<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, Shonan is a team that is maintaining good form, so we want to secure a solid victory. In the last match, if you only look at the result, it was just a loss, but if we had simply converted the chances we had, the outcome might have been different. However, considering that, if we want to move up, we need to make sure we convert our chances. I think the same applies to the match against Shonan. It is important to decisively finish the chances we create.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Shonan.
A, I have the impression that while developing competitiveness last season and working on improvements, it has become very refined as a team, becoming second nature. The players seem to be playing with confidence. I feel that each player's strengths are being fully showcased. Additionally, the stability and reproducibility of what the team wants to achieve have also increased. Therefore, I believe that not allowing individuals to lose in one-on-one situations will influence the match results.
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?
Regarding the match against Shonan, there are certainly aspects where doing that can bring out the opponent's strengths. Shonan is very sharp on the counterattack after regaining possession of the ball. I think there will be times when we need to allow them to have the ball to prevent that from happening. When we are in good form, we need to change our approach and tactics. I believe that this kind of strategy is important. Of course, as a team, we want to firmly hold onto the ball and break down the opponent to score within that context. There may be times when the opponent has possession, but we can turn that around and capitalize on the counterattack. Since both teams may have similar objectives, I think it is important to enhance the precision of our plays.
[Player Interview]
<Takahiro KO>
Q, Please review the previous section.
If we can score decisively in crucial moments, the result of the match could have been different. I felt a good response on the pitch, including the first half, and the recovery of the ball and the number of chances have been increasing since the opening match. I feel the accumulation as a team, and I want to continue to level up. As Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI mentioned, if we don't capitalize on our chances, we won't be able to break into the top ranks. I want to play with more determination against Shonan Bellmare as well.
Q: It seems that the positioning of the defensive midfielder is gradually being adjusted in both offense and defense.
In the last match, the opponent used a 4-4-2 system, which inevitably created some gaps. Our defensive midfielders didn't need to drop back to the defense line, as we had a numerical advantage with three defenders against their two forwards. Therefore, we consciously held back from dropping deep and focused on receiving the ball in the center. This week, we are up against Shonan, and of course, their system will change, so I want to create good gaps on the pitch. I had never partnered with Kento HASHIMOTO in practice or practice matches, but we were able to communicate well on the pitch and play in a good relationship. I hope we can continue to bring out each other's strengths in the future.
Q: This match is against Shonan, who have been performing well since the league started.
A, it's a wonderful team, and I felt a strong sense of unity when we faced Shonan, as they have been playing confidently while sticking to their style since last season. We lost in last season's home game, and I want to repay that debt. We also want to accumulate 3 points here and push into the top ranks, and I believe that losing consecutive home games is not acceptable.
<Kanta DOI>
Q: Although you did not participate in the match, how did you observe the previous match from the bench?
A, there were many scenes where the team created chances, but we ended up conceding a goal in the final stages without finishing them. From a defender's perspective, I believe it is necessary to be the starting point for creating chances, to increase that frequency, and to manage the game without conceding. I hope we can play with more commitment to keeping a clean sheet.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Shonan Bellmare.
I feel good about our condition, and there have been many goals created from the attacks initiated by Fukuda and Akito SUZUKI in the front line. As a team, we want to ensure that we don't allow them to play freely, and I hope to respond flexibly on the pitch while communicating with each other about marking responsibilities and caring for the opponent's side attacks.
Q: What preparations has the team made this week?
A, the opponent excels in ball movement and coordination, so we organized the points that the team should align on regarding defensive positioning and passing in response to their build-up. In the last match, we conceded a goal from a set piece situation. Through team meetings, we feel we have been able to confirm and correct our approach. To make the high intensity of our defense a weapon for the team, we want to approach the Shonan match with a high level of awareness.
