Match Review & Preview

Review of the Previous Match Against JEF United Chiba

The second game of a three-match away stretch where we must firmly seek results to connect our strong season start to the title race. As Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI said the day before the match, "It will be an all-out battle," FC Tokyo changed six starting players from the previous match to face this game.

Fresh players sent out due to the congested schedule including a midweek match came alive on the pitch at Fukuda Denshi Arena. The entire team showed intense battles for the ball and quick transitions between offense and defense, overwhelming the opponent.

Among them, Motoki NAGAKURA, starting for the first time this season as a defensive midfielder, functioned as a key pillar in both offense and defense alongside Kouta TOKIWA. With outstanding stamina, he was involved in both attack and defense, implementing a new build-up style where the two alternately dropped back to the last line, and also realized a flexible system close to a 4-3-3 with timely forward runs. Similarly, Teruhito NAKAGAWA, also starting for the first time this season, combined well with Motoki NAGAKURA in a two-forward setup, receiving the ball in midfield at just the right timing and acting as the lubricant for the attack, with the first half proceeding entirely at Tokyo's pace.

The game changed in the 26th minute of the first half. Keita ENDO broke through with a dribble, and Tokiwa took a mid-range shot. The ball hit the opponent's hand, and after VAR support, a penalty was awarded. Alexander SCHOLZ calmly converted this chance, giving Tokyo the opening goal.

In the second half, Chiba pushed hard to make a comeback, briefly taking control of the flow, and in the 34th minute, they capitalized on a loose ball from a long ball play to equalize. However, the painful lessons learned from conceding goals immediately after scoring in the opening match and the previous game led to a lightning-fast go-ahead goal here.

On the right side, Leon NOZAWA received a strong pass from Keito SATO, smoothly controlled the ball forward, and broke through vertically. Ryunosuke SATO, running in from behind, powerfully struck the return ball with his right foot to score the go-ahead goal. Once again, Tokyo took a step forward.

Making his first appearance of the season, Nozawa, who was told by Coach Matsuhashi, "Sorry to keep you waiting," reflected with a smile, "Last season, despite being patient and given chances, I felt sorry for making him say that. I stepped onto the pitch wanting to turn Riki-san's 'sorry' into 'thank you.' I wanted to play carrying the hopes of many people on my shoulders, so I’m glad I was able to deliver a result."

For Ryunosuke Sato, who scored the goal, it was a crucial strike following a situation where his recent loss of possession had led to a conceded goal. With determination, he said, "I ran toward the goal with more passion than usual. I felt I had to make up for it," and with that fighting spirit, he netted the invaluable winning goal that brought victory to the team.

In added time of the second half, there was a moment when the opponent hit the post with a clear chance, but Tokyo’s players each fully demonstrated their strengths in both offense and defense to secure a 2-1 victory. As a result, with 6 wins and 1 loss including 3 wins in penalty shootouts, they extended their points to 15 and rose to 2nd place in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Concept League EAST Group.

This Week's Preview

Immediately after securing victory against JEF United Chiba, passionate chants for the next match echoed from the blue-red family gathered behind the goal. Those feelings have firmly reached the players' hearts, with an intensity that surpasses even the lyrics they heard.

Academy-trained player Kouta Tokiwa says, "We absolutely cannot lose to Verdy. But that expression could also include a draw. So I definitely want to win. We have to win this match."

In the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Concept League EAST Group, FC Tokyo sits in 2nd place, 4 points behind the leader after Sec. 7. Coming off consecutive wins in a crucial three-match away stretch this season, they now face an away match against Tokyo Verdy. This is a major showdown at Ajinomoto Stadium, where pride and determination are on the line. To keep pace with the top-ranked Kashima Antlers, this is an important match that FC Tokyo absolutely must win.

In the previous match against Chiba, a new build-up was showcased where the defensive midfielder dropped back to the last line. Coach Matsuhashi, who has demanded the team adapt their style according to the opponent’s approach, has added yet another weapon to the team. The possession game now includes more patterns to evade the opponent’s press, combined with sharp counters exploiting the space behind, direct plays to break down blocks, and overall, the team has evolved to display flexible soccer based on precise situational judgment. This is not for the sake of tactics alone, but ultimately for goals, victories, and aiming for the championship. With a clear objective set, both the coach and players are aligned in their focus. This alignment is the greatest strength the current team possesses.

This match is one that we absolutely must win. Against Tokyo V, who are characterized by their hard work from the front line, the key point of the battle will be how we can break the "arrows" they aim at us. Coach Matsuhashi commented on the opponent's style, saying, "We are fully aware of that. They are a very aggressive team, and you can really see the color of Coach Hiroshi JOFUKU in them. We want to firmly bring out what we have and what we have prepared." This is the third match of the three consecutive away games. Riding the momentum of fresh players performing well in the Chiba match, we are required to go all out again this time to seize victory.

