<Review of the previous match against Shimizu S-Pulse>
In the previous week’s Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 12 match against Gamba Osaka, the winless streak in the league was stopped at eight, and aiming for the first consecutive win of the season, the match against Shimizu S-Pulse at Ajinomoto Stadium was approached. However, with injuries occurring the day before the match and the opponent adopting a hastily arranged 4-2-3-1 system, the team struggled to mount effective attacks, and there were many scenes where they could not play as they wished both offensively and defensively.
Tokyo struggled to show a solid attack from the early stages. Still, in the 16th minute of the first half, Marcelo RYAN broke free from a long feed by right wing-back Kosuke SHIRAI, and skillfully intercepted the ball by positioning his body just as the opposing player trapped it. His shot with the right foot was blocked by a fine save from the goalkeeper, and then Teruhito NAKAGAWA tried to capitalize on the rebound, but this was also saved, preventing an opening goal.
At the 44th minute of the first half, just when it seemed the half would end as is, a penalty kick was given away, which was converted, resulting in a painful goal conceded just before halftime.
The players who could not afford to lose at home aimed to counterattack in the second half, but as time passed without being able to create effective attacking plays, they conceded an additional goal on a counterattack in the 34th minute of the second half. After that, they were unable to show any powerful attacks and suffered a disappointing 0-2 defeat.
This Round's Preview
"It ended up being mismatched"
"It was half-hearted"
"What we wanted to do as a team wasn’t clear"
After the previous match against Shimizu S-Pulse, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI and the players spoke about the reasons for the defeat.
The players failed to coordinate their line of sight on the pitch, resulting in mistimed pressing, unclear ball movement, and ineffective use of long balls and short passes, causing time to pass without achieving the desired unity. Additionally, the poor management of the match remained an issue. Just before the end of the first half, they conceded the opening goal, and during the period when they wanted to launch a counterattack, they were caught on the counter and conceded an additional goal, leading to a difficult defeat.
Three days since the last match. Although the tight schedule leaves limited time for training to make sufficient adjustments for this round, it will be a game where everyone must thoroughly reconfirm what we want to do and what we should do before facing it.
Understanding the situation on the pitch, timing to win the ball, switching between offense and defense, using a variety of short and long passes, and the quality of finishing — in the match against Gamba Osaka where we secured a long-awaited victory, we demonstrated the transition from "good defense to good offense." We reaffirmed the importance of real-time communication to align our perspectives, and we must all move forward together. Positive calls for each other on the pitch will surely drive the team forward.
Albirex Niigata, who had struggled with no wins in the first 8 matches since the season opener, marked their first victory in Sec. 9 against Vissel Kobe, and have since recovered with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in the last 5 matches. In the previous match, they defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0.
For Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the manager, it will be the first match against his former club, which he led until last season, and it will be an away game. "It is a club with special feelings for me, as it was the first team I managed as a coach. I expect there will be loud boos directed at me, but right now, the whole team is focused on defeating Niigata," he said, reminiscing about the people he once fought alongside, yet his attitude of treating every match as a must-win remains unchanged.
The 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League has passed about one-third of the season and entered the mid-season phase. The upcoming match against Niigata will mark the end of a long series of consecutive games that started in late March. Overcoming the congested schedule, we aim to transform the challenges and positive signs we have felt into tangible "results," and by bringing back 3 points from this away game, we want to take the first step toward a comeback for the future.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q: In the match against Gamba Osaka two rounds ago, we saw a playing style that included the use of long balls. Is it necessary to work on "resetting the needle" as the coach mentioned?
A, I think it’s about how to use it. Using long balls to launch attacks is by no means "bad," nor are short passes inherently "good." It is important to use them appropriately depending on the situation. However, I believe we must quickly communicate to the entire team which way our focus is leaning.
Q, the match against Albirex Niigata, whom you managed until last season, is upcoming.
A. I believe they are a team going through a difficult situation just like us, and I also think that momentum can increase with just one trigger. There is nothing special only about this match; my mind is solely focused on how to defeat the opponent in front of us.
Q. What was the period spent in Niigata like for the coach?
A, I truly had a wonderful time, and this was the first team I had the honor to lead as a manager. From the growth of the club and individual players to my own development, I have grown as well. There is no doubt that this club holds a special place in my heart.
Q. As a coach in Tokyo, how do you feel about leading the team at DENKA BIG SWAN STADIUM?
A, I expect a pretty loud booing to come my way. When it comes to fighting, it doesn't matter if it's my former team or anything else. Personally, I am focused solely on defeating Niigata as a united team.
[Player Interview]
<Takahiro KO>
Q. How do you look back on the match against Shimizu S-Pulse?
A, it was a match where I felt my own lack of ability. I want to think once again about what I can do for the team. As Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the coach, often says, I believe it is important to prove "who I am" and how much I can fight for the team to win. As a whole team and from the coach as well, there was talk in the meeting about staying focused without wavering, so I think we just have to trust that and do our best. On the pitch, I want to make flexible decisions by observing the opponent. Whether to kick the ball or to connect passes, rather than leaning towards one side, I hope to make the best choices within a good balance to score goals and defend.
Q: After missing out on consecutive wins, this time we must avoid consecutive losses.
A, I believe that winning is the best way to build confidence. This applies to the entire team as well as myself. I think that by winning, we can regain momentum once again. We missed out on a winning streak last time, so this time, I want to secure a solid victory to create an opportunity to advance to the top ranks.
Q. Please tell us your impression of Albirex Niigata.
Team A excels in ball possession, and everyone on the team believes that. We won last season, but there were times when the opponent held the ball. We need to accept that and be patient, but instead of retreating passively, we must defend aggressively on our own. Physically, it’s difficult to go all out all the time, so if we set up a defensive block, we must do so as a team with defense calculated from the goal. That was the case last season as well, and I believe there will be opportunities to strike back, so we want to aim for those chances.
Q: During Golden Week, I think many fans and supporters will come regardless of home or away games. What kind of image do you want to show in that situation?
A, I want to show the fans and supporters of Niigata how much I have grown. Last season, I was booed whenever I had the ball (laughs). It might become that kind of atmosphere again, but I want to firmly show my fighting spirit for Tokyo and to earn 3 points.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q. After a period away from the starting lineup, you came on as a substitute in the previous match against Shimizu S-Pulse. Once again, has your desire to help the team win increased?
A, watching the team's way of playing from the outside, there were parts that were not going well and scenes where things did not fit together. First, we need to organize those aspects before entering the match, and above all, each player is required to surpass the opponent in the basic fundamentals.
Q. I think it is important for the team to communicate and give instructions from the back line so that the best decisions can be made on the pitch.
A, it is not that playing with long balls to the front line, like in the matches against Gamba Osaka and Shimizu S-Pulse, is a bad strategy, but since we aim for a style that values ball possession, we believe we should not rely solely on that approach. First, it is important to carefully observe the opponent and think about which position to enter and play from. Communication, where surrounding players use their voices to reposition teammates into better spots, will be a key point.
Q, Albirex Niigata, who have a different defensive style from Shimizu in the previous match, will be the opponent this week.
If the opponent is aggressive in defense, it is also effective to simply play the ball to the forward players and launch an attack. Choosing a long ball is not necessarily bad; as long as the ball reaches a teammate and allows us to initiate the next play, there is no problem. It's not about "just kicking the ball," but rather recognizing that even a longer ball is part of connecting passes and valuing possession. By mixing long and short passes, the opponent's defense will gradually find it harder to make decisions. I believe it is best to play as a team while observing the opponent and probing their weak points.
