Review of the previous match against Kyoto SANGA F.C.
Inspire the team, and at times, without hesitation, demand from teammates, while also running to support them with all your might.
If given the new role of an anchor, I will immediately absorb what is required and adapt by utilizing my abilities. My willingness to engage in physical defense has also brought a new image to Tokyo's "10".
In recent seasons, there may have been a tendency to play a more supporting role. Of course, he has demonstrated his skills in building attacks, but he also seemed to lead the team with his toughness in challenges and fighting spirit.
Since the appointment of Peter CKLAMOVSKI as coach, the position played has moved up one line, and there have been more opportunities to be used as an attacking midfielder rather than a defensive midfielder. In such cases, demonstrating the required role is the true strength of Keigo HIGASHI.
"I focused on three things: moving to positions that are difficult for the opponent to catch, acting as a link man in the attack, and entering the box."
In a role that requires more involvement in the attack, he demonstrated the work he was conscious of, as he entered the goal area and took an exquisite position for the first goal, setting up Ryoma WATANABE's goal with a deceptive pass. For the second goal, he remained in the penalty area during a set play, avoided the crowd, positioned himself at the near side, and scored a magnificent volley, marking his first goal in league play in 1624 days.
The roles required of the number "10" are varied, but there are not many who have been asked to fulfill such a wide range of responsibilities and have responded to them while struggling. This is what the blue and red "10" is all about, as demonstrated in a resounding victory on a midsummer night.
Match Preview
Both teams will be missing key players due to suspension. Tokyo will be without Henrique TREVISAN, while Yokohama F.Marinos will be without Elber.
In particular, Elber has earned a penalty kick that became the winning goal in the previous match against Gamba Osaka, and there is no doubt that he is a key player in Yokohama FM's attack. It will be interesting to see how coach Kevin MUSCAT arranges the lineup in the front line.
On the other hand, Tokyo is focused on who coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI will choose in place of player Henrique to stop Yokohama FM's fierce attacking lineup.
For Coach CKLAMOVSKI, this will be a match against his former club where he started his career in Japan. He came to Japan as the right-hand man of Ange POSTECOGLOU (currently the manager of Tottenham Hotspur) and contributed to winning the league title by competing for the championship with Tokyo in the 2019 season. The attacking style he instilled at Yokohama FM has taken root in the club, and Coach Masukatto is also continuing this approach to build an attacking team.
In Tokyo, we are steadily working to establish the attacking football we envision, and it will be a clash with a club that retains our essence. In the first half of the season, we experienced a very frustrating defeat, allowing a reversal after briefly taking the lead. This time, we want to repay that debt at Nissan Stadium.
Another point of interest is Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who will also be facing his former team. In the last match, he returned from injury and played as a substitute, showing an upward trend in his condition and performance. This will be his first opportunity to play as an away team member at Nissan Stadium, his former home ground. I hope he fully demonstrates the presence of "Blue-Red Teru."
[Interview with Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q: In the previous match against Kyoto SANGA F.C., the opening goal was scored from good teamwork.
A, many players were involved in the play, including the attacking style we envision, what we are building here, and what we are trying to do. When analyzing the team's performance, these aspects are clearly reflected. When we had possession of the ball, our aim to get behind the opponent was a threat, and it seemed Kyoto was uncomfortable with that. We created good opportunities, including scoring scenes. I believe we were able to show what we have been working on and building, but I also think there are still challenges for the team.
Q: Do you want to launch an attack against Yokohama F.Marinos with the same intention this match?
A, well. I think every team already knows our tactics. I believe Kyoto was the same. This time, we will understand where the spaces open up and try to score by getting behind the opponent. I expect the other team to try similar tactics, but that means it will be a good match for us. We want to show a game where fans and supporters of both clubs stand up and never sit down.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Yokohama FM, the champions of last season.
A, this club is a special place for me, where I spent time with special people. However, regarding the match, Tokyo will focus on what needs to be done and will fight to earn 3 points for the club and for the fans and supporters. This will be a truly significant challenge for us. They are last season's champions, and their strength is evident in their results this season as well. We will just do our best.
Q In this round against Yokohama FM, the next match will be against Vissel Kobe, making it a consecutive match against top teams. What is the positioning for Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI?
A, first of all, it is important to focus on each match right in front of us. However, I believe both matches will be significant challenges. I see it as a good opportunity to measure how much we can challenge two high-quality teams. That said, without looking too far ahead, we want to prepare for the Yokohama FM match first and aim to deliver a good performance. That is crucial to getting closer to a positive result.
[Player Interview]
＜Teruhito NAKAGAWA＞
Q, it's a match at Nissan Stadium. You must have a good image of it, right?
A, I am looking forward to the match because it is a familiar pitch, and I have a good image of it. I can't really imagine Yokohama F.Marinos as the opponent or myself fighting at Nissan Stadium as a member of Tokyo, but I want to use the passion of Yokohama FM's fans and supporters and the atmosphere of the venue as my strength, and above all, I want to win.
Q: You came on as a substitute in the last match, but it was your first official match in a while.
I played for about 30 minutes, but I was able to enter the game in good form, and my physical condition and state are gradually improving.
Q: What kind of play are you focusing on?
A, first of all, I want to value playing with a sense of speed, and in defense, I want to be fully aware of the team's discipline. I think some degree of freedom is necessary during attack, and I want to increase ball possession when pressing the opponent.
Q: It's a match against your former club. What aspects are you looking forward to?
A, I am really looking forward to the match. Facing an offensively strong Yokohama FM, it is important for us, who have had many games without conceding goals, to see how well we can hold them back. We want to make it a game where we score more goals than the opponent and go for the win.
Q: It was a frustrating defeat when we faced each other in the first half of the league.
A, the most frustrating thing was being overturned, and even with a numerical disadvantage, we wanted to get at least 1 point from the match. To relieve that frustration, the most important thing is to go to Nissan Stadium and get 3 points. I have that responsibility, and I believe the team does as well. I want to play with the sense of responsibility that we must not lose twice to the same opponent.
<Diego OLIVEIRA>
Q, In the first half of the league match against Yokohama F.Marinos, Diego OLIVEIRA scored two goals.
In the first half of the league, the match ended in a very disappointing result. In that game, we conceded a goal early on, managed to take the lead once, but also had a player sent off, resulting in a frustrating match. Tomorrow's game will be a difficult and tough match for both teams. Away games are challenging, but in the recent match against Cerezo Osaka, despite the tough circumstances, we were able to achieve a positive result. We want to secure a good result in the next match as well.
Q: Please tell us the important points to achieve revenge.
As I mentioned earlier, the first half of the league ended with disappointing results. However, we will forget past matches and focus solely on tomorrow's game. The opposing team seems to be in very good condition, but we are also on an upward trajectory. We want to enter the match with high concentration and strong determination.
Q: I think tomorrow's victory will be important for the team to improve its performance from here on.
A, looking back from the start of this season, I think it wasn't a bad start. After that, there was a period where we couldn't win, and it was a tough and challenging time. During the league's break, new players joined the team and have been fighting for the team. I understand that the current situation is difficult, and I want to steadily win the remaining matches.
Q, Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who is returning to face his former team, has also made a comeback. In the first half of the league, goals were scored from combinations with NAKAGAWA, so I believe there are high expectations for the match against Yokohama FM.
Player A Nakagawa is an extremely wonderful and indispensable important player for us. He brings new momentum to the team. I hope that Nakagawa, facing his former team, will perform well and help us secure a victory.