Also, Ryunosuke SATO was selected as the only domestic field player for the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national team) European expedition squad announced this Thursday. Being chosen for the national team at the final selection stage for the FIFA World Cup 26 is a great opportunity to keep a big dream alive. In the good news ahead of the match against Tokyo V, he said, "I believe that showing my play in this match will lead to the national team. I am in good condition myself, and I think the attitude of boldly challenging without fear of mistakes leads to goals, so I want to demonstrate that in this match. We absolutely must win this match, and I would be happy if I could score a goal in that game," expressing his strong motivation as a “Derby man” along with his good form.

We are still far from becoming a “team worthy of the championship.” However, we absolutely cannot stop. We must steadily advance toward the clearly set big goal. In this match, with four consecutive wins on the line, we want to give our all to crush the rival in front of us, prove with our ability that Tokyo is blue and red, and close out the three away games with victory. One match, one win. United as one in our Ajinomoto Stadium, we will seize joy. To draw the future that lies beyond closer with our own hands──.

Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI

Q. The team is heading into this match after three consecutive wins. What did you say to the players?
A. First, before winning that match, I told them to win these three days of preparation. Before stepping onto the field, we focused on what we could do within a short time, which isn’t much, but I asked the players to work on recovery as well. Looking back, they have faithfully embodied what we discussed before entering this three-match stretch. I trust them for tomorrow’s match as well.

Q. While considering that the team needs to be able to do various things, do you feel that the new build-up method is also working?
A. This is not something that started recently; we have been trying various things this season. Naturally, there are parts we haven’t fully succeeded in, but ultimately, it is the players’ autonomy to make the final choices, and it is important to propose and present that structure. If we take it to the point where that autonomy is lost, it becomes automatic and starts to become biased. I believe decisions change depending on even the direction of the opponent’s press, and what I present becomes completely meaningless if the situation differs. What they choose and how the coordination around that choice develops—that final part must leave room for the players to make autonomous decisions, and I think when that aspect grows stronger, it will become our “true strength.”

Q. It seems that there are more and more scenes where the players make decisions and play on the pitch.
A. I believe that as we play more matches, the situations that come into their view will teach them, and the opponents will also draw that out, so we need to skillfully make use of those moments ourselves as well.

Q. The players have increasingly been making comments that seem to be calculated backward from the goal of being a “team worthy of winning the championship” and “to win the championship.” How do you perceive the players’ mindset?
A. We are still halfway there. I believe every player is reflecting on what it truly means to be worthy at each moment. Because everyone is focused on that and directing their thoughts there, a clear path forward begins to emerge. While the destination is the same for everyone, the sense of worthiness on the way there varies individually. Precisely because the goal is clear, I think everyone is earnestly working toward it.

Q. What is your impression of Tokyo Verdy?
A They are a very aggressive team that clearly reflects their coach's style. He is a wonderful coach, someone I deeply respect both for his experience and career, so rather than borrowing his strength, I want to demonstrate what I currently have and what we have prepared and face them head-on.

Q, I think the atmosphere will be different from usual, including at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, Of course, there will be heated moments, but as I mentioned earlier, I believe the way we manage these three days before the match will be reflected in the results on the day.

Player Interview

Motoki NAGAKURA

Q. You have played full-time in all matches so far, and you hold the top numbers in distance covered and sprints even in the J1 League.
A. I feel that I have not been able to finish off goals and that I have caused trouble for the team. I don’t pay much attention to the distance covered or the number of sprints. I always think about what I can do for the team’s victory and play accordingly, so the most important thing is that the team wins. I will continue to think about what I can do for that and keep playing.

Q. We were able to secure a solid victory against JEF United Chiba. I believe we also overwhelmed our opponents in terms of the overall content of the match.
A. I think the reason the match against Mito Hollyhock became difficult was because we got drawn into playing their style of soccer. Against opponents who apply pressure from the front, if we can simply attack behind their lines and firmly control the ball up front, then since they commit many players forward, it becomes easier for us to create a numerical advantage, and it also makes it harder for them to press from the front. Because the preparation period before the Chiba match was short, we didn’t have time to prepare anything new, but we reviewed what we have done so far and talked about expressing clearly what we want to do—not exactly returning to basics, but making sure to show our true intentions. I believe the fact that we were able to express that led to our victory. 

