Review of the Previous Match: FC Machida Zelvia

The opening match of the 2026/27 season was held at home, at Ajinomoto Stadium. The memorable start of the new fall-to-spring calendar proved to be an unexpectedly bitter result for FC Tokyo, despite the sense of progress the team had built up.

In an open match with intense end-to-end action from the outset, it was the Blue and Red who struck first. In the fifth minute of the first half, goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu launched a long ball toward Marcelo Ryan, who was looking to break through up front. The keeper's kick—"I made eye contact with Ryan"—was delivered accurately into the attacking area. Ryan expertly got past his marker and burst forward, then drove a right-footed shot into the net from a ball headed on by Keiin Sato. Tokyo took an early lead with the kind of sharp attack that is characteristic of the club.

The team continued to play with pace and intensity. Sei MUROYA created chances time and again with angled through balls and incisive forward passes after moving inside. They produced numerous clear-cut opportunities, delivering a performance that once again highlighted the potential of a new season in which the club has set its sights on the title.

However, after being exposed down the flank and conceding an equalizer in the 27th minute of the first half, Kento Hashimoto was shown a red card in the 38th minute, leaving FC Tokyo a man down. They then conceded a go-ahead goal just before halftime and entered the second half trailing by one.

Tokyo tried to find a way back into the match, but a direct free kick in the sixth minute of the second half put them two goals behind. Further goals in the 20th and 35th minutes made it 1-5. After such a promising first-half performance, they ended up losing the season opener by an unexpected scoreline.

This Week's Preview

This is an important match in which the team must bounce back from its opening-day defeat.

Late in the match against FC Machida Zelvia, with the score having gotten away from them, the fans and supporters behind the goal raised their voices despite the difficult circumstances. After the match, they conveyed the importance of restarting with a chant directed at the players as they made their lap around the stadium: "Show your passion! Seize the title!"

Buoyed by this support, the team is determined to maintain a positive attitude. Sato said with determination, “The fans have given us tremendous support and placed their expectations in us, so we have to keep going. We absolutely cannot lose two in a row, so we will definitely go for the win next time.” Captain Muroya also remains positive, saying, “It is about how we respond from here. I want to show our fans and supporters that we will come together again as a team.”

There is no denying that the scoreline was a major shock. To be honest, the team’s game management also fell short. While playing with a numerical disadvantage, they conceded the go-ahead goal just before halftime, followed by another early in the second half. The poor timing of those concessions and the team’s vulnerability after conceding are issues highlighted by both the coach and the players. Even when unexpected incidents occur, they must focus on the details and work persistently to turn zero points into one and one point into three. A single goal scored or conceded can ultimately affect the final standings. These are aspects that must be valued if the team is to aim for the top.

That said, only one match has been played so far, and there are more than enough matches still to come. The match against Machida also showed that, until they were reduced to 10 men, what the team had built up was not wrong. Muroya reflected, “The first half was completely our game, and we made a really excellent start,” adding, “I think it was a match we could hold our heads high about until the sending-off.”

That is precisely why the next match is so important. Their opponents, Vissel Kobe, won the half-season Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial Vision League and have consistently been in the title race in recent years, including back-to-back league titles in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Their success has been built on a style centered on long balls and crosses, executed by powerful, hard-working talent. In their season opener against Avispa Fukuoka, they created many moments in which their individual quality proved superior—such as Osako's hold-up play and Muto's driving runs—and secured a 1-0 victory.

Tokyo will be without Kento HASHIMOTO, who was sent off in the season opener and has been suspended for two matches. However, the club announced the arrival of Soma ANZAI just before the start of the season and Yuto NAGATOMO on the day of the opening match. With Hirotaka ISHIHARA also able to play on either flank in addition to Kashif BANGNAGANDE, the team has greater flexibility in its selection options. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI is eager for the challenge: “We have two players who can play on either side, and whoever plays should be able to deliver a solid performance. The team has trained with an excellent attitude, at a level worthy of earning points, and there is a strong sense throughout the squad of how much this match means. We want to show that in tomorrow’s game. Kobe are a club that has delivered results and are worthy champions. We have to surpass teams like them.”

