<Review of the Previous Match vs 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 8, and aiming for the first consecutive win of the season, they faced Shimizu S-Pulse at Ajinomoto Stadium. However, with the opponent forced to adopt a makeshift 4-2-3-1 system due to injuries the day before the match, 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 strong 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 conceded, which was converted, resulting in a painful goal just before the end of the first half.
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 frustrating 0-2 defeat.
Match 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 eye contact 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 unified intent. 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 suffered a counterattack themselves and conceded an additional goal, leading to a difficult defeat.
Three days since the last match. Amid a congested schedule, there is limited time to spend on training to make sufficient adjustments for this match, but it will be a game where everyone must once again firmly 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, differentiating between 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 attack." We reaffirmed the importance of real-time communication to align our perspectives, and we must all move forward together. Positive calls seeking each other on the pitch will surely propel 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 games. In the previous match, they defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0.
For Rikizo MATSUHASHI as 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, 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 the long series of consecutive games that started in late March. Overcoming the congested schedule, we want to transform the challenges and positive signs we have felt into tangible "results," and by bringing back 3 points from this away game, we aim 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 style of play that included using long balls. Is it necessary to also work on "resetting the needle" as the coach mentioned?
A: I think it depends on how it is used. Using long balls to launch attacks is by no means "bad," nor are short passes inherently "good." It is important to use them appropriately according to the situation. However, I believe we need to quickly communicate to the entire team which way our needle is swinging.
Q, the match against Albirex Niigata, whom you coached until last season, is coming up.
A. I think they are a team going through a tough situation just like us, and I also believe that their momentum can increase with just one trigger. There is nothing special about this match alone; 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 was able to spend truly wonderful time there, and it was the first team I had the honor to lead as a coach. Starting with the growth of the club and each individual player, I myself was also able to grow. There is no doubt that it is a club with special meaning to me.
Q: As a coach in Tokyo, how do you feel about leading the team at DENKA BIG SWAN STADIUM?
A. I expect there will be quite a lot of boos coming my way. Once we’re fighting, it doesn’t matter whether it’s my former club or anything else. For me personally, I’m 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 reconsider what I can do for the team. Rikizo MATSUHASHI often says that it is important to prove "who you are" and how much you can fight for the team to win. The whole team and the coach also talked in meetings about staying on course without wavering, so I think we just have to trust that and keep going. On the pitch, I want to adapt flexibly by observing the opponent. Whether to kick the ball or to connect passes, rather than leaning toward one side, I hope to make the best choices within a good balance to score goals and defend.
Q: We missed out on a winning streak, so this time we must avoid a losing streak.
A. I believe that winning is what builds the most confidence. This applies to the entire team, but I also think that personally, winning can help me regain momentum once again. Since we missed out on a winning streak last time, this time I want to make sure we secure a victory that will serve as a turning point for advancing to the top ranks.
Q. Please tell us your impression of Albirex Niigata.
A. They are a team that excels in ball possession, and that is something the entire team acknowledges. We won last season as well, but there were times when they controlled the ball. We need to firmly accept that and be patient, but rather than just retreating gradually, I think we must defend proactively ourselves. Physically, it would be difficult to go all out all the time, so if we set up a block considering the timing, everyone must defend with the goal in mind, working backwards. It was the same last season, but I believe there will be chances to strike decisively, so we want to aim for those opportunities.
Q: During Golden Week, many fans and supporters are expected to attend 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 we have grown. Last season, whenever we had the ball, we were booed (laughs). That atmosphere might happen again, but I want to firmly show our fighting spirit for Tokyo and our determination to earn the three 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 style of play from the outside, there were parts that were not going well and scenes where things didn’t mesh properly. First, we need to organize those issues before entering the match, and above all, each player must excel in the basic aspects compared to the opponent.
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’s not that the style of launching attacks by kicking long balls to the front line, like in the matches against Gamba Osaka and Shimizu S-Pulse, is bad, but since we aim for a style that values possession, we shouldn’t rely solely on that kind of play. First, it’s important to carefully observe the opponent and think about which positions to move into to play. Communication where surrounding players use their voices to reposition teammates into better spots will be a key point.
Q, This week's opponent is Albirex Niigata, whose defensive style differs from Shimizu in the previous match.
A. If the opponent is based on aggressive defense, simply targeting the forward players to launch attacks is also an effective option. Choosing to play long balls is not inherently wrong; as long as those balls connect to teammates and allow us to initiate the next phase of play, there is no problem. It’s not about "in the end, we’re just kicking the ball," but rather, even with longer balls, we want to play with a shared understanding that it is part of connecting passes and valuing possession. By mixing long and short balls, I believe the opponent’s defense will gradually find it harder to make decisions. I think it’s best if we can play as a team while observing the opponent and probing their weak points.
