＜Review of the previous match against Kawasaki Frontale＞
0-3. The Tamagawa Clasico, which aimed for a decisive victory, ended up with such a bitter result.
Tokyo started with the same 11 players as the previous match. In the early stages, they pushed the ball into the opponent's half and took control with aggressive pressing from the front line. However, they conceded the first goal in the 34th minute of the first half.
From there, the flow went to Kawasaki Frontale. Despite attempts to shut down players such as Ryotaro ARAKI and Kuryu MATSUKI with vertical passes, they were unable to create attacking opportunities against the opponent who came to nullify Tokyo's strengths. In the second half, they ended up suffering a defeat after conceding two goals following the red card of Go HATANO.
There was a player who approached such a game with double the passion. Takahiro KO, who won his first start of the season in the Avispa Fukuoka match and became the team's lubricant as a defensive midfielder, continued to start in the next game. For him, it was also a match against his "former team" where he spent his time from U-12 to U-15 generations.
A stadium that I have been familiar with since childhood. He must have had something in his heart, saying, "I used to go to watch the Tama River Clasico back then. As a Tokyo player, I want to stand on that stage and fight." before the game.
Player Takahashi, who had been eagerly waiting for his turn in the big game, repeatedly requested the ball with precise movements and big gestures, trying to become the starting point of the attack from the back line in the midfield.
Kawasaki thoroughly studied the Fukuoka match, and although they were unable to fully demonstrate their strengths due to tough marking, the player is taking the revealed challenges as a positive and looking forward firmly.
"Personally, I think it's better for the opponent to come and press me a little more. At halftime, I also told them, 'I want you to watch me a little more.' I want the team as a whole to have better positioning and decision-making speed when facing opponents who come to press."
The ball naturally gathers around him. However, with his wide field of vision and high passing sense, he should be able to fascinate the stadium even more. Continual challenges will undoubtedly increase the variety of ways to receive and pass the ball, with him as the starting point.
To improve oneself and bring victory to the team──. This frustration will make him and Tokyo even stronger.
<Match Preview>
Kawasaki Frontale suffered a 0-3 defeat in the "Tama River Clasico" against their rivals. This was their first loss of the season and they missed out on their chance for consecutive wins. The opponent had a strong defense in the center, making it difficult for Frontale's attacking players to score. Manager Peter Cklamovski expressed his disappointment, saying "Everyone feels the pain of not getting the result we wanted. We want to overcome this pain and become stronger."
Ryotaro ARAKI, who has scored 4 goals since the opening and led the attack, said, "I couldn't figure out what to do against the opponent who had prepared for us. The ball didn't come to me or Kuryu MATSUKI, and we couldn't create good attacks." To overcome the "Tokyo strategy" of the opponent, we need to come up with a better way to fight. In order to mature the team's style, we have a clear challenge that we cannot avoid.
From this round, we will have back-to-back matches against Urawa Reds and Kashima Antlers at the Japan National Stadium with only 3 days in between. Tokyo has a good record at the renovated National Stadium, still undefeated, so we want to take advantage of these two matches and gain momentum. Of course, in order to overcome this tough schedule, the team's overall strength will be tested, including the substitute members. We hope to see new players bring a new energy and show the evolution of Tokyo's soccer.
This week's matchday program is here
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, here comes the 2-game series at Japan National Stadium.
A, I feel that we have been well prepared since practice. The members who played in the Kawasaki Frontale match are using this time for recovery, but I want to select the members while checking the players' physical and condition aspects.
Q, What is your impression of Urawa Reds when you play against them in a pre-season match?
A, we have also faced them in practice matches and have thoroughly analyzed them, so we understand their basic playing style. It is important how well we can implement our own way of playing against Urawa. And we want to make it a game where we score many goals.
Q, What did you share at the meeting for the Urawa game?
We mainly looked back on the Kawasaki game and gave feedback to the team, and talked about improving our team performance in order to become even better. As for the Kawasaki game, it was a game where we wanted to express plays that would be more threatening to the opponent in the attacking aspect..We were able to create good opportunities, but in the Urawa game, we want to be more threatening to the opponent with plays that lead to goals.On the attacking side, we want to be sharper overall. We want to improve for the Urawa game.
Q, how is the defense?
A, There are several points that need correction, but in the match against Kawasaki, there were also periods when we played with 10 men, which made it a difficult time for the team. We want to leverage the defensive foundation that the team has built and encourage it to be reflected in our performance.
