<Review of the Previous Match Against Kyoto Sanga F.C.>
In order to avenge the humiliating 0-3 defeat suffered in the previous away match and to respond to the passionate support from fans and supporters after the game, the team faced the home match with determination. However, what awaited the blue and red was an unexpected turn of events.
Kyoto applied intense pressure right from kickoff. Although Tokyo's players repeatedly said, "We know how the opponent will play," Kyoto attacked fiercely into Tokyo's territory with pressure that exceeded expectations.
Within 5 minutes, a penalty kick was conceded, and at the 8th minute of the first half, the opponent scored the opening goal. Just 3 minutes later, at the 11th minute, a misalignment in the build-up involving the goalkeeper was exploited under pressure, resulting in another penalty kick conceded. Tokyo fell behind by two goals at an early stage.
While Tokyo struggled to create attacking opportunities, in the 45th minute of the first half, they conceded a cross from a set piece, and Suzuki scored with a header in the center, making it 0-3.
In the second half, they brought on new signing Marcos Guilherme to try to shift the momentum, but once again, a disruption in the build-up was exploited, resulting in a painful fourth goal conceded in the 36th minute of the second half. Afterwards, they launched a counterattack by bringing on JFA/J.League Specially Designated Player Kizuna Kominato, but goals by Kominato and Marcelo RYAN were both ruled out as no goals with VAR support, ending all hopes.
Although it ended in a heavy 0-4 defeat worse than the previous encounter, the Blue-Red Eleven left the stadium backed by the loud cheers of "Take the Cup!" as they headed toward the Emperor's Cup quarterfinals just two days later.
Match Preview
Two days after the match against Kyoto Sanga F.C., the Emperor's Cup quarterfinal against Urawa Reds held at Saitama Stadium 2002 saw Tokyo unable to fully demonstrate their strengths as they faced the opponent's attacks in the first half. At the 42nd minute of the first half, they conceded the opening goal due to a disruption in their build-up play, but unlike the Kyoto match, they did not collapse and prevented a second goal.
From the start of the second half, the team made substitutions to regain an aggressive stance and overturned the score with two goals from Marcelo RYAN. In the end, Tokyo fell into a battered state with many players suffering from leg cramps, but everyone endured and impressively secured advancement to the Semifinal Round. Keigo HIGASHI, who had said before the match, "We have no choice but to respond with results," looked ahead, saying, "It was a match following a 0-4 loss in the Kyoto game, so it was very tough, but somehow winning together was mentally positive."
A victory achieved by scoring when it counts and enduring when necessary. They cleared their recent challenges and advanced to the Semifinal Round. That said, it is concerning that scenes of conceding goals due to especially simple mistakes have continued. Regarding the difficult periods Tokyo faces, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI said, "When things don’t go well, it’s often not about the individual players’ performance but rather issues with coordination. If that coordination works well, the individual talents will shine. In the match against Urawa, there were both good and bad periods, but (in the second half) I believe each player was able to fully demonstrate their strengths." He emphasizes the importance of continuity and building up as a team, as well as players being able to play freely and confidently.
The team Tokyo will face this week is Nagoya Grampus, currently 16th with 28 points. Nagoya, just 2 points behind Tokyo in 15th place, is struggling with four consecutive league losses and was also eliminated in the Emperor's Cup quarterfinals after losing to Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Therefore, they are expected to show a spirited fight at home as they aim for a comeback. Moreover, Toyota Stadium is expected to be filled with nearly 40,000 spectators this week. For them, having lost 3-4 at home in the previous match against Kawasaki Frontale due to conceding a goal near the end, this will surely be a match they absolutely cannot afford to lose.
Also, Nagoya has many members who once fought together with the Blue-Red, including coach Kenta HASEGAWA, Nagai, Uchida, Tokumoto, and Kodama. Higashi, now in his 13th season with Tokyo, said, "The opponent is also close in ranking, so it will be a very important match. (Coach HASEGAWA) personally was a coach who took care of me, so I want to show that he is still working hard," pledging not only the importance of the match for the team but also to repay with his performance.
For Tokyo this matchweek, there is the difficult situation of having three experienced players—Yuto NAGATOMO, Kento HASHIMOTO, and Kei KOIZUMI—suspended. However, even in such circumstances, Coach Matsuhashi sends the players onto the pitch with high expectations, saying, "We must show the attitude of going after all three points as a team. This is not about being a 'replacement'; it’s about earning a chance. If they can properly express themselves, that’s what matters."
Following the match against Urawa with just two days in between, the game against Nagoya will come after three days. Despite many players being exhausted from the Urawa match, they will face consecutive away games under harsh conditions of intense heat and a congested schedule. Considering suspensions and the recovery status of injured players, this is truly a critical moment to hold firm. By overcoming this together and securing victory, we aim to create a foothold for a comeback in the final stages of the season.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. The match comes three days after the Emperor's Cup game against the Urawa Reds.
A. To prioritize condition, we made sure the players rested well after the match. Today, we had planned to only review tactics, but there were some things we wanted to try out, and the players also voiced their opinions. Considering the heat, we intended to focus on mental organization, but we increased the intensity a bit and got the body moving.
