This will be my first match personally against FC Machida Zelvia. Their style is simply to aim for the goal, 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 Machida’s attacking key, the wing backs. I want to fully demonstrate my performance so that the team can control the match advantageously.
Machida has young and energetic player Mochizuki and offensively strong player Soma. As a team, if we can successfully shut them down and control them, I believe we will definitely have chances to influence the match. It is important for us to maintain an advantage in the game by not allowing the opponent’s wing backs, who play a major role in both offense and defense, to easily carry out their tasks.
As a team, we have faced teams that use a three-back formation before, such as Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Fagiano Okayama. In those matches, we have not only confronted them head-on with a four-back formation but have also increased our options during the game by changing our positioning and pressing the opponent to prevent their wing-backs from taking advanced positions. We want to carefully assess as a team from which areas the opponent applies pressure and adapt our tactics according to the flow of the match.
The team is in a very good mood after securing a well-earned 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 I can carry this good form into the upcoming matches.
From here, we will face Machida in consecutive matches in the league and the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round, but personally, I am not particularly focused on or consciously thinking about just these consecutive matches. First, I hope that by securing 3 points with a good team performance in the league match on the 9th, we can 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, on a personal note, I am looking forward to facing Machida’s coach Kuroda, who took care of me during my time at Aomori Yamada High School. He nurtured me when I was a completely unknown player up until junior high, and I believe it is thanks to him that I was selected for the youth national teams. He is also a mentor to me, and while it feels strange to compete against him on the professional stage, I definitely want to win.
First, I 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 them.
Actually, this will be my first time playing at the Japan National Stadium, so I’m personally really looking forward to it. The first Tokyo match I watched after returning to Tokyo was the Hiroshima game held at the Japan National Stadium, so I want to overwrite that frustrating memory. Please expect an exciting match. We will definitely win.
