Review of the previous match against Kashima Antlers
"I am very frustrated." At the post-match press conference, coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI repeated the same words twice. Once as a candid impression at the beginning of the conference, and again as a closing phrase after summarizing the match. This shows how much the feeling of frustration occupied his mind.
With 2 wins and 1 loss since the opening, this was an away game approached with a positive record. Utilizing sharp counters as a weapon, the team created several chances from the start. In the midfield, Takahiro KO and Kento HASHIMOTO, who made his first start since transferring, actively showed themselves to receive passes from the back line, and there were many instances where they built attacks while valuing possession of the ball.
However, only the finishing is not coming together. Teruhito NAKAGAWA's shot grazed the crossbar, and Marcelo RYAN's header hit the goalpost. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA's shot, which aimed to slide into an unguarded goal from a coordinated press in a high position, narrowly missed to the right of the goal. Each player is showcasing their strengths and creating good chances, yet they continue to miss numerous opportunities to take the lead.
Tokyo, unable to convert their chances, conceded two goals to Kashima from set pieces in the second half. In the 38th minute of the second half, Maki KITAHARA, a player from FC Tokyo U-18, was sent onto the pitch at the young age of 15 years, 7 months, and 22 days, setting a new record for the youngest appearance in J1 League history. However, it resulted in a frustrating defeat away from home.
Match Preview
With 2 wins and 2 losses so far, the blue-red team, 4 points behind the leaders, will face Shonan Bellmare at home.
In the previous match against Kashima Antlers, coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI mentioned that "if we had converted our chances, the result could have been different," as the team created many opportunities but lost momentum by failing to capitalize on them, resulting in a frustrating defeat. In the team meeting at the beginning of the week, where strategic reflections usually take place, the focus of the coach was on finishing decisively. Coach MATSUHASHI stated, "While it's certainly important to focus on the content, and we have been working on building a solid foundation from the back, this time we focused on how to achieve results and connect that to our victory. First and foremost, that is crucial. If we want to move up, we need to finish these chances properly."
The team has been able to execute fast attacks. While there have been some risky moments during build-up play involving the goalkeeper, the number of successful formations has been increasing. It has been proven in the first four matches that individual skills can break through situations and create chances. Therefore, this match requires a focus on scoring goals and achieving victory.
However, this week's opponent, Shonan Bellmare, has achieved 3 wins and 1 draw since the start of the season, placing them second with 10 points. They have ceded the top position on goal difference, but head coach Satoshi Yamaguchi proudly states that they have the best organization in the J-League, making them a formidable opponent with a successful start. In addition to their traditional strength of hard work, they have adopted an aggressive style of play, pushing both wings forward from a 3-1-4-2 system with two forwards and two shadows, taking control of the game and achieving results. In particular, the two forwards, Sho FUKUDA and Akito SUZUKI, have been in excellent form, scoring a total of 5 goals between them so far. How to contain them will likely be a key point.
Unlike the teams that Tokyo has faced in the first three matches using a 3-4-2-1 system, it is expected that this will not be a complete mirror game. In attack, how to utilize the space on both sides of the opponent's anchor will be key, and in defense, managing the pressure from the opponent who will bring numbers to the front line and how to contain the inside half will also be crucial to the flow of the match.
Using the frustrating feelings from the last match as motivation, can we focus on finishing and accumulate 3 points? We want to secure a solid victory here to stay in the upper ranks and refine the 'Rikuzou Tokyo' style of soccer while achieving results. This game is crucial, and we must decisively defeat Shonan at our home, Ajinomoto Stadium.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q: What preparations have you made for the match against Shonan Bellmare, who have been maintaining good form since the last game?
A, Shonan is a team that is maintaining good form, so we want to secure a solid victory. In the last match, if you only look at the result, it was just a loss, but if we had simply converted the chances we created, the outcome might have been different. However, considering that, if we want to move up, we need to make sure we convert our chances. I think the same applies to the match against Shonan. It is important to decisively finish the chances we create.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Shonan.
A, I have the impression that while gaining competitiveness last season and working on refining our skills, it has become deeply ingrained and the team has reached a very high level of completeness. The players seem to be playing with confidence. I believe each player's strengths are being fully showcased. Additionally, the stability and reproducibility of what we want to achieve as a team have also improved. Therefore, I think that not allowing individuals to be defeated in one-on-one situations will influence the match results.
Q: The time spent maintaining possession of the ball and pushing into the opponent's territory has increased. Is it ideal to prolong that state?
Regarding the match against Shonan, there are certainly aspects where allowing them to play can bring out their strengths. Shonan is very sharp on the counterattack after regaining possession of the ball. I think there will be times when we need to let them have the ball to prevent that. When we are in good form, we need to change our approach and tactics. I believe that this kind of strategy is important. Of course, as a team, we want to firmly hold onto the ball and break down the opponent to score within that framework. There may be times when the opponent has possession, but we can turn that around and capitalize on counterattacks. Both teams may have similar intentions, so I think it's important to enhance our precision.
[Player Interview]
<Takahiro KO>
Q: Please reflect on the previous match.
If we can score decisively in crucial moments, the outcome of the match could have been different. I felt a good response on the pitch, including the first half, and the recovery of the ball and the number of chances have increased since the opening match. I feel the accumulation as a team, and I want to continue to level up. As Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI mentioned, if we don't capitalize on our chances, we won't be able to break into the top ranks. I want to play with more determination against Shonan Bellmare as well.
Q: It seems that the position of the defensive midfielder is gradually being adjusted in both offense and defense.
In the last match, the opponent used a 4-4-2 system, which inevitably created some gaps. Our defensive midfielders didn't need to drop back to the defense line, as we had a numerical advantage with three defenders against their two forwards. Therefore, we consciously chose to hold back and focus on receiving the ball in the center. This match is against Shonan, and of course, their system will change, so I want to create gaps effectively on the pitch. I had never partnered with Kento HASHIMOTO in practice or practice matches, but we were able to communicate well on the pitch and play in a good relationship. I hope we can continue to bring out each other's strengths in the future.
Q: This match is against Shonan, who have been performing well since the league started.
A, it's a wonderful team, and I really felt the unity of Shonan playing confidently in their style since last season when we faced them. We lost in last season's home game, and I want to repay that debt properly. For us, we want to accumulate 3 points here and push into the top ranks, and I believe that losing consecutive games at home is not acceptable.
<Kanta DOI>
Q: Although you did not participate in the match, how did you observe the previous match from the bench?
A, there were many scenes where the team created chances, but we ended up conceding a goal in the latter stages without finishing them. From a defender's perspective, I believe it is necessary to be the starting point for creating chances, to increase the number of those opportunities, and to manage the game without conceding. I hope to play with more commitment to keeping a clean sheet.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Shonan Bellmare.
I feel good about our condition, and there have been many goals created from the attacks initiated by Fukuda and Akito SUZUKI up front. As a team, we want to ensure that we don't allow free play, and I hope to respond flexibly on the pitch while communicating with each other about marking responsibilities and caring for the opponent's side attacks.
Q: What preparations has the team made this week?
A, the opponent excels in ball movement and coordination, so we organized the key points for our defensive positioning and transitions in response to their build-up as a team. In the last match, we conceded a goal from a set piece. Through team meetings, we have been able to confirm and make adjustments. To make the high intensity of our defense a weapon for the team, we want to approach the Shonan match with a strong sense of awareness.
