The match against Júbilo Iwata, which was postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be the home opener for the Levain Cup and will take place two days after the home opener of the J1 League.
The first match of the tournament on March 2 against Avispa Fukuoka was approached with a scramble lineup that included registered players from the second team on the bench. Although the team, which combined veteran and young players, did not achieve a favorable result, they held possession of the ball and pressed the opponent, showing a good performance. This proved that the tactical foundation is becoming ingrained, regardless of the composition of the members.
As this is a match in the middle of consecutive games with two days and three days in between, Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has stated that he will actively utilize young players, and it is expected that the lineup will be changed from the last two league matches.
If you only capture part of the words, it may sound like the Levain Cup is being treated as a testing ground, but Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA believes that once you are playing a match, it is natural to be focused on winning, and there is no need to articulate that every time. It is a difficult approach, but he is working on a mission to balance the use of young players with an eye on the future of the team and club while pursuing victory.
In the match against Fukuoka, which featured a hybrid lineup of veteran and young players, Shuto OKANIWA was used as a starter, and Yuta ARAI, who is registered as a second player, was brought on in the second half to showcase his strengths. Additionally, Yuki KAJIURA, who made his debut in his rookie year, demonstrated exceptional talent by finding spaces that troubled the opponent and moving towards the goal. In this match against Iwata, I hope the young players who get opportunities will showcase their strengths without fear of making mistakes and adapt to the play model.
In particular, Okaniwa, who was substituted in the first half of the Fukuoka match, is burning with the desire for revenge in the next opportunity. Their intense motivation should elevate the match against Iwata from a testing ground to a real battle.
The first night game at home this season.
We want to deliver a passionate night where you can see the future of Tokyo.