Q, The last match of the three consecutive games played within one week will be against Tokyo Verdy.
A, They are an opponent that we absolutely must not lose to, not just for ourselves but as a club. I think Tokyo V is a team that plays aggressively, so we want to play our own game without being overwhelmed by their momentum. In previous matches, we have created many chances from the first half, so if we can finish those chances properly, I believe we can secure a victory. From the kickoff right at the start of the first half, we want to firmly establish our own pace, decisively finish the chances we must, and aim to score not just one goal but two or three goals from the first half. Personally, I have a good impression since I scored in the last match against them, so I hope to score again, but for this match, the team’s victory is more important than individual results, so I want to play for that. 

Q, This time we are considered the away team, but the venue is Ajinomoto Stadium. I think many fans and supporters will come, so please give us a message.
A, No matter who plays, we give our all to help the team win. Although we will approach this match as the away team, Ajinomoto Stadium is our home stadium. We would be happy if you create an atmosphere where we can feel at home as usual. We will fight with even greater passion than that energy and deliver victory to everyone, so please support us.

Hayato Inamura

Q: First, please review the previous match against JEF United Chiba. Would you say the first half was almost perfect in terms of content?
A: The opponent's pressure wasn’t that strong, so with that level of pressure, both Alexander SCHOLZ, Kento HASHIMOTO, and I were able to avoid pressing. However, from the perspective of playing on the pitch, there is always the challenge of wanting to score more goals in the first half in every game. Considering we took so many shots and had chances, while the opponent probably only had one shot, it’s very important to finish the game off in the first half. Even though the content of the match against Chiba was good, I wanted us to push for more in that regard.

Q, From the perspective of avoiding the press, I felt that it was especially significant that you were able to carry the ball forward firmly, rather than passing it sideways or backward.
A, Currently, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI is encouraging us as a team to keep pushing forward, and that is also one of my strengths. I believe I was able to break down the opposition well in good coordination with Kento HASHIMOTO and Keita ENDO. Also, it’s truly thanks to the positioning of the two holding midfielders. They always positioned themselves to receive the ball and manage risks carefully. This made it easier for me to move freely, and I think the two holding midfielders led the game both offensively and defensively.

Q, to return to the topic, it seems that the aspects of controlling the game both offensively and defensively have been established, so the main challenge now appears to be finishing ability.
A, that was the case in the matches against the Urawa Reds, Kashiwa Reysol, and Mito Hollyhock as well. The Mito match was a somewhat difficult situation, but the games against Urawa and Kashiwa were ones where it wouldn’t have been surprising to be 3-0 up by halftime. The players in the back think that the forwards, including Motoki NAGAKURA, should finish those chances. On the other hand, I believe it’s positive that we are creating that many opportunities. From watching Tokyo last season and actually playing myself, I truly feel that the team has changed in that regard.

Q. The team has maintained a compact formation, and it seems that there is a unified understanding within the team about whether to press forward or draw the opponent in depending on the situation, making the coordination between offense and defense smoother.
A. Kouta Tokiwa’s presence is quite significant in that regard. He is always positioned to win the ball, can observe the balance, and the midfielders on both sides can run endlessly and recover. I truly believe this is one of Tokyo’s current strengths. Ideally, including the conceded goal scene in the Chiba match, I want us to be so solid—Scholz and I holding firm—that if the opponent gets past the defensive midfielders, we can still win the ball back completely. That’s the level of strength I want to show.

Q. The final match of a series of three games in one week, played away, is against Tokyo Verdy. Is this also a team that player Inamura, who belonged to FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, is particularly aware of?
A. Even when I was not with Tokyo, I was really looking forward to this game and wanted to watch it live. So, the fact that I might actually be able to play in that match is truly exciting. When I was attending the school and during my time at U-15 Fukagawa, I was conscious not to wear anything green, and I think the traditions and history surrounding this match are very important. I am really looking forward to it.

Q. What is your impression of the opponent?
A. I’ve heard that under Coach Hiroshi JOFUKU, they run a lot in training, so I think they will probably try to outpace us there. On the other hand, I believe Tokyo is also very aggressive, so we really want to overwhelm them and win.

Q: The match will be held at Ajinomoto Stadium, but this time it is an away game. What do you expect from the fans and supporters, and conversely, what do you want them to expect from you?
A: I want the fans and supporters to fight alongside us starting from the warm-up. Even during home games, we often hear the opposing team's supporters, so I feel that the atmosphere should be energized there. We also want to raise our intensity from the warm-up, so I hope we can fight together from that point. Regarding the match itself, even at the night game last Wednesday, so many came to the away stadium, and right after the match, they sent us the message that "we cannot lose," and the players have definitely felt everyone’s feelings and passion. In the match against Tokyo Verdy, we will fight with passion ourselves, and we want everyone to fight with even greater passion alongside us.