In the match on October 11, where Kawasaki hosted Nagoya at home, they conceded an early goal in the second minute but quickly equalized. However, in the second half, a defensive error by the center-back allowed Nagoya to score the winning goal, marking Kawasaki's second league defeat of the season.
Kawasaki struggled against Nagoya, led by "Misha," who employed intense man-marking and variable possession tactics.
Nagoya, aiming to climb from the lower ranks, relied heavily on man-marking and physical challenges for loose balls, which prevented Kawasaki from advancing the ball as planned and increased their errors.
Amidst this, at the 29-minute mark with the score tied 1-1, captain Yasuto Wakizaka and left-back Sota Miura engaged in a rare, heated exchange of opinions.
However, this scene, which initially seemed ominous, had positive aspects for the team.
Wakizaka, who gave stern advice to Miura, reflected on the incident:
"It was something we could do because of our relationship. It was a mistake that let the opponent gain momentum. Since the whole team, including myself, looked heavy-legged even during pre-match warm-ups, I wanted to change something, so I acted that way.
After that, Miura didn't concede anything, and the game became sharper, so I think it was good. Having more instances of exchanging opinions is also positive for the team. But we need to connect that to results."
Miura also shared his thoughts:
"It wasn't a major issue; I apologized to Takuto-kun at halftime. We also had a thorough talk after the match. He pointed out that we were attacked due to my mistake. In the first half, team errors were piling up, and there was some emotional reaction involved."
For Kawasaki, a team known for quieter players, such intense exchanges are not necessarily bad. As long as there is no lingering resentment and constructive discussions occur for the future, it is fine.
More importantly, despite knowing the opponent would press hard, Kawasaki tried to exploit the space behind Nagoya's aggressive line by increasing long balls from goalkeeper Sverre Brodersen to striker Delki Lascelles, rather than playing through the ground. However, they failed to win aerial duels or recover second balls effectively, leading to unsuccessful build-up play.
They wanted to adapt tactically based on the opponent, but this revealed issues. Wakizaka maintained a serious expression:
"While few teams play like Nagoya, it's unavoidable. The team needs better solutions. We didn't intend to receive pressure, but sometimes we were forced into their preferred style.
Instead of just engaging in 1v1 battles eleven times, we must be mindful of support angles and even the foot used for passing. Soccer is a multiplicative sport, so we need to execute these details well. We practice dropping long balls to Delki's feet or targeting specific sides to avoid matchups like Fujii Yuya's, but we must show this in games.
Continuing this work is crucial, but zero points are truly painful when aiming for the title. We must play with the mindset that we cannot afford another loss, committing to winning every game rather than settling for draws, if we want to achieve the championship."
The team's tactical repertoire is growing, and players are expressing their hunger for victory more clearly, creating an atmosphere where compromise is not tolerated, which is positive.
However, if this energy isn't converted into results, momentum can fade. With individuals showing strong urgency, the team aims for a reset and a victory.
