surrounded by Hiroyuki Kawano on the right and Ryota Kajikawa on the left.
It was Verdy who began the match on the ball. However, just as occurred in the previous week against Kanazawa, Ehime FC elected not to press from the front and instead packed the space in their own half, attempting to stifle Verdy’s pass work. Verdy could not find a way through and whenever the ball entered the middle third, Ehime would press immediately and force the players to recycle possession. As the play became increasingly contested at the half-way line, a series of mistakes would see Verdy lose their composure. In the 32nd minute, the players tried to make short passes in their own area without clearing the ball and a pass from Taira to Watanabe was cut out. Thus, Verdy had their momentum stifled just as they tried to initiate the attack and the subsequent cross from the opposition was not dealt with adequately, allowing Fujimoto to head the ball into the net unmarked and give Ehime the lead. Moments later, in the 39th minute, the opposition used a set piece to pin Verdy in their area and earn a second. In both cases, it cannot be said that Verdy were broken down. Rather, it was their own mistakes that were exploited to put them in a deep hole.
At Half Time, Nagai spoke calmly but passionately, issuing simple instructions about what he wanted to change. As the players prepared to leave the locker room, the manager called them into a circle and issued these words: “if we’re going to change our fate, this is the moment. Go out there and do it!” The players then took the pitch with a new shape, featuring a back three and Rihito Yamamoto inserted from the substitute’s bench.
Perhaps because of those changes, Verdy were able to push back immediately after the break. In the 50th minute, a corner kick from the right was played short and Watanabe switched the ball to the opposite side, where it came off the head of an Ehime defender who had been fighting for position with Lee and Taira. The ball was initially cleared off the goal-line, but Nagata was there to control the rebound and Junki Koike found space in the packed penalty area to fire with his left foot and give Verdy their first goal. The opener seemed to light a fire under the team. With each player taking up precise positions and exchanging perfectly weighted passes through tight spaces, the team moved the ball quickly with few touches and direct play, pushing forward again. After consistently building numerical advantages, Lee found Taira with space on the left in the 63rd minute and the defender played a pinpoint early cross. With the ball moving past the face of goal, Leandro snuck in behind a defender and seemed to hang in mid-air with a perfectly timed jump that enabled him to head the high cross into the right corner and bring the score level. Now Verdy really had the game by the teeth and their attack gained momentum with Yamamoto building rhythm and playing effective direct passes behind the defense. In the 68th minute, Koike and Kajikawa played a one-two in a narrow area of the final third and freed Watanabe from his marker with space in front of goal. After receiving the ball with his head up, Watanabe let loose with a fierce mid-range shot that stung the hands of the goal keeper and rolled free on the left of the area, where Nagata followed through and made contact with his right foot, wrong footing the keeper and finding the net. With the lead in hand and the opposition pushing forward, Verdy set about dampening their momentum with short passing, a clear reflection of Nagai’s managing philosophy. With the match entering additional time, the players even created a chance on the counter. Morita ran with the ball at his feet and found himself in on goal. After beating the last defender with clever footwork, he calmly sent the ball in the direction of the net, only to see it drift just wide of the right post. After that, the opposition threw numbers into the box, but the Verdy center backs were dominant in the air and successfully shut them out. In a complete reversal of the first half, Verdy had scored three in the second to earn a come from behind victory and start the Nagai era on a positive note.
“This is only the beginning.” Those were the words of new manager Nagai as he spoke calmly to the press and looked back on the drama. Earning a first victory after only three days in charge is a big step forward, but the win will only hold true value if the team can continue to conquer their obstacles. There are 19 matches left in the campaign and the players must do all they can to absorb their new philosophy. This leaves little room to look to the future. Instead, Verdy must approach each match, one at a time, and proceed step by step towards their ideal team vision.
Post-match comments
Manager Hideki Nagai
Your thoughts on the match?
It really was an extremely short time to prepare, only two or three days, and I figured there was only so much we could address in that time. However, I am grateful to the players who, despite the limited training time, took it upon themselves to play the kind of football they want to achieve. Of course, there is still a lot to be done, but I think the players were tremendous and on this day, all I can say is thank you.
Was the removal of Shion Inoue in the first half a tactical decision?
Basically, Shion was not taking up any of the positions I wanted him to. Kota (Watanabe) seemed to have a better understanding, or at least that’s how it had felt to me as we trained and talked directly over the past two days. With Shion, it seems like the more he tries to understand, the more he retreats into his head and those things don’t translate physically into his play. I tried to address this by having him switch into a forward central midfield role, but he looked unsure about whether to continue with his usual style and seemed to have difficulty adjusting to the game, so I decided to sub him at that point.
Tell us about the starting 11 you selected and why you decided to change systems in the second half.
