This will be my first match against FC Machida Zelvia personally. Their style is simply focused on aiming for goals, and even watching their match footage, I think their play and tactics make sense. First, I believe my task is to carefully cover and suppress the wing backs, who are the key points of Machida's attack. I want to perform well so that our team can control the match advantageously.
Machida has young and energetic player Mochizuki and offensively strong player Soma. If our team can effectively contain and control them, I believe we will definitely have the chance to influence the match. It is important for us to gain an advantage in the game by not allowing the opponent's wing backs, who are heavily involved in both offense and defense, to perform their roles easily.
As a team, we have faced teams that use a three-back formation as their base, such as Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Fagiano Okayama. In those matches, we have not only confronted them head-on with a four-back formation but also tried changing our positioning and pressing to prevent their wing-backs from advancing high up the pitch. This has increased our tactical options during the game. We want to carefully assess as a team which areas the opponent applies pressure from and adapt our playing style according to the flow of the match.
The team is in a very good mood after securing a good victory in the previous match against Okayama, and I feel that we have been able to continue working in a positive atmosphere since last week's training. Personally, I was able to make good use of the week without a match, using the time to adjust my condition and rest my body. It looks like we can carry this good form into the upcoming match.
From here, we will have consecutive matches against Machida in the league and the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round, but personally, I do not particularly focus on or pay special attention to this consecutive schedule. First, I aim for the team to secure 3 points with a good performance in the league match on the 9th, and then carry that momentum into the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round on the 16th. There is nothing special to be conscious of just because these are consecutive matches against the same opponent.
However, personally, I am looking forward to the match against Coach Kuroda from Machida, who took care of me during my time at Aomori Yamada High School. He nurtured me when I was a completely unknown player until junior high school, and I believe it is thanks to Mr. Kuroda that I was selected for the youth national teams. He is also a mentor to me, and although it feels strange to compete against him on the professional stage, I want to win decisively.
First, we want to show a solid performance in the league match on the 9th and carry that momentum into the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round. Both matches are important. Fans and supporters, please look forward to it.
Actually, this will be my first time playing at Japan National Stadium, so personally, I am really looking forward to it. The first Tokyo match I watched after returning to Tokyo was the game against Hiroshima held at Japan National Stadium, so I want to overwrite that frustrating memory. Please look forward to an exciting match. We will definitely win.
