<Last Match Review: 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. It seems that the feeling of frustration occupied his mind that much.
With 2 wins and 1 loss since the opening, this was an away game approached with a lead in victories. Utilizing sharp counters as a weapon, they created chances multiple times from the start. In the midfield, Takahiro KO and Kento HASHIMOTO, who made his first start after transferring, actively showed themselves to receive passes from the back line, and there were many moments where they built attacks while taking care of the ball.
However, the finishes just won't go in. 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 after a coordinated press from a high position, narrowly missed to the right of the goal. Each player showcased their strengths and created good chances, but they continued 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 team is even. The blue-red squad, 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 missing them, resulting in a frustrating defeat. In the team meeting at the beginning of the week, where strategic reflections are usually conducted, the focus of the coach was on finishing decisively. Coach MATSUHASHI stated, "Of course, it is important to be particular about the content, and we have been working on building a solid foundation from the back, but this time we focused on how to achieve results and connect it to our victory. That is the most important thing. If we want to move up, we need to finish this properly."
The team has been able to execute fast-paced 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 of the season 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 opening, 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 that has successfully made a strong start. In addition to their traditional weapon 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 producing 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 three consecutive matches since the opening, which used 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, how to manage the pressure from the opponent who will bring numbers to the front line and control the inside halves 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 football while achieving results. This game must be one where we firmly defeat Shonan at our home Ajinomoto Stadium.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q: What preparations have you made for the upcoming match against Shonan Bellmare, maintaining good form since the last match?
A: Since Shonan is a team maintaining good form, we definitely want to secure a victory. Looking only at the result of the last match, it was just a loss, but if we had simply finished the chances we created, the outcome might have been different. Taking that into account, if we want to move up, we must finish decisively. I think the same applies to the Shonan match. It is important to firmly convert the chances we create.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Shonan.
A: Even last season, they developed a strong competitive edge, and through continuous refinement, what they worked on has become deeply ingrained, making the team highly complete. The players appear to play with confidence. It seems that each player's strengths are fully demonstrated. In addition to that, their stability and the reproducibility of what the team wants to do have also improved. Therefore, preventing them from playing freely and not losing in individual matchups will likely determine the outcome of the match.
Q: The time we are holding the ball and pushing into the opponent's territory has been increasing. Is it ideal to maintain that state for a longer period?
A: Regarding the match against Shonan, naturally, by doing that, there are parts where we also allow the opponent’s strengths to come out. Shonan’s counterattacks after winning the ball are extremely sharp. I think there will be moments when we need to let them have the ball to prevent that from happening. When we are in a good state, it’s important to change our tactics and approaches. That kind of strategic play is crucial. Of course, as a team, we want to firmly control the ball, break down the opponent within that possession, and score goals. There may be times when the opponent holds the ball, but conversely, we aim to finish them off with counters. Both sides might have similar intentions, so improving the precision of those actions is important.
[Player Interview]
<Takahiro KO>
Q, Please review the previous section.
A: It was a match where the result would have changed if we had been able to firmly score in the scenes where we should have. Including the first half, I felt a good response on the pitch, and the number of ball recoveries and chances has been increasing since the opening game. I feel the accumulation as a team, and I want to continue to level up. As Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI also mentioned, if we don’t finish our chances, we cannot break into the top ranks. I want to play with even more commitment in the match against Shonan Bellmare.
Q: It seems that the positioning of the defensive midfielder is gradually being adjusted in both offense and defense.
A, In the previous match, the opponent used a 4-4-2 system, which naturally created some gaps. Even though we, the defensive midfielders, did not drop back to the defensive line, we had a numerical advantage with three defenders against their two forwards, so I deliberately held back from dropping deep to receive the ball and focused on receiving it in the center. This match is against Shonan, and of course their system will change, so I want to create effective gaps on the pitch. Although I have never partnered with Kento HASHIMOTO as a defensive midfielder in training or practice matches, we communicated well on the pitch and were able to play in good harmony. I hope we can continue to bring out the best in each other going forward.
Q: This match is against Shonan, who have been performing well since the league started.
A: They are a wonderful team, and since last season, I have really felt the unity with which Shonan sticks to their style and plays with confidence whenever we face them. We lost the home game last season, so we definitely want to repay that. For us as well, we want to accumulate 3 points here and break into the top ranks, and I believe we cannot afford to lose consecutive home games.
<Kanta DOI>
Q: Although you did not participate in the match, how did you observe the previous match from the bench?
A: As a team, we created many chances, but we failed to convert them and conceded a goal late in the game. From a defender's perspective, I think it is necessary to be the starting point for creating chances, increase the number of those opportunities, and manage the game without conceding any goals. I want to play with a stronger commitment to keeping a clean sheet.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Shonan Bellmare.
A: I feel they are in good form, and there have been many goals created with forwards Fukuda and Akito SUZUKI serving as the starting points of the attack. As a team, we want to prevent them from playing freely, and including the marking handovers, we aim to flexibly respond to their side attacks by communicating with each other on the pitch.
Q: What preparations has the team made this week?
A: The opponent excels in ball movement and coordination, so we have organized the key points the team needs to align on, such as defensive positioning and marking responsibilities against their build-up. In the previous match, we conceded a goal following a set-piece sequence. Through team meetings, we have felt confident in confirming and correcting these issues. To make our defensive intensity a strength as a team, we want to approach the Shonan match with a high level of awareness.
