Match Preview
"An opportunity to take one step closer to the cup. We want to choose players who can win by playing our own football."
The battle for the top resumes. Amid a packed schedule, coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI is also burning with the desire for victory in the upcoming matches.
J.League YBC Levain Cup 1st Round 3rd Round, invading the home of Away Tosu. The tournament format has changed to a knockout system starting this season, and the 1st Round will determine the winner in one match. First of all, we want to win here and advance to the playoff round, which will be played in a home and away format.
Tokyo, who faced Y.S.C.C. Yokohama away in the 2nd round, took the lead in the 13th minute with Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA's first blue and red goal, and added points with Riki HARAKAWA's right foot and Keita ENDO's accurate shot. Goalkeeper Tsuyoshi KODAMA, who made his first appearance of the season, showed off his technical skills by participating in the build-up, and the team displayed an attacking style. Although there were some dangerous scenes from counters, the defense fought hard and did not concede any goals. In additional time of the second half, Jája Silva tore through the center of the pitch with a powerful dribble and smashed a spectacular right footed shot, securing a 4-0 victory and advancing to the 3rd round.
In the league matches, we have not won in 3 games and are far from victory, but it is a fact that we are able to make adjustments during the game and see how to break through the situation. Although we have been unable to win consecutive games during Golden Week and have had some games where we couldn't finish with a win, individual performances have not been bad. It is expected that player selection will be based on monitoring their recovery status during consecutive matches, but regardless of who takes the field, Tokyo this season is able to combine their strengths. The performances of the players who have been given the opportunity to play are highly anticipated.
Sagan Tosu, on the other hand, suffered a shutout loss to Nagoya Grampus in the previous league match, but had a big win of 3-0 against Júbilo Iwata in Sec. 13 and 5-2 against Kawasaki Frontale in Sec. 14. Despite their low ranking of 17th in the league, caution is necessary as they have shown a high scoring ability in the past few matches. In addition, Tosu's coach Kenta Kujira has experience working as an assistant coach under Peter Cklamovski, who is now the coach of Montedio Yamagata. It will be interesting to see the tactics of these two former colleagues who once shared a love for soccer.
For Tokyo, Away Tosu has a bad compatibility with 5 consecutive losses in official games since October 2019. This season, they have broken through the traditional "devil's gate" of Fukuoka and Sapporo, so they want to break the past trend and get closer to winning the cup here as well.
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, it will be a consecutive game, what do you think about the team composition?
A, I will make a decision while observing how the recovery goes. On Tuesday morning, after receiving updates, I will finalize the members and then head out after practice. However, the important thing is that this is a League Cup match and an opportunity for us to get closer to the cup, so I will choose a team that can perform well and win.
Q, The coach of Sagan Tosu is Mr. Kenta KAWAI, who worked together during his time at Montedio Yamagata.
A, he is a good coach and is doing a great job, and Tosu is also a good team. We want to be able to perform at our maximum capacity. It will be a tough away game, but we will prepare well and aim to compete in every aspect.
Q, On May 31st (Fri) of the following week, we will have a league match against Tosu at the same venue. Do you take into consideration anything when playing against the same team in a short period of time?
A, I focus on one match at a time. The current situation reflects the team's present condition. I don't think anything will change just because a particular match is coming up. Our mentality is simply to continue playing our football while growing. And to keep improving. We will fight to overcome the match against Tosu and then move forward. Next, we have the league match against Gamba Osaka, so we will prepare in the same way, and then prepare for the following league match against Tosu... It is important to prepare for each match in this manner. That is what we value the most.
Q, there have been no victories in the last 3 games, but how do you feel about the team's performance?
A, I believe that the content is the most important thing. Some may say, "There have been no wins in the last three games." In one of those three games, we had to play for a long time with one player less. What I need to do is focus on what we must continue to improve and develop. I am concentrating on what steps we need to take to reach the place we want to go. The same goes for our performance. I believe we have produced significant evidence that we are heading in the right direction and moving toward success. However, there are still areas we need to improve. Regarding these three games, I think the matches showed proof that we are moving in the right direction and growing.
Q, Yokohama F.Marinos match was a game where Tokyo showed a clear attitude of continuously aiming for the next point.
A, It was a match from which we gained a lot. The opponent was also a very good team, and it was an opportunity to show how much we could do against such a team. There were periods when we had to fight through difficulties. However, from the end of the first half, we were able to play football that the opponent couldn’t stop, and although we didn’t win there, I believe we created enough chances to win. This was because both teams fought aggressively. It was very disappointing that the result didn’t come, but we were able to create scenes worthy of victory. With this one point, I want to further refine what is important for us to become the team we dream of. It was a match that showed the great potential and what we can do. Also, there are still areas that need improvement. We gained a lot to move forward and want to head into the next match with that momentum.
[Player Interview]
＜Jája Silva＞
Q, I scored my first goal since joining in the previous Levain Cup match.
A, I was able to score my first goal for Tokyo in the previous match against Y.S.C.C. Yokohama, and my motivation is very high as we approach the Levain Cup. Since it is a tournament-style competition, we absolutely cannot afford to lose. We definitely want to win and advance to the next stage, and I want to contribute to the team with plays that involve scoring.
Q, I think that depending on the position you play, you are often required to have a high defensive intensity.
A, I believe that in modern soccer, even forwards are required to have defensive intensity and tactical understanding. I want to firmly contribute not only in attack but also in the defensive aspects that Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI demands and that the team must express on the pitch.
Q, We play in various positions such as center and side depending on the game, but how do you want to activate the attack?
A, I am most comfortable playing in the left wing position, but if the team needs me, I have no major problem playing in the center or right positions. As long as it is an attacking position, I believe that contributing to victory through goals or assists is the most important thing.
<Kosuke SHIRAI>
Q, What kind of performance do you want to show for the Sagan Tosu match?
A, The Levain Cup is a knockout tournament format, unlike the league matches, so my primary focus is on the result of winning rather than the content of the game. Within that, I want to leverage my sprinting ability, which is my strength, and work hard both offensively and defensively.
Q, Yuto NAGATOMO had a great performance in the Yokohama F.Marinos match. What kind of inspiration did you receive?
A, Nagatomo's goal and performance were very inspiring as a player in the same position, and it has also fueled my own ambition even more. Personally, I feel that I have been able to maintain good form, and by competing with Nagatomo, I believe we are both in a good condition where either of us can deliver our best performance on the pitch. I want to continue this current situation.
Q, Playing on the right wing from the second half in the Nagoya Grampus and Yokohama FM matches. Please tell me what you are conscious of when playing in the previous position.
A, Since it is an attacking position, I am consciously focused on actively occupying the space behind the opponent, and when the build-up or crosses come from the opposite side, I make a point of rushing into the area in front of the goal. This season, our team has been able to express scoring through breaking down defenses and attacks that utilize combinations, so I want to aim for goals and assists in line with those movements.