The possession-based, counterattacking football Tokyo displayed in the first half against Machida is the style the team has consistently pursued. They created numerous chances in a short period from the opening whistle. Their high expected-goals figures have not changed. That is precisely why they must develop the ability to finish chances and see out wins. This week's match against Kobe will be an important one as Tokyo reflect on areas for improvement while keeping their focus firmly on the positives, reset mentally, and aim for their first victory of the new season.

Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI

Q: The opening match was a shocking result if you look only at the score, but I think there were also encouraging aspects in the performance. What feedback did you give the team?
A: We went over with everyone once again how to play when we are down a player. However, there were certainly areas where our fragility was exposed. There were issues involving set pieces as well as aspects unrelated to the numerical disadvantage, so we have been going over those details together again, including today. As for the early stages of the match, it is hypothetical, but I think we had enough chances that it would not have been surprising for us to score three or four goals. It is important that we finish those chances properly. The players performed very well and played the game well. We did concede an equaliser while both teams had the same number of players, but I still felt that it was an early phase of the match in which we could have shown even more of our own style. I hope we can continue to show that properly in the next match as well.

Q: Even though you had a numerical advantage, I think the timing of the goals conceded was not good.
A: I was thinking about what to do next, and then when I looked up, we had conceded. That left me with a lot of uncertainty as well. I made the decision that I felt was the best option—the one I thought was right. However, there were also things I was not able to fully communicate to the players in terms of their specific tasks, and I told them that. Rather than focusing on the shape, we have spent a short time going over the basics, such as the players' tasks and the fundamental hard work required when we are a man down. I do not think we had been in a situation where we were a player down in any of our games so far. But if you prepare for the worst, it is something that can always happen. We need to make sure we learn from it so that, if the same thing happens again, the outcome will not be the same.

Q, As we aim for the title, I think it will be important to turn zero points into one and one point into three, and to keep building up our points.
A, Of course, points are extremely important. But their significance changes depending on how far the league has progressed, the points tally at that stage, and our position in the table. There are still things that cannot be seen clearly after just one match. We may have lost out on three points in that match, but there is still more than enough time left, so we remain confident. I believe we will definitely take three points in the next match and play a game that allows us to build positive momentum again.

Q, We need to reset once again and approach this match with the same mindset as the opening game of the season. In terms of building from here, what kind of match do you want it to be?
A, Simply put, I want us to always be able to choose the options with the highest priority. That means knowing when to move the ball and how to target the space behind them. Of course, the opposition are also a team that excels at hard work, so first and foremost, we must not lose our individual battles. If we can make sure everyone is on the same page about what we are trying to do, I believe we can create plenty of chances.

Q: What is needed to move on?
A: I think it means not dwelling on it. There is a saying: “If your mind is not there, you can look but not see.” If your mind is not focused on it, then even if there is a problem right in front of you, you will not see it. Unless we properly shift our focus to the next match, we probably will not see what is needed, either. It would be wrong to go into the Kobe match with our minds still on the FC Machida Zelvia match, so I want us to properly move on.

Q: How do you view our opponents, Kobe?
A: Not just last season, but over the past few years, they have consistently been a club worthy of being champions—one that aims to be champions and has become champions. We have to overcome teams like that. All we can do is work hard to make sure we do.

Q: What is your impression of Kobe?
A: Their individual talent is undoubtedly strong. They also have many players who work extremely hard, and I think they are a team with a very high baseline level.

Q: After the match, the fans and supporters expressed their determination, saying, “Let’s win the title” and “Let’s go again from here.” How do you take that?
A, We are extremely grateful. We are very happy to have their support. But it is not as if we are hanging our heads, and we are not looking down. We need to properly accept what has happened and focus on how we move forward from here, so I think we must not let it affect us too much.  

