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 lot of players were involved in the way we envisioned our attacking shape, including what we are building here and what we are trying to do. When analyzing the team's performance, many aspects of this were evident. When we had possession of the ball, our aim to exploit the opponent's weaknesses became a threat, and it seemed that Kyoto was uncomfortable with it. We were able to create good moments, including scoring opportunities. I believe we were able to showcase what we have been working on and building, but I still think there are challenges as a team.
Q: Do you want to launch an attack against Yokohama F.Marinos with the same intention this match?
Yes, that's right. I think all teams understand our strengths. I believe Kyoto was the same. This time, we will understand where the spaces will open up and aim to score by taking advantage of the opponent's weaknesses. I think the opponent will try similar tactics, but that means it will be a good match for us. We want to show a game where the fans and supporters of both clubs will stand up and not sit down.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Yokohama FM, the champions of last season.
A, this is a club where I spent special moments with special people. However, regarding the match, we will focus on what Tokyo needs to do and aim to take 3 points for the club and for the fans and supporters. This will be a truly significant challenge for us. They are the champions of last season, and their strength is reflected in the results this season. 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?
First, we need to focus on the upcoming match in front of us. However, I believe both matches will be a significant challenge. I think it's a good opportunity to see how much we can challenge ourselves against two high-quality teams. That said, we shouldn't look too far ahead; we want to prepare for the Yokohama FM match first and aim to deliver a good performance. This is important for getting closer to a good 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 as it is a familiar pitch, and I have a good image of it. I can't say much since I don't have an image of facing Yokohama F.Marinos or fighting as a member of Tokyo at Nissan Stadium, but I want to draw strength from the passion of Yokohama FM fans and supporters, 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, and I was able to enter the match in a good way. My physical condition and state are gradually improving.
Q: What kind of play are you focusing on?
First of all, I want to prioritize playing with a sense of speed, and on the defensive side, I want to be mindful of the team's discipline. I believe some degree of freedom is necessary during attacks, and I want to improve our ball possession rate when we push the opponent back.
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. It is important for us to see how well we can contain Yokohama FM, who have strong attacking power, especially since we have had many matches without conceding a goal. I want to make it a match where we score more points than our opponent and aim for victory.
Q: It was a frustrating defeat when we faced each other in the first half of the league.
I am most frustrated that we were turned around, and it was a match where we wanted at least one point despite being at a numerical disadvantage. To clear that frustration, it is most important to go for three points at Nissan Stadium. I feel that responsibility lies with me, and I believe it is also a team responsibility. I want to play with the sense of responsibility that we cannot lose to the same opponent twice.
<Diego OLIVEIRA>
Q, In the first half of the league match against Yokohama F.Marinos, Diego OLIVEIRA scored two goals.
The first half of the league match resulted in a very disappointing outcome. In that match, we conceded a goal early on, managed to take the lead once, but ended up with a red card, resulting in a frustrating match. I believe tomorrow's game will be difficult and tough for both teams. There are challenges in away games, but in the recent match against Cerezo Osaka, we were able to achieve a good result despite the tough circumstances. I want to ensure we achieve a solid result in the next match as well.
Q: Please tell us the important points to achieve revenge.
A, as I mentioned earlier, the first half of the league has been a disappointing result. However, we must forget the past matches and focus solely on tomorrow's game. The opponent's team situation seems to be very good, but we are also in a process of improvement. I 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 since the start of this season, I don't think we had such a bad beginning. After that, there was a period where we couldn't win, and it was a tough and challenging time. During that time, new players joined the team during the league's break, and they are fighting for the team. I understand that we are in a difficult situation right now, and I want to make sure we progress and win in 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.
A, Nakagawa is an incredibly wonderful and essential player for us. He brings new momentum to the team. I hope that Nakagawa can perform well against his former club and help us secure a victory.
