Match Preview
"The enemy in front of you is the strongest enemy."
The words that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI focused on for the players the day before the match against Nara Club contain everything.
The 2025 J League YBC Levain Cup will kick off on March 20. This season, the tournament format has changed to include all 60 J League clubs, and J1 clubs will participate starting from the 1st Round. Tokyo's first match will be against Nara Club from the J3 League. They will start the tournament by heading to the away Rohto Field Nara.
The tournament from the 1st Round to the 3rd Round is a knockout competition where the outcome is decided in a single match. It is also a tournament where lower-tier clubs are likely to achieve 'giant killings' against higher-ranked teams, but Coach Matsuhashi showed no signs of complacency and urged the players to adopt a mindset of winning every match. That is the essence of the opening statement.
"This will be a truly important match, just like a league game. The opponent's category doesn't matter at all, and looking at the history, there have been many instances where teams from a higher category have lost. I want to approach this with a completely flat perspective."
This is an important match for us to truly become a better team, not about being superior or inferior. The coach emphasizes, "If we think from the start that we are facing a J3 team, we will definitely trip ourselves up. That kind of mentality is not acceptable. It is crucial to properly position ourselves in this regard." Given that the team is currently in a tough situation with three consecutive matches without scoring in the league, this match is also an opportunity to gain momentum by scoring and securing a victory for the future.
While fresh player selections are being considered, Coach Matsuhashi explained to the players that "the idea of turnover is not something that has been there from the beginning." He has made it clear that player selection will take into account various factors, including the players' conditions and their playing time so far. Many players are eager for playing opportunities, and since the coach himself is looking for a style of football that remains unchanged regardless of who plays, attention is focused on who will show what kind of performance here.
The blue-red battle for the 'Holy Grail' of J begins with an away game against Nara. Although it marks the start of a new tournament, the team's commitment to steadily build up each match remains unchanged. This is what will lead to the league and the team's bright future. We hope you will witness this important match where the coach and players approach it with a determination to win.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q: There are four days between the match against Avispa Fukuoka and the next league match. What kind of player selection will you make?
The match against Nara Club in the Levain Cup is an important opening game, and with four days in between, players who participated in the Fukuoka match can also prepare for this game. We will use this period to rest some players and consider various factors in our selection.
Q: Are there any players you would like to utilize in this match?
A, the idea of turnover is not something that is in my mind from the beginning. Of course, when looking at the members playing in the match, there is a possibility that players will be substituted. I want to decide while considering the efforts so far, playing time, and opportunities, but the most important thing is whether they can maintain a good condition from their daily training.
Q: Please tell us your impression of the Nara Club you will be facing.
Team A is a team that builds their game carefully while valuing possession of the ball, and they give the impression of trying various challenges during the match. We want to approach this match with the same mindset as the league games, and we believe that the difference in categories does not matter at all. Looking at the history of past tournaments, there have been many matches where higher category teams were defeated. However, rather than viewing it as a match we must not lose, we want to focus on "approaching this match on the same level."
Q: It seemed that we struggled against the defense that pressed us from the front in the match against Fukuoka.
A, of course, there are technical aspects, but I also felt that it was necessary to change things boldly and clearly, including positioning. I regret that I was not able to clearly demonstrate this, but by thoroughly incorporating it into training, I want to avoid making the same mistakes. As a team, we want to prepare in a well-balanced manner and approach the next match with confidence.
[Player Interview]
<Player Kei Sato>
Q: The match against Avispa Fukuoka ended in a disappointing result, and we are far from victory. What improvements are necessary?
ASince the start of the J1 League, the team's understanding of the style of football the coach is trying to implement has deepened, and I feel that we are gradually growing. However, if we don't complete this process quickly, the results will not follow, so I believe it is important to get closer to completion as soon as possible. There is a reality that the forwards are not scoring goals. I think that the forwards, including myself, need to score and turn this into a winning team.
Q: What do you think is necessary to break through the current situation where we are not scoring points?
A, I feel that there are not enough decisive plays in front of the goal. With many teams setting up blocks, I believe it is also necessary to take forceful shots even when entering the attacking third. While it is important to break through beautifully, if we become too fixated on that and fail to score, it is meaningless. I think it is important to have the attitude of aiming for the goal, even in a messy way.
Q, Nara Club is a team that belongs to the J3 League. I believe they will approach the match against clubs from the J1 League with considerable motivation.
A, no one is letting their guard down, and the coach also said that the enemy right in front of us is the strongest enemy. It doesn't matter which category the opponent belongs to, and we have no intention of changing our way of fighting. We believe that if we can show what we have practiced in the match, we will definitely win. The opponent will also come at us with considerable momentum, but if we approach the match with even greater momentum, we are sure to win.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q: Given the great opportunity to participate in matches, how do you want to contribute to the team with your play?
I wanted to play from the start of the league, but I fell behind. It took some time, but I believe the opportunity to participate in official matches is coming around, so I want to prepare well. Due to my position, the type of play and positioning required will change depending on who I partner with and which players are nearby. Although I am a defensive player, I want to contribute with plays that lead to good attacks, and I intend to carefully understand the opponent's plays and situations to build up from the back.
Q: The team has gone three official matches without a victory.
A, winning is important, but since we have been unable to score for a while, I believe the most important thing for the team is to firmly secure goals. We want to win decisively and carry that positive momentum into the league matches. First, we want to focus on winning the match against Nara Club and making sure the team scores goals.
Q: This is a knockout tournament where upsets are likely to happen. Please tell us the point you are most focused on when facing Nara.
A, I believe scoring early is crucial. If the game progresses without scoring, the play becomes stretched out and ineffective, and time just slips away, making it easier to fall under the opponent's pressure. Avoiding conceding the first goal is paramount, and in a knockout tournament, how quickly you can score the opening goal is key. I want to support the buildup from the back so that the forwards can launch effective attacks.
