The fifth match in a congested schedule with seven matches played in two to three days. After competing in the Levain Cup on the 13th, Tokyo will face Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in an away game for Sec. 9 of the J1 League.
Although it has only been two days since the last match, Tokyo will face Shonan Bellmare on the 13th with a lineup focused on young players. Many of the members from the league match against Urawa Reds on the 10th have secured a one-week interval in preparation for the upcoming match against Sapporo. Even though it is a match in a congested schedule, they should be able to approach it in a relatively fresh physical condition.
The opponent Sapporo.D has a record of 1 win, 6 draws, and 1 loss in this season's league matches. While the results may give the impression that they have not been able to secure victories, that one win was achieved in the recent away game against Nagoya Grampus. They are likely to maintain that momentum and have high motivation for their first home victory of the season. Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has also warned that "the match will be very hard in terms of play intensity and tactics."
In terms of team completeness, this is the fifth season under coach Zoran PETROVIC, and Sapporo's tactical maturity is among the best in the league. Although key player Chanathip has transferred to Kawasaki Frontale, the team has made solid reinforcements this offseason, including the addition of Gabriel HENRIQUE, who performed well in Nagoya. Most of the key players who were with the team until last season remain, and it is expected that Sapporo will fully showcase their high possession football with strong connectivity.
On the other hand, Tokyo, which has only been under the guidance of coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA for three months, is still in the early stages of its growth phase, as the coach himself emphasizes. During the 90 minutes, there are times when they can express their style, maintain possession, and control the game, as well as times when the pressing from the front does not function, leading to periods of being pushed back and having to endure.
However, the level of growth has been accelerating with each match, and the coach emphasizes the desire for victory before every game, instilling a hunger for wins in the team. As a result, they have achieved four victories so far while continuing to grow. In this match against Sapporo, they will aim for three points by flexibly adjusting during the game while keeping their style in mind.
We have confirmed each other's styles during the training match at the Okinawa camp. However, Tokyo is rapidly growing. We want to express our growth over the past three months on the pitch and bring home a victory that exceeds Sapporo's expectations.
