Match Preview
The enemy in front of you is the strongest enemy.
The words that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI focused on for the players the day before the match against Nara Club contain everything.
The 2025 J League YBC Levain Cup will kick off on March 20. This season, the tournament format has changed to include all 60 J League clubs, and J1 clubs will participate starting from the 1st Round. Tokyo's first match will be against Nara Club from the J3 League. They will start the tournament by heading to the away Rohto Field Nara.
The tournament from the 1st Round to the 3rd Round is a knockout competition where the outcome is decided in a single match. It is also a tournament where lower-tier clubs are likely to achieve 'giant killings' against higher-ranked teams, but Coach Matsuhashi showed no signs of complacency and urged the players to adopt a one-match, one-victory mindset. That is the essence of the opening words.
"This will be a truly important match, just like a league game. The category of the opponent doesn't matter at all, and looking at the history, there have been many instances where teams from a higher category have lost. I want to approach this with a really flat perspective."
This is an important match for us to truly become a better team, regardless of whether we are the stronger or weaker side. The coach emphasizes, "If we think from the start that we are facing a J3 team, we will definitely trip ourselves up. That kind of mentality is not acceptable. It is crucial to position ourselves properly in this regard." Given that the team is currently in a tough situation with three consecutive matches without scoring in the league, this match is also an opportunity to secure a victory and build momentum for the future.
While fresh player selections are being considered, Coach Matsuhashi explained to the players that "the idea of turnover is not something that has been there from the beginning." He has made it clear that player selection will take into account various factors, including the players' conditions and their playing time so far. Many players are eager for playing opportunities, and since the coach himself is looking for a style of football that remains unchanged regardless of who plays, attention is also focused on who will show what kind of performance here.
The blue-red battle for the 'Holy Grail' of J starts with an away game against Nara. Although it marks the opening of a new tournament, the team's commitment to steadily build up each match remains unchanged. This is what will lead to the league and the team's bright future. I hope you will witness this important match, where the coach and players approach it with a determination to win every battle.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q: There are four days between the match against Avispa Fukuoka and the next league match. What kind of player selection will you make?
The match against Nara Club is an important first game in the Levain Cup, and with four days in between, the players who participated in the Fukuoka match can prepare for this game. We will utilize this period to rest some players and consider various factors for selection.
Q: Are there any players you would like to utilize in this match?
A, the idea of turnover has not been in my mind from the beginning. Of course, when I look at the members participating in the match, there is a possibility that players have been swapped. I would like to decide based on past efforts, playing time, and opportunities, but the most important thing is whether they can maintain a good condition from daily training.
Q: Please tell us your impression of the Nara Club you will be competing against.
A team that builds the game while valuing the ball, and I have the impression that they are trying various challenges during the match. We want to approach this match with the same mindset as in the league, and I believe that the difference in categories is completely irrelevant. Looking at the history of past tournaments, there have been many matches where teams from higher categories have lost. However, I want to focus not on the perspective of 'we must not let it be such a match,' but rather on the idea of 'approaching this match from the same viewpoint.'
Q: It seemed that we struggled against the defense that pressed us from the front in the Fukuoka match.
Of course, there are technical aspects, but I felt that there were parts that needed to be changed boldly and clearly, including our positioning. I have regrets about not being able to express this clearly, but I want to ensure that we do not repeat the same mistakes by properly incorporating it into our training. As a team, I want us to prepare well and approach the next match with balance.
[Player Interview]
<Player Kei Sato>
Q: The match against Avispa Fukuoka ended in a disappointing result, and we are far from victory. What improvements are necessary?
ASince the start of the J1 League, the team's understanding of the style of football the coach is trying to implement has deepened, and I feel that we are gradually growing. However, if we don't complete it quickly, the results will not follow, so I think it is important to get closer to completion as soon as possible. There is a reality that the forwards are not scoring. I believe that the forwards, including myself, need to score and make it a winning team.
Q: What do you think is necessary to break through the current situation where we are not scoring?
A, I feel that there are not enough decisive plays in front of the goal. With many teams setting up blocks, I believe it is necessary to take strong and aggressive shots even when entering the attacking third. While it is important to break through beautifully, it is meaningless if we become too fixated on that and fail to score. I think it is important to have the attitude of aiming for the goal, even in a messy way.
Q, Nara Club is a team that belongs to the J3 League. I think they will come with considerable motivation as they will be facing clubs from the J1 League.
A, no one is letting their guard down, and the coach mentioned that the enemy in front of us is the strongest enemy. It doesn't matter which category the opponent belongs to; we have no intention of changing our fighting style, and I believe that if we can showcase what we have been doing in the match, we will definitely win. I think the opponent will come at us with considerable momentum, but if we can approach the match with even greater momentum, I believe we will definitely win.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q: With many opportunities to play in matches, how do you want to contribute to the team with your play?
I wanted to participate since the league started, but I fell behind. It took some time, but I believe the opportunity to play in official matches is coming, so I want to prepare well. Depending on who I partner with and the players in nearby positions, the required plays and positioning will change. Although I am a defensive player, I want to contribute with plays that lead to good attacks, and I want to understand the opponent's plays and situations well to build from the back.
Q: The team has gone three official matches without a victory.
Yes, while victory is important, we have been unable to score, so I believe that the most important thing is for the team to secure goals. I want to achieve a solid victory and carry that good momentum into the league matches. First, I want to focus on winning against Nara Club and ensuring that the team scores effectively.
Q: This is a knockout tournament where upsets are likely to happen. Please tell us the point you are most aware of when facing Nara.
I think scoring early in the game is important. If we can't score and the match progresses, we can become stretched and unable to play as we want, leading to time slipping away while we are under pressure from the opponent. We want to avoid conceding the first goal at all costs, and in a knockout tournament, I believe the key is how quickly we can score the first goal. I want to support the build-up from the back so that the forwards can launch good attacks.