As I stand here with the match having ended and you point out the fact that we played with a 4-3-3 in the first half, that alone tells me that we were not in the formation that I considered ideal. In my mind, that was meant to be a 4-4-2. It was the fact that the players weren’t in the positions where I wanted them to be that it looked like a 4-3-3. That was the biggest problem. In the second half, I pictured us having a 3-6-1, but since it was similar to the formation the players had been lining up in lately, I think it must have been easier for them. After that, I put in two of my pupils and since they have a good understanding of what I want, I think things went a little bit smoother in the second half.
How does it feel to get your first win as manager and what did you discuss with the players before the match?
First, I’m simply grateful for the result. We truly had very little time to prepare, but Coach Fujiyoshi、Coach Sugawara and the entire coaching staff worked almost without sleep. I really don’t have the words to thank them and my gratitude for their effort is the biggest feeling I have right now. Before the match began, I spoke daily with the players, bit by bit, about tactics. I never expected them to accomplish everything I asked for right away, but I told them to keep it in mind, watch their opponents and play the way they want to play. I also told them to win with the Verdy style.
Given the dramatic change in the match between the first and second halves, what did you mean at half time when you told the players to play in “the correct way”.
In my mind, the thing that leads most to correct play is being in the correct positions. Knowing that a positional advantage is of the utmost priority, the players were trying to find their spots in the first half, but ultimately, I did not think they were in the right places. So, I told them at half time to try to find the correct positions on the pitch. This matters in defense as well, but what I felt was our biggest mistake was our use of time. Even though we were trying to find the correct positions in the first half, our ball holders were taking too long to make their passes. What I wanted them to do was get the ball to the five forward players as soon as possible and let them move the ball patiently and build time. Instead, we took too long to make the first pass and by the time the ball got where it needed to be, the opposition were in place to defend. That’s what I told them at half time.
How did you rate Rihito Yamamoto’s play after bringing him on in the second half?
He’s played under me for two years at the youth level and understands well how I don’t want the players to use up too much time. In that sense, I think I was saved by my pupil today.
MF 19Junki Koike
Tell us about getting your eighth goal of the season.
The second ball fell right into the center of the box and after Nagata trapped it, I cut in from of him. I’m a bit sorry for that, but I was determined to get a goal and I’m glad that contributed to the result. I’m sure Taku(ya Nagata) wanted to shoot too, but I reacted first.
You got a goal against your old team.
We played them in week two as well. I had two great years with them, last year and the year before, and there are many people from the club who still follow my career. Last time, I left feeling very frustrated, but today we were at home and even though we have a new manager, with little time to absorb his style, the first half was really tough. In that sense, I think getting a goal early in the second half may have given the team a boost in energy.
You initiated the play on the third goal as well. Tell us about that.
On the previous play, the manager told me that after I make a pass, I should make another run into the middle and receive the return ball. My intention was to keep playing one-twos and push deep into the box, so when I gave the ball to Kota, I expected to get it back. However, my run ended up pulling away markers from him, so I think it worked out all right in the end.
What instructions did you receive after shifting to a back three in the second half?
We knew that if we continued played like we did in the first half, nothing would change for us. There was no excuse for the way we played and we needed to show that we could do better, just as we did last week. If we didn’t do that now, we felt like we wouldn’t have a chance to prove ourselves in the future, so I think everyone took their play up a gear. Of course, we were too slow in doing that, but I think the change in mindset led to the result in the second half.
Given the change in managers and new style, how do you feel about the result today?
I honestly don’t know if we played the kind of football the manager wants from us, today, but that was always going to be difficult with so little time to prepare. In that sense, I think you could tell that the players who came up through the youth team already had a much better understanding. I’ m sure we will do more to learn tactics in the future, so I hope I can improve my own understanding from here out.
DF 22Takuya Nagata
Your thoughts on the match?
I’m genuinely happy. We haven’t had much time to work with Coach Nagai, but we showed a little bit of the way he wants to play today and most importantly, we won the match.
You had a rough time in the first half.
Yes. But I think it’s important that we were able to make changes in the second half.
What adjustments did the manager tell you to make at half time?
He gave detailed instructions about where to stand on the pitch. However, he also told us that the most important thing was having the desire to win and I’m glad that we could express that.
You spoke before the match about the importance of getting results and you were able to do that today.
If we want to move up the table, we have no choice but to win every match, so we’ll continue doing what it takes to win.
What are your goals for the remaining matches and for the upcoming match this weekend?
We will give everything we have to win each of the remaining matches and we ask for support from the fans.
MF 20Rihito Yamamoto
You played an important role in giving your old youth team manager his first victory today.
I played under him for two years at the youth level and I really wanted us to win his first match, so I’m very happy. I’m even more happy that I made an individual contribution.
