They were always going to be big shoes to fill,but Muscat,49,has built on the sturdy platform left by his old boss,carrying on the blueprint of ultra-attacking possession football while adding his own tweaks. He now has a piece of silverware and a landmark achievement that could open doors for his coaching career.
But it didn’t come easy. Saturday’s 3-1 win over Andres Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe ended a nervy few weeks for Yokohama,who have been streets ahead of the rest of the J.League this season but faltered in the final stages of the championship race.
“It’s a little bit surreal. I’m just really proud. I think if there’s an overriding emotion,it’s pride;not only[in] the result but the way we played. The way we won was tremendous,” Muscat said.
“For us personally,we’ve been focusing on creating moments – through challenges,creating moments – and today,the moment that we created also created history. These guys will go down in history as one group that won the trophy for Marinos.”
Marinos had a seemingly insurmountable eight-point lead over second-placed Kawasaki Frontale a month ago,but back-to-back losses to relegation candidates Gamba Osaka and Jubilo Iwata saw them surrender two prior opportunities to clinch the title and raised fears of an almighty choke.
But last weekend’s 4-1 home thumping of Urawa Red Diamonds got them back on track,and set up a simple equation:a draw or better against Vissel Kobe at Noevir Stadium,in the last game of their campaign,would secure the trophy.