Review of the previous match against Gamba Osaka
As the back-and-forth battle continued from the beginning, the young guardian that the blue and red pride themselves on, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, stood in front of the goal.
The first highlight came in the 41st minute of the first half. After being put in a one-on-one situation due to a long counterattack, he calmly assessed the situation, positioned himself well to limit the angle, and reacted sharply to the shot. He extended his left hand and deflected the ball.
In the 3rd minute of the second half, he firmly deflected the opponent's mid-range shot with his right hand to protect the goal. Then, in a critical moment in the 22nd minute of the second half, his big save saved the team.
From a set play, a header was directed to the near side, but with a superhuman reaction, he stretched out his right hand to change the trajectory of the shot fired from close range, successfully deflecting it just over the goal.
Consecutive fine saves. It is noteworthy that he has become able to quickly reach out his hand against the opponent's shots.
"The goalkeeper is in a passive position, and since play requires the presence of the opponent, I believe it is important to react while closely watching both the opponent and the ball."
However, in the 40th minute of the second half, we allowed the opening goal due to a gap created by the opponent's substitution.
Tokyo, aiming for a counterattack, launched a fierce assault in the final stages. It seemed that Henrique TREVISAN scored the equalizer from a left corner kick during the second half's additional time, but the preceding play was ruled offside, and the goal was disallowed, leading to the end of the match. They suffered a frustrating defeat at home, remaining winless in four league matches.
My performance has been improving with each match. I feel that I have been getting better and better in the last few games, said number 41, who is feeling confident. That's why I want to win.
"Until the last moment, we were able to hold on as a team, so it's very frustrating. Of course, it's important for everyone to put their bodies on the line, and the goalkeeper also needs to do so as the last line of defense. What I want the most is the team's victory, so I want to make sure we can bring home the win in the next match against Sagan Tosu."
Match Preview
Following the 3rd Round of the YBC Levain Cup held last Wednesday, we head to Tosu for Sec. 17. After a packed schedule with just two days and three days between matches since Golden Week, this time we will face the away match against "Kin J" with four days in between.
This match week focuses on players selected for the Japan national team across various age groups. Following March, Yuto NAGATOMO has been named to the Japan national team, and for the U-23 Japan national team aiming for the Paris Olympics, four players have been selected: Kuryu MATSUKI, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, Kashif BANGNAGANDE, and Ryotaro ARAKI.
In the away match against Avispa Fukuoka, held right after the announcement of the national team members in March, three players—Nagatomo, Yoshifumi, and Araki—who were released to fight with the national flag, scored goals and achieved a great victory. They contributed to the first league win in Fukuoka since July of the 2000 season, bringing the team its first victory of the season. We can't help but look forward to their high performance, which they will likely showcase in their blue and red uniforms this round.
Although the away game in Tosu marked a victory in the cup competition since the 2019 season, it has been a "difficult place" where the team has not been able to secure a win in league matches since June of the 2015 season. Currently, the team has gone four league matches without a win and has not been able to achieve the desired results, but they want to use the victory gained from the penalty shootout in the previous week's Levain Cup as a catalyst for resurgence in this match.
[Interview with Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q: Although we conceded a goal, the last match showed a solid defense.
I think we performed well overall. However, if asked whether we were at our best, I would say we were not, and I regret that we conceded goals and lost. I still feel that there is much for us to learn. I also feel pain that we could not achieve a victory against Gamba Osaka. Nevertheless, I see it as a necessary part of our journey. I want to focus on developing our style of play as we move towards the next match.
The players have a solid understanding of what they can do and what their challenges are. We must continue to evolve in order to get closer to our ideals. Of course, it is also important to pay attention to the details in that process. To become a team that cannot be stopped by anyone, we believe it is essential to repeatedly make corrections and improvements and keep moving forward.
Q: There will be a rematch with Sagan Tosu in a short period of time.
First, I want to focus on our way of playing. I think this match will also be tough, but we are making good preparations. If we can play our football, we can score, and we are regaining our defensive solidity. We will continue our team's objectives until the final whistle and aim to secure 3 points.