Player Interview

Marcelo RYAN

Q: Against FC Machida Zelvia in the previous match, things were going well until around the 25th minute of the first half.
A: Looking only at the first 25 minutes, we were able to put into practice what we had worked on during the week. But that is in the past. What is important is how we approach this week's match based on that experience. I believe we have prepared well for tomorrow's match against Vissel Kobe.

Q. Looking only at the result, it was a shocking one. How will you overcome it?
A. During the 11-versus-11 period, the match was going in our favor. However, when something unfavorable happened to us in that game, we were unable to respond well. But as I said earlier, that is in the past, so we will approach the next match without dwelling on it. We still have 37 of the 38 rounds ahead of us. More than how the previous match ended, what matters most is how we finish the 2026/27 Meiji Yasuda J1 League. To that end, I want to work hard in tomorrow's match as well and contribute to a victory.

Q. There were chances early in the first half where you could have scored three goals. Even in the finer details of your play, you seemed to be in good form.
A. I felt that way too. The team's motivation was so high, and we went into the match in such a positive frame of mind as a whole that I thought we could have won by a large margin. However, in situations like that, we had not fully worked out how we should fight as a team. I do not think there is any point in saying anything now about a past match. I want to prepare to deliver a good performance tomorrow and add three points.

Q: The next opponent is the champion of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Centennial Vision League.
A: I expect it to be a difficult match. Not just me, but the whole team is looking forward to facing them. Everyone knows they are a team with high quality. We will stay focused on tomorrow's match and keep thinking about how we can beat them.

Q: What will be important in order to beat Kobe?
A: I think the details will decide the outcome of the match. There is no doubt it will be a difficult, tough game. I believe the result can be determined by one or two small plays. As a team, we understand that we cannot win unless we give 100 or 120 percent from the first minute of the first half until the final whistle after stoppage time. We want to place importance on that and play accordingly.

Kento HASHIMOTO

Q: In light of the result in the opening match, how do you want to bounce back from here?
A: We have to avoid back-to-back defeats, and we have prepared well again, so I think we can fully show our strengths.

Q: Looking at it in detail, I think we started really well and played a game where it felt like we could score any number of goals. What do you think caused that game to fall apart?
A: We got off to a really good start and were able to play the kind of football we wanted to play. But when we concede a goal, we tend to lose a bit of momentum, or our spirits drop. I think that is a weakness of ours—of FC Tokyo. Of course, scoring a second and third goal is important too, but I think it will be important throughout this season to have the mentality to bounce back properly even after conceding.

Q. With that in mind, what have you discussed within the team this week, and what common understanding have the players shared?
A. It was a really disappointing game, but there were also positives. We discussed preparing to make sure we can bring those out, and making sure we return to solid defending even during periods when things are not going well.

Q: Looking ahead to the match against Vissel Kobe, they are a formidable opponent who won the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Hundred Year Vision League. What do you think will be the key points?
A: They are an extremely strong team, with many players who have distinct qualities, so first and foremost, we must not lose our one-on-one battles. We also need to play our own football properly while assessing the opposition. There is a lot for us to do both in attack and defence, but I think it will be important to play aggressively.

Q: You also had a spell at the club yourself, and I imagine there are players you remember, such as Muto. What kind of performance do you want to focus on against an opponent like that?
A: I think that if we can keep them under control, their attacking strength will be cut in half. My main tasks are not losing the one-on-one battles and winning the second balls. I want to defend solidly and stop their momentum.

Q: What kind of mentality do you think is needed at times like this?
A: I think we have been able to put it behind us well. It is a long season, and matches like that happen, so I think we have moved on in a positive way. We want to focus only on what lies ahead, and especially at times like this, we want to show from the start of the match that we are united as a team and ready to fight.

Q. Have there been moments over the past week when you have felt the impact of Yuto Nagatomo's return?
A. Yes. His voice really carries in the right moments within the team, even during training, so it motivates us. It makes me, and I think everyone, feel that we have to do even more. I think he has had a very positive influence on the team.