Q. Following the come-from-behind victory against Urawa Reds, you will face Nagoya Grampus. What kind of mindset will you have going into the match?
A. I think many players will participate in this consecutive match series. In the Urawa match, there were both good and bad periods, but I believe that each player was able to fully demonstrate their strengths, which led to the victory. For this match as well, rather than focusing on "who is missing" or "what is wrong," I want them to fully commit to the battle right in front of them.
Q, The first half of the match against Urawa was a difficult situation, but in the second half, the individuals worked well together, and I think Tokyo’s true style showed.
A, Most of the problems are not due to individual performance but rather the teamwork. When that teamwork works well, the individuals naturally shine. I believe the situations during good and bad times are largely related to that kind of condition.
Q. This is a match we absolutely cannot lose and must win in terms of standings. What is your impression of Nagoya Grampus?
A. It’s no different from any other match. Of course, every match is important, so regardless of the standings, we cannot move up unless we beat the opponent in front of us. We must firmly secure the three points. Nagoya is very tight, and they have players up front who can add an accent, so we must be very cautious. Defensively, they are a team with a very strong awareness of marking players, so in addition to not losing in individual situations, we want to firmly align our attacking intentions and focus to overturn that pressure.
[Player Interview]
Kota Tokiwa
Q. This upcoming match against Nagoya Grampus is an important one as we aim to compete for a higher position.
A. I believe this match will be even more important than the recent Emperor's Cup game. In the past few matches, we have conceded careless goals, so in the next game, we want to eliminate easy goals conceded and focus on keeping a clean sheet to secure victory. While the content of the game is important, the result is even more crucial. We want to achieve a win with a clean sheet.
Q. I think the distance between players is important for smooth play.
A. In the first half of the Emperor's Cup match against the Urawa Reds, I had the impression that the distance was a bit too far. Specifically, the team as a whole was somewhat passive, and the movements to receive the ball were linear, which meant we took the opponent's pressure head-on. Since the next opponent, Nagoya, is expected to play man-to-man, I believe that if we can get past one player, we can break down their entire defensive organization. We want to increase our awareness of getting past opponents, the movements to receive the ball between players, and playing facing forward even more.
Q, There were also decisive shooting scenes in the match against Urawa.
A, Making runs into the area in front of the goal is also one of my strengths. I took one shot in the first half, but as in the scene where I connected with a cross from a teammate in the second half, my characteristic is that I can penetrate deep into the area in front of the goal and create chances. I want to increase the number of those opportunities even more going forward.
(The shooting scene in the second half) was a situation where I absolutely had to score. For soccer players, results are everything, and of course, it’s about my own goals, but it should also have led to an assist for the teammate who delivered the cross. I deeply realized that I need to be more particular about the parts that show up in the stats, such as goals and assists, as well as the decisive moments in the match. In terms of helping the team win, scoring goals should make the flow of the game easier, so I want to pursue that even further.
Q, More than 40,000 spectators are expected to attend at Toyota Stadium.
A, I hadn’t heard that information yet, but I’m really looking forward to playing in a stadium that can hold 40,000 spectators. Of course, I want to demonstrate my play in front of such a large crowd, and if I can score a goal, I think the stadium will get really excited, which is very thrilling. However, the forecast predicts the temperature will reach 39 degrees on the day, so I want to prepare as best as possible physically and approach the match in top condition.
<Kota TAWARATSUMIDA>
Q. In the Emperor's Cup match against the Urawa Reds, I got the impression that the flow of the game improved after Kota TAWARATSUMIDA came on.
A. As a team, we were not functioning well overall in the first half, and there were not many scenes where we broke down the opponent from the sides in attack. After coming onto the pitch at the start of the second half, I focused on creating the attacking rhythm on my side and activating the flank both offensively and defensively. As a result, we scored two goals in the second half and I think it was good that we were able to win.
Q, When you enter the pitch in a situation where you have to score, is there anything in particular you focus on?
A, In the first half, I think there were especially few plays where we connected the ball well and advanced forward, or played toward the goal. While effectively joining the build-up, I focused on finding the positions of the two forwards and actively making moves in the opponent’s territory.
Q. In the previous match against Kyoto Sanga F.C. and the Wednesday match against Urawa, there were many scenes where we struggled against the opponent's pressing. How do you want to improve the attacking issues in this match against Nagoya Grampus?
A. Personally, I believe that pressing high up the pitch, when successfully broken through in that moment, directly leads to chances. Taking on opponents is also one of my strengths, so I want to lead the attack with moves that connect to goals.
Q. I think there are many defensive plays required in the side half position.
A. While listening to the voices of the side back players, I play with the opposing side players in my field of vision. I am conscious of my positioning and making sure to cover properly on the far side against crosses from the opposite side.
Q. The team has not won in the last three league matches. How do you want to build on the victory against Urawa in the Emperor's Cup?
A. While accepting the results of the matches so far, I want to approach the upcoming games with a clear mind in a positive way. If the team can express the kind of play we showed when we were performing well, I believe we can win against Nagoya again like in our previous encounter. We will all go for the win together.
