It may be a 9-day period where we can say, "This was the turning point," when this season ends.
Three consecutive matches against the three clubs participating in the AFC Champions League, Yokohama F.Marinos, Vissel Kobe, and Urawa Reds. The schedule is tough, but it is also tough to have consecutive matches against top league teams and cup title holders from last season.
First of all, tomorrow we will play against Yokohama FM on enemy territory. The memories of when we played on enemy territory last season are something that no one involved with this club will forget. However, Tokyo has welcomed Albert Puig Ortoneda as the coach this season and is working on a new style under a new concept. It would be uncouth to bring up the idea of revenge from last season. Instead, let's imagine how the new Tokyo team, facing the 2nd place team from last season, will fight. Rather than having a negative mindset, let's look forward to the potential for change and enjoy imagining the outcome of this match.
Tactical highlights can be found in soccer writer Satoshi Hojo's preview article "ACL Participating Team's 3 Consecutive Matches: "A Battle of Similarities". Both teams share the belief in intense pressing and ball possession from the front line.
As Tokyo creates chances with intense pressing and short counters, Yokohama FM also has fast players lined up in the front line, ready to quickly finish off the opponent on the counter. In particular, the performance of the players in the wing position will likely hold the key to the battle for dominance. For Yokohama FM, players such as Elber and Teruhito Nakagawa, and for Tokyo, Adailton and Kazuya Konno, it will be important to see how much they can get involved with the ball and how well they can work in positions close to the opponent's goal.
In addition, in terms of efficiently using the players on the front line, it will also be important for Tokyo to determine at which position in the midfield they can win the ball in order to influence the flow of the game. Utilizing the strength and speed of players such as Shuto ABE and Kuryu MATSUKI in the physical battles, they will aim to win the ball as close to the opponent's goal as possible and fully utilize the attacking abilities of Adailton and Konno.
In Tokyo, there is a time when they cannot connect the ball well within 90 minutes and there are waves in expressing the new style. In terms of team completion, it seems that Yokohama FM, which is entering its second season under the command of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, has an advantage. On the other hand, if they can defeat one of the league's top attacking teams while rapidly improving in just over two and a half months since Terry took over as coach, they will gain a great deal of confidence.
To accelerate growth, we want to bring back as many points as possible from Yokohama.
