Gamba Osaka, who fought once morest Kawasaki Frontale in the previous round (Section 7), have been winless in six matches since the opening of the season. It was a team with no energy sinking to 16th place. Kawasaki failed to make a good start, finishing in 14th place with 5 points (1 win, 2 losses and 2 draws) until the 5th round. will drop and turn into an updraft. At least Kawasaki fans should have believed so.
However, Kawasaki overturned most expectations and lost 2-0 to Gamba Osaka. A 13th-place finish following seven games is the second worst finish since 14th place in the 2013 season. That season, however, they bounced back and eventually finished third. Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Yokohama F. Marinos, who are ahead, are chasing hard. At the end, I made a big show.
Can the current team hope for that return?
Kawasaki was promoted to J1 for the first time in 2000. When I was demoted following one season, I was forced to live in J2 for four seasons. Re-promoted in 2005. Since then, they have not been relegated for 18 years until last season. The lowest ranking was 11th in 2011, all others are single digits. Including 2011, he has only missed the top five in five seasons. They have won four titles in the last six seasons. Kashima Antlers are known as the winning team, but Kawasaki is by far the winner in recent win percentage.
It is no exaggeration to say that the team, which is the leader of the J.League, has finished 7 games since the opening of the season, but has fallen to 13th place. For example, it is a phenomenon that is impossible in Europe. What is the cause of such a situation?
Kawasaki Frontale players greeting supporters at their home stadium
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It’s not hard to figure it out. Compared to a while ago, it’s obvious if you look at the lineup of players who can’t help but say that they’re lonely. Hidemasa Morita, Kaoru Mitoma, Midori Tanaka, and Leo Hatate left the team for Europe during the two seasons of 2020 and 2021. Instead, João Simic, Marcinho, Chanathip, Kento Kitta and others came.
Kengo Nakamura retired from Kawasaki during this time. Ryota Oshima, who seemed to have been promoted to the ace of the midfield, was unable to perform satisfactorily due to injury.