[Player Interview]
＜Teruhito NAKAGAWA＞
Q: Given that the team has been far from victory in recent official matches, how do you want to tighten up the team again?
I want to show intensity in our play, such as aggressively going for the ball as a team from the start of the match and having the mindset to finish attacks with shots. Regarding defense, I believe we need to have a fierceness that does not give the opponent any freedom. I want to reinforce our defensive strategy as a team once again.
In terms of offense, monotony has become noticeable. I feel that in recent matches, we have not been able to effectively circulate the ball in the opponent's half and break through, and the duration of possession has been lacking. If we don't elevate our game, we won't pose a threat to our opponents, and a monotonous attack won't instill fear in their defense. Starting from here, in addition to the league matches, we will continue to have back-to-back games in June, including the Levain Cup and the Emperor's Cup. As a team, I want to share once again how we can maintain a high level of performance with the same mindset, regardless of who is on the field. I believe that addressing each issue on both the offensive and defensive sides clearly is important, and the key is to keep going.
Q: Please tell us what Teruhito NAKAGAWA imposes on himself and the plays he is conscious of.
It depends on the position I play. When I play in central positions like an attacking midfielder or a lone striker, I always focus on using my strengths to support the team in advancing the ball, such as receiving the ball to create rhythm and making runs behind the defense after dropping back. When I play as a right winger, I communicate with the players behind me and not only focus on staying wide but also on making movements inward to create space for the full-backs to join the attack.
Basically, I am not just staying up front; I play with the awareness of increasing the number of times I touch the ball by dropping back to the midfield position. I want to avoid being too fixated on my position and instead perceive the situation on the pitch to make the best decisions.
Q: This is a match against Sagan Tosu, which we faced in the Levain Cup about a week ago. What kind of performance are you expecting?
A, having faced each other in the recent Levain Cup, we have somewhat experienced the opponent's playing style and tactics on the pitch, and of course, I believe the opposing team is in the same situation. Tosu is a team that connects from the back, and we played with the awareness of aggressively trying to win the ball from the front in our last match. It's not about recklessly trying to win the ball from the front, but if we can win the ball compactly as a team in the opponent's half, I think it will lead to attacking opportunities. I believe the opponent has scouted us as well, so I want to make play choices that read the flow of the game. The first 10 to 15 minutes of the first half are particularly important, and creating chances and scoring the first goal will be the key point to winning a difficult away game.
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q: The team has not won in the last four league matches.
A, although we have been far from victory, I believe that when looking at the details, there has been improvement in defense compared to the beginning of the season. It is not true that we had no clear chances or opportunities in the matches we lost. There have been many cases where we failed to take the final step or allowed the opponent to capitalize on the only clear chance they had. First, I want to correct those areas. In terms of attack, I feel that we are able to create the shape we aim for. I want to improve the quality of the final shot, and for myself, I want to enhance the accuracy of crosses and the timing of my deliveries. If we can solve such issues during matches and turn them into victories, I believe the team can aim higher again. I think other players feel the same way in their play and on the pitch. I want to demand more from ourselves to correct our issues and connect them to results.
Q: Please tell us what is necessary to connect the victory to the next consecutive wins.
I think it comes down to being able to finish in critical moments of opportunity, throwing yourself into the ball even in the final defensive situations, and how much you can focus on the finer details. While it may feel like we are doing it during the match, looking back later, it seems like we are lacking compared to when we were on a winning streak, and I want to demand more from myself and those around me. I believe that by communicating with others, it increases my own responsibility in my play, and I want each individual to raise their awareness and play with that in mind.
Q, Sagan Tosu, who we faced in the Levain Cup, is our opponent this round.
Although we did not participate in the Levain Cup, I believe it was a very tough match based on the footage I saw. In the away game against Tosu (in the league), we have been far from victory based on past match records, and if we can win, it will definitely give us momentum. This is a match that can be a turning point, and I want to make it a game that settles the score in 90 minutes, which we could not do in the Levain Cup. I only want to bring back a win to Tokyo.
