<Match Preview>
The Emperor's Cup has reached the Round of 16. Tokyo, who had a tough battle with Verdy that even went into a penalty shootout last time, will face Roasso Kumamoto at their opponent's home stadium.
Kumamoto faced Sagan Tosu from the J1 League in the 3rd round, and despite being down 2 points, they fought hard for 90 minutes and managed to tie the game 3-3. In extra time, they successfully turned the tables and won the match in a close 4-3 battle. Last season, they made a strong run in the J1 promotion playoffs, even advancing to a match against J1 team Kyoto Sanga F.C. Under the guidance of coach Takeshi OKI, they have established an attacking style of soccer and have made great strides.
The player to watch out for in Tokyo is none other than Rei HIRAKAWA. He grew up in FC Tokyo U-15 and then in Tokyo's academy, and has been attracting attention since his first year in high school when he played in the J3 League with U-23 while belonging to FC Tokyo U-18. His playing time with the top team has been limited, and after training with Kagoshima United FC and Matsumoto Yamaga FC, he returned to Tokyo last season but had limited playing time and transferred to Kumamoto in August.
Since joining, he has established himself as a key player in Kumamoto and has become a driving force behind the team's success, and this season he has been entrusted with the role of captain. He is determined to perform well and show his best in the upcoming match against his former team.
Kumamoto's style is not dissimilar to the style that Peter Tokyo is pursuing. It requires a lot of physicality and intensity, with a fierce pressing and duels in the midfield to win the ball and launch short counters towards the goal. They value possession and try to control the game in the opponent's half. Kumamoto has not been afraid to play their own style against Tosu, and have come out on top in the battle. Tokyo also wants to challenge them head on and show their superior strength.
With only 3 days of rest, and the league restarting on the 6th, it is important to gain momentum in both results and performance in this match. It is expected to fully demonstrate the style that coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI has been trying to instill during the break, and to secure a spot in the top 8 by showcasing intensity, ball possession, and attacking power, and return to Tokyo.
[Interview with Peter Cklamovski]
Q, Tokyo, both teams of Roasso Kumamoto and Tokyo have a similar style of soccer.
A, I think it will be an exciting game. We just need to express what we need to do and score. Of course, we have respect for Kumamoto, but we want to enter the game with a strong mentality and organize our thoughts. There are no easy games. It is also expected that Kumamoto will have possession of the ball. We need to understand what we should do during that time and how to stop the opponent's attack. For example, if such a phenomenon is happening on the pitch, counterattacks may be effective, and when we have possession of the ball, we need to quickly find open spaces on the pitch. And we want to create many scoring opportunities to score goals. I think it is important to play with the consciousness of scoring goals.
Q, it will be a night game, but I think there will also be a battle against the heat.
A, preparation is essential for hard work. We will fight to raise the championship cup by giving everything on the pitch. As long as we have that goal, we want to raise each other up and give it our all.
Q, during practice, there were very short breaks between each session and focused training was observed.
A, The reason for compacting the time between each practice is because we are simulating a game. There is no time to rest during a game. Of course, we also set aside time to prepare properly. It may seem trivial, but I want the players to firmly grasp the concept of "not stopping during a game," which also ties into our method. On the pitch, you must not stop thinking. The time between practices is also part of the practice, so I always want the players to keep their mental switch on. I may use the phrase "hard work" when talking to everyone, but I also expect the players to maintain their focus during the time between practices. This is also to prepare them to make sharp and correct decisions even when they are tired.
Q, training was also conducted with the assumption of Kumamoto's formation.
A, it is important to understand what is necessary to play in that game, no matter who the opponent is. Today's practice was conducted to imagine Kumamoto's style. We want to share where the space will be created and where the opponent will dislike in the confrontation. We will continue to prepare in all aspects.
[Player Interview]
＜Kosuke SHIRAI＞
Q, as Kosuke SHIRAI from Tokyo, I have been given the opportunity to play in official matches.
Since joining Tokyo about a month ago, there have been no official matches and it has been a very difficult period, but we were able to make good preparations. Playing in Tokyo, in a way, feels like starting the season for me. With the good preparations we have made, I want to express myself well in the game. I am hungry for the match (laughs).
Q, A high performance was seen in various places in the practice match with Urawa Reds.
A, I think it was a game where there were still challenges with fine positioning, but there were also plays that contributed to the minimum performance and scoring. I was able to get a long playing time and play with my teammates, so overall I think it was good.
Q, I was particularly impressed with the organization on the offensive side.
A, The basic parts are based on the experience of playing for Kyoto Sanga F.C. The number of times I took the inside has increased, and there are some differences in risk management during attacks, but in terms of the physical strength and hard work that Coach Klomovski always demands, I was able to play without any discomfort, utilizing what I have cultivated so far.
Q, What instructions and play requests are you receiving from Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI?
A, As a team, it is important to have discipline and to play as we are supposed to. Personally, I think it is more important for me to show my extra plays and strengths. I want to show that I can keep up with both offense and defense, and win in one-on-one plays.
Q, Please tell us your impression of Roasso Kumamoto.
When it comes to Kumamoto, I remember the match against Kyoto in last season's J1 promotion playoffs. We have played many official matches so far, but this match stands out in my memory due to its unique atmosphere and high tension. I believe the team has changed since last season's match, but it is certain that they are not an easy opponent. However, we want to show the difference in quality as a J1 club through our results. We will approach the match with the expectation that it will be a difficult one.
＜Taishi Brandon NOZAWA player＞
Q, I played in all 6 matches of the group stage in the Levain Cup. How is your current condition?
A, it's in pretty good condition. I think I can play without any major problems.
Q, We saw good plays even in the practice match with Urawa.
A, I was able to make plays that I myself think are good. Even though it was a practice game, I think I was able to show plays that will lead to confidence in the future.
Q, Please tell us your impression of Roasso Kumamoto, who you will be facing this time.
A, Kumamoto has played against Iwate Grulla Morioka in the last two seasons. They are a team that excels at passing the ball, and their defenders, including Makoto Okazaki and Rimu Matsuoka, are constantly moving and making it difficult to catch them. I am especially looking forward to playing against Rei Hirakawa. With players like Hirakawa, Okazaki, and Matsuoka, who are all alumni of Tokyo's academy, I am excited to see what they can do.
Q, I think there are high expectations for each play to save the team and create an attacking opportunity.
A, The Emperor's Cup is a tournament, so there is only winning or losing. I think it will be a test of how to compete with different regulations from the league. I also think that the choice of play will change each time.
Q, Do you want to use your experience in the Levain Cup to your advantage in the game?
Although it is a different tournament from the league, I think we can compete well in the Levain Cup. I feel like I can play confidently without any worries, even during our regular practices. During the break, I think I am in a good mental state and have organized what I need to do.
