Gamba Osaka lost to champion Kawasaki F 0-1 and failed to win the championship for the first time in five tournaments for the sixth time.

Director Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (43), who has been in charge for the third year, led him into a close battle with a defensive lineup, but the first acquisition of the directorial title will be confided after next season. Kawasaki F won the Emperor’s Cup in the 100th tournament for the first time and achieved two crowns this season against the J1 league match. The prize is 100 million yen for first place and 30 million yen for second place.

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The battle in which G Osaka, second in J1, challenged the champion Kawasaki F three times, was repelled again. Director Miyamoto acknowledged the distance to the champion who lost all three games in the official game this season, saying: “We have to improve the quality of the attack and create something that is a step or two higher, like the weight of the ball. “. ..

In the second half of this season, I was faced with 3 backs that emphasized defense instead of 4 backs that caused a good advance. I wanted to lead him to a winning pattern that controls a close battle with stickiness as a weapon, but in the 10th minute of the second half I scored the first goal. The commander lamented: “I had a plan to play from minutes 15 and 20 of the second half, but before I got a point.” After that, I switched to 4 backs and launched an attack, but one point was too far away.

Although it was decided that he would not be crowned for five consecutive seasons, he was able to build a daring defensive network that would serve as the foundation for the battle for victory. The starting lineup, which had an average age of 29 in the J1 first round, rejuvenated to 26.6 in the final round. MF Endo, 40, was transferred to J2 Iwata in October last year and the new MF Yamamoto emerged. Since Endo has been involved in all nine titles in the past, it made us feel like a new era had arrived.

For Miyamoto, who has declared that he wants to win with multiple points, it is a task that has been transferred to increase his offensive power. Captain DF Miura also said: “If you have your own style like Kawasaki F, you are strong. You have to establish your own football.”

Director Miyamoto, who will be in his fourth year in office next season, must win the title this time. Expectations have risen further, including the ACL, which will be the first appearance in four years.[Kazuyuki Yokota]

◆ G Osaka participates The J League announced that the undercard for the Fuji Xerox Super Cup to be held in Saitama on February 20 will be Kawasaki FG Osaka. Kawasaki F won both J1 and the Emperor’s Cup, so G Osaka, who was second in J1, will be the opponent.