You played to the right of the back three today. What instructions did you receive?
We didn’t exchange many words before the match, but I understand how the manager wants us to play. With us being down 0-2, it wasn’t as if I had no defensive duties at all, but I knew that he expected me to make a difference in attack and I took a few risks by putting in direct passes. I’m glad that contributed to the result in the end.
The opposition manager and some of the players said your direct passes to Leandro gave them a lot of trouble.
From about ten minutes into the first half, Coach Nagai told me to start making more direct passes, so I focused on that. I may not have noticed until I was told so, but I could see the angles for the passes and things were more open than I thought they would be. I also know that playing the ball there will jumpstart the attack. Mon (Leandro) scored a goal for us today, but I actually wanted to feed him with even better passes.
You were clever in your defensive approach.
I knew from our pre-game analysis that their players had pace. If I stick too close to them, they’re faster than me and can just blow by, so instead I focused on not letting them make direct runs and called for support from Kota and (Lee) Yong Jick.
Given that the rest of the team did not have much time to adjust to Coach Nagai’s tactics, having a pupil like you on hand, today, surely made a difference.
Even now, I go back and forth between the youth team and the first team, but I do feel that I know the manager’s style better than anyone else. I still have to respect the older players, but at the end of the day, age doesn’t mean anything and if the older players are doing things wrong, I need to correct it. I hope I can continue to play that role in the future. Yong Jick also told me that I understand the most and to make my voice heard. It was only for a short period, but I communicated well with my seniors.
How much of the manager’s style do you think the team achieved in the second half?
Only about half. I was in my third year under Nagai at the youth level and while the quality of players certainly drops off there, I think we have a good understanding and played this style at a higher level. I think we have to do that more and more with the first team.
I’m sure your performance today made a good appeal for yourself.
I wasn’t in my normal position, but my duties were the same and I think I did show what I’m capable of in the future. Of course, I know that I still have a long way to go.
MF 7Kota Watanabe
Tell us about your first match as team captain.
I was a bit unsure of myself in the first half, but I’m glad that we were somehow able to win. This was my first game as captain since I was a sixth grader in elementary school. It means more responsibility and I’m not the type who throws my voice around, so I have to express that responsibility by running hard when the team is in trouble and getting on the ball whenever we’re struggling to get forward. I hope to lead the team in that way.
Tell us about that tough first half.
It’s always tough when you have the ball but are unable to attack. However, in the second half, we changed our shape and were able to put pressure on their back line. I’m just glad we could make the necessary adjustments. In the first half, the center backs spent a lot of time with the ball and it was important that we get it out of their feet and let the midfielders have it for longer periods.
The third goal came after your midrange shot was saved and fell loose.
I’m glad that I was able to push up from holding midfield into that position, but if I don’t learn to finish myself in those situations, I won’t be able to make a difference. It worked out in the end, but I would rather have scored myself. If I can score in those moments, I think I’ll reach the next level as a player, so I hope to work harder on that in training.
This was your first full 90 minutes in a while. How did it feel?
To be honest, I’m not yet at 100%, but the fact that I was able to play the full match today makes me more excited for next week and I think I’ll have more dynamism then. That was a plus.
Did you divide your duties differently after moving to holding midfield?
Our shape was different in the first and second halves, so with that, my duties changed. Duties are, of course, determined somewhat by position. But there’s no difference in duties because of playing with different personnel.
MF 16Koki Morita
What did you have in mind after coming on as a substitute?
As expected, since this was everyone’s first match under Nagai, people were still trying to figure things out. In that sense, it was important for players like myself and Kanya (Fujimoto), who played under the manager in the past, to communicate and help everyone along.
What was the game plan in the second half for you individually, especially after the change in formation?
It’s the same when we get the ball ourselves, but as midfielders, whenever the ball was played from the center backs to Mon (Leandro) or Kanya, it was important that we get forward and support them.
At the end of the match, you had a chance to score your first goal as a professional.
It’s the same for everyone else, but when it left my foot, I thought it was going in. I had made a good run and it felt good when I made contact, so I thought it was a goal… In the end, the ball didn’t curve enough and shaved the post. I really want to leave results behind, so I have to improve in that area. Although they were half joking, the other players scolded me that I had to score there. If I finished that one off, the match would have grown much easier. I hope I can finish next time.
The way you combined with the others was typical of players from the youth team.
I can’t say that we had a perfect common understanding, but each of us was there for the others when we were in trouble, so I think that our time playing together in the past did help.
Your defensive adjustments in the second half were effective.
We talked to each other throughout the entire team and made an effort to defend with more compact spacing. I think the other side definitely had trouble breaking us down. There were times where we lost the ball in bad spots, but I think it’s good that we showed the ability to retreat quickly.