Rin Itoshi’s Footballing Genius, Explained

Key Takeaways

• Rin Itoshi excels in consciously accessing the flow state, becoming an unstoppable force on the field.
• Itoshi showcases Juninhoesque kicking accuracy, making him a step ahead of his peers.
• Rin utilizes off-the-ball movements like Thomas Müller to position himself strategically and manipulate opponents.

Jinpachi Ego’s Blue Lock facility has trained some of the best footballers from all over Japan. While there are several egotistical strikers who are all set to take over the world, no one comes close to Rin Itoshi in terms of talent, strategic thinking, and adaptability on the field.

Rin is one of the few players who embody Ego’s philosophy and always surpass expectations through their performance. But what makes Rin so good? Here’s a closer look at his footballing genius by looking at his tactical intelligence, mental resilience, technical precision, and other key aspects of his gameplay.

Conscious Access to the Flow State

Rin’s Exceptional Ability to Immerse His Senses In a Game

Flow state, sometimes referred to as being locked in, is a mental condition wherein an individual is able to get fully engrossed in an activity and perform in peak conditions without being distracted. Footballers who can enter the locked-in state consciously consistently outperform their peers and make their presence felt on the ground. In the flow state, Rin Itoshi becomes an unstoppable force who pushes his opponents to bring out their best before ruthlessly asserting dominance. His ability to consciously access the lock-in state makes him a dangerous player.

Don’t get swept away, Isagi. You just have to look at me. In 90 minutes, I’ll turn those cheers into screams of anguish.

Perhaps the best demonstration of his footballing genius under the influence of the flow state comes during the final moments of the game between Japan’s U20 and Blue Lock XI. He tore through the opponent’s strong defenses and also outplayed his older brother Sae Itoshi to deliver his team a decisive on-field advantage. Rin then went on to demonstrate a similar level of dominance in the games against Manshine City and Bastard München during the Neo-Egoist League. Itoshi’s ability to enter the flow state is one of his most dangerous traits, but he has several other tricks up his sleeve.

Juninhoesque Kick Accuracy

Itoshi Has an Almost Perfect Kicking Technique

Brazilian midfield maestro Juninho Pernambucano is revered by passionate fans for his incredible technique, especially his free-kick expertise. His precision and accuracy have left world-class goalkeepers helpless and cemented his legacy as one of the greats of the game. While Rin may not be a dead ball specialist like Juninho, he has demonstrated on several occasions that he can take the game away from his rivals with his flawless kick accuracy that leaves no room for error.

Itoshi’s Juninhoesque kicking technique puts him a step ahead of his peers. He has scored goals from long distances with accuracy that is hard to match. His pinpoint high-speed free-kicks are quite like Pernambucano’s lethal long-range shoots that leave goalkeepers stranded. Rin is also incredibly good at vertical spinning direct shots, trivelas, jump shots, and line drive shots.

During a game against Bastard München, Rin scores a beautiful goal with his crash shot in which he positions his body in a way that he can take a mid-air shot that looks almost like a free-kick. Despite the awkward angles and whilst colliding with another player, Itoshi somehow still manages to net the ball. Such types of goals are almost impossible to replicate and Rin’s ability to pull it off speaks volumes about his talent.

My ego wasn’t just destructive urges. It’s life-risking destruction. That’s my true nature.

Interestingly, Rin is also quite adept at blind shots and spinning midrange shots. His incredible kicking accuracy under different circumstances, positions, and angles makes him a formidable opponent. Itoshi’s versatility and accuracy in executing high-accuracy shots are unparalleled and set him apart from his competitors at the facility.

Thomas Müller Like Off-the-ball Movements

Itoshi Rin Can Use Open Spaces Like No One Else

Off-the-ball movements allow footballers to position themselves in better areas to receive the ball. This is then further utilized to exploit vulnerabilities in the opponent’s defenses by creating spaces and openings. Germany’s Thomas Müller is celebrated for his knack for being in the right place at the right time. The Raumdeuter knows how to position himself in advantageous spots following which he creates scoring opportunities by meticulously timing each step. The defenders are often left puzzled and before they can grasp what Müller is up to, it is too late.

Despite being so young, Itoshi Rin has shown glimpses of greatness and in many instances flawlessly moved on the field like Thomas Müller. His ability to predict areas on the field where the ball is likely to be and then position himself accordingly has allowed Itoshi to score some of the best goals at Blue Lock. Interstingly, Rin has also used off-the-ball movements in combination with spatial awareness for defensive purposes. He has intercepted players and broken down attacking plays by reading the game better than others.

Luck isn’t a result of pure coincidence. It’s an underlying element of the field that reaches only those who move by their will. If you can’t understand that, you’ve got no right to live in a competitive world.

Perhaps Rin’s most innovative use of the technique is super-speed interlock. In this variation of the method, Itoshi receives an unexpected cross in an open space which he then turns into a goal like he did against the Team World Five. Super-speed interlock relies heavily on Rin’s predictive ability bolstered by his exceptional spatial awareness that allows him to use a player’s movements as a precursor to map out their next steps. Such demonstrations of footballing talent make Itoshi Rin arguably the best user of off-the-ball movements at Blue Lock.

Self-Developed Puppet-Controlling Soccer Technique

Rin’s Dangerous Technique That Manipulates Opponents

Top footballers often innovate or refine techniques to get a competitive edge and become exceptional at the sport. Rin Itoshi who dreams of becoming the best striker in the world is no different. He has developed the puppet-controlling soccer technique to manipulate the opponents and control the flow of the game. Once he analyses the rivals and figures out their weakness, he starts to turn the table in his team’s favor. For this purpose, he relies heavily on his sharp analytical skills and his teammates.

Itoshi Rin uses the best techniques of his teammates to set up the circumstances where he can flourish. He then uses his superior footballing knowledge and weapons to leave the opponents defenseless. This entire passage of the play is known as the puppet-controlling soccer technique and it culminates in a manner that Rin effectively manipulates the rivals into committing strategic blunders.