[Player Interview]
Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
Q, the Tama River Clasico against Kawasaki Frontale ended in a disappointing result.
A, I have been away from the starting lineup throughout the league matches, but regardless of my situation, it is truly frustrating not to have won. There is no doubt that the team had a good feeling after the victory against Avispa Fukuoka, and even in the Kawasaki match, before the sending-off, we were losing 0-1 but had several chances. I want to contribute to breaking through the situation of having only one win since the start of the season and help secure victories.
Q, There is a high possibility that Nozawa will defend the goal in this match. How do you feel about the current image and the upcoming game, and how do you plan to prepare for the activities of the U-23 Japan national team afterwards?
A, being selected as a member of the Japan national team for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 and securing a spot in the Olympics are, of course, very important milestones in my career. However, first and foremost, there is a match right in front of me where I must fight as a player of Tokyo, for Tokyo. I want to win—that feeling is very strong. If I get the chance to play in this round’s match against the Urawa Reds or Sunday’s match against the Kashima Antlers, I want to contribute to the team’s victory. I believe that fighting for the team now will lead to greater things ahead. This has been my mindset even in the matches where I started on the bench, and regardless of whether I play or not, my thought is always, “Everything is for the victory.”
Q, especially during the Fukuoka match, the voice and behavior of player Nozawa, which can be heard from the bench, and his expression after the game, were impressive as they were closely linked to what he had just said.
A, I have been organizing my thoughts and preparing for the match. Each player has their own way of supporting the team, but as I mentioned earlier, even if I cannot play in the match, I always try to act with the team’s victory in mind. When the opportunity to play comes my way, I simply express that feeling through my performance.
Q, I think there were a lot of things to absorb in a short period of time, such as the selection of the Japan national team and the activities of the U-23 Japan national team. Please tell us your enthusiasm for the upcoming national team matches as you join the Tokyo activities again and have time to organize.
A, Although I was unable to play in the AFC Asian Cup as a member of the Japan national team due to poor condition, and even after rejoining Tokyo’s activities I had been away from official matches, I have truly gained a lot of learning and experience over these past few months. I have experienced both good times and difficult moments, and precisely because I played in many matches last season, my desire and hunger to contribute to the team by playing in matches now has grown stronger. There were some senses that had dulled from being away from match play, but I feel I have regained them in the recent match against Mali and the game against Kawasaki. I cannot afford to spend too long in an adjustment period, and with the two consecutive matches at the National Stadium right ahead, I want to step onto the pitch confidently without wasting energy.
<Ryotaro ARAKI>
Q, This season, you have scored 4 goals in the league since the opening, and also showed your presence in the U-23 national team for the first time in 2 years. How do you analyze your good form?
A, I am not doing anything special; I believe it is the accumulation of what I have done so far. I think the results are showing because I have continued to work consistently. I was called up to the U-23 Japan national team activities for the first time in a while, and I believe I was able to clearly demonstrate my own play in the match against Ukraine. Although I couldn’t leave a result, I felt a sense of accomplishment in actively aiming for the goal and getting to the point of taking shots. It was a short period of national team activities, but I believe I was able to show my presence.
Q, Joined Tokyo on a temporary transfer from Kashima Antlers, please tell us about your goals and themes for this season.
A, In terms of numerical goals, I want to achieve double digits combining goals and assists. What I impose on myself and the theme I have set is, of course, to score goals and provide assists in attack, but I am also conscious of becoming the starting point of the attack, and especially this season, I am particular about the quality of that play. There were times when I couldn't participate in matches, but I believe that continuing without wavering from my own axis and style of play has led to the current results, and without being satisfied with the current situation, I want to contribute even more to the team's victories through goals and assists.
Q, in Tokyo, you are playing as an attacking midfielder or forward, leading the team's attack. What kind of role are you expected to play within the team?
A, When receiving the ball in the midfield position, I am expected to carry the ball toward the goal, pass it to the players on the sides, and make runs into the area in front of the goal myself. As I mentioned earlier, I focus on being the starting point of the attack and activating the offensive players through my play to create goal-scoring opportunities.
Q, With the national event, it is expected that more fans and supporters will gather than usual. Please share your enthusiasm for the game with those supporters.
A, I will do my best to score goals and help the team win in the special space of the Japan National Stadium. To all the fans and supporters, please continue your passionate support this match as well.
