<Review of the Previous Match vs. Tokyo Verdy>
"We were able to demonstrate the will and determination to build Tokyo's future. I believe this is a victory for everyone, including the players who were given that strength and those who supported them."
As Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI passionately spoke at the post-match press conference, Ajinomoto Stadium that day was filled with the pride and fighting spirit of blue and red. The pedestrian deck leading to the stadium was decorated in blue and red, and before kickoff, a fantastic light choreo was performed. The entire stadium was saturated with the heat of striving for victory, and the players fought hard on the pitch in response to that passion.
Although the beginning saw a period where we were pushed back by the opponent's momentum, we avoided the press by simply flipping the play. Gradually, we drew the flow to our side, increased possession, and ended the first half on the front foot.
Then, in the 15th minute of the second half, when Motoki NAGAKURA received a long kick from Kim Seung-gyu, which Marcelo RYAN headed toward the opponent's goal, he broke through. After checking the opposing goalkeeper's position, he skillfully scored the opening goal with an outside left-foot shot from mid-range, lofting the ball over the goalkeeper's head. Ajinomoto Stadium was filled with a huge roar.
They continued to show a passionate fight, completely shutting out the opponent with intense chasing from the front line and bold pressing back. Supported by the chant from behind the goal of "We must not lose to Verdy," they achieved their first clean sheet in seven official matches.
This put an end to the streak of five consecutive draws in league matches. After the game, the blue-red family passionately sang the victory anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” fully asserting that Ajinomoto Stadium is the true home of the blue and red.
Match Preview
The match, coming just four days after the previous one, is a rivalry showdown across the Tama River. This game is another that absolutely cannot be lost, but it is important to approach it with a mindset of winning each match without getting carried away by the victory against Tokyo Verdy on Monday.
Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI also said, "Winning and uniting as one is important. The overall motivation and spirit of the team are moving in a positive direction," while explaining the team’s situation as they continue this good momentum toward the next big challenge: "There isn’t much lingering feeling, and the overall atmosphere of the team is showing a good mindset moving forward."
Currently, we are on a four-game losing streak against Kawasaki Frontale. Moreover, we have lost the last three matches all by the score of 0-3. Of course, past results do not determine the outcome of this match, but the coach commented, "Naturally, there is a desire to return the favor with the same score or more, but more than that feeling, we want to first firmly show our current condition." He continued, "There will be times when we have to fight patiently, and it is important to convert chances into goals when we have the momentum," emphasizing the importance of seizing the flow of the game.
Kawasaki, on the other hand, currently sits 7th with 48 points. They are holding on at the edge of the title race, so their determination for this match must be strong. Moreover, their attacking line is in excellent form, having scored 16 goals in the last five official matches. Right winger Ito has scored in six consecutive official games, and Elisson has netted six goals in five matches, showing great results. For Tokyo, it will be crucial not only to contain these key scorers but also to figure out how to shut down conductors like Yamamoto and Wakisaka.
From good defense to good offense—With Marcelo RYAN suspended due to accumulated warnings, what is necessary for Tokyo to suppress Kawasaki’s strengths while expressing Tokyo’s own style? Coach Matsuhashi predicts, "There are plenty of situations where the balls we win lead to good attacks," and continues further.
"Rather than intensity, the opponent's strength lies in the timing, coordination, and relationships in both offense and defense. The question is how we will surpass them there. Will we outmatch them in intensity, or will we maintain solid ball possession and repeatedly unsettle them?"
To give meaning to last match's victory, this match's win is crucial. The Tamagawa Clasico, played away. To repay the 'big debt' of recent years, we hope for a battle full of fighting spirit.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. You won the previous match against Tokyo Verdy, and I imagine you were able to start this week’s training on a good note.
A. The euphoria of victory ended in an instant, and by the next day we had already switched focus to the upcoming match against Kawasaki Frontale. The overall team atmosphere was the same; we were always looking forward and in a mode to prepare for the next game. There are always things we need to do and areas to improve. Paying attention to both our achievements and challenges, and being able to coordinate with each other during training even in a short time, reflects the high level of awareness among the players.
Q. Isn’t there a lot to gain by moving forward while winning?
A. I think there are various ways to connect things, but it is extremely important for the team to unite through victory. I feel that the players, and indeed the entire team’s motivation, are definitely heading in a positive direction toward the next match.
Q, It was the team's first clean sheet victory in a long time.
A, Of course, there are still many issues to address. There are always areas for improvement during matches, but it is precisely because we have been consciously working on our defensive aspects in training that we were able to finish the game without conceding a goal. Continuing this is not easy, but it is a challenge we must keep facing.
Q. The opponent's midfield is filled with players who excel at controlling the game.
A. How to suppress them, whether to do it early, or to suppress the passer—these are all options we consider. Depending on the situation, it is also important to simultaneously limit where the ball comes from and where it is passed to. However, the opponent is very skilled at exploiting gaps. They manage to pass the ball through places you wouldn’t expect, and their quality of play afterward is also excellent. It is not easy to simply erase the opponent’s strengths, but to make them even slightly unstable, we aim to share this thoroughly as a team and express it on the pitch during the match.
Q. In the most recent Tamagawa Clasico, we are currently on a four-game losing streak.
A. Regarding the losing streak, that is in the past and I’m not particularly concerned about it. What matters is the present. Both teams are currently in a fairly good state going into this match. Of course, we want to even the score or make up for it all at once, but more importantly, it’s crucial to fully express our current form on the pitch. There will be times when we have to fight patiently, and when we have the momentum, it’s important to definitely convert that into goals or big chances. It’s not so much that this match is special because it’s across the Tamagawa River, but rather that if we can’t beat Kawasaki, we can never maintain a position at the top. They are that kind of opponent and club. From the perspective of how we build our future, this is a very important match.
[Player Interview]
<Keita ENDO × Fan Welmeskelken Sai Tamagawa Clasico Joint Press Conference>
――Please start by introducing yourselves.
Fan Welmeskelken Sai: I am Fan Welmeskelken Sai, number 31. As it is the Tamagawa Clasico, we always get to play in a wonderful atmosphere. The team has also been producing results, and aiming for our fourth consecutive win, we want to unite as a team and secure victory in this match as well.
Keita ENDO: I am Keita ENDO from FC Tokyo. We have been thoroughly beaten in the recent Tamagawa Clásico matches, so I will do my best to win this time.
――You seemed to be enjoying your conversation in the locker room; could you tell us about your relationship?
Sakai: I was invited to join the German team Magdeburg, where Tatsuya Ito used to play, and I participated in training for about two weeks. There happened to be a practice match scheduled, and they asked me to play in the game. When I joined, I found that Endo was on the opposing team. It was an unexpected situation where two Japanese players faced each other on German soil.
Endo: We were matched up on the sides, and Ito also played in that match.
Sai: After the match, the three of us Japanese players had a meal together at a place like the cafeteria in Magdeburg. Since then, we've become good friends.
Endo: It was special to be able to interact with Japanese players in Germany at that time, and it is also deeply moving to be facing each other again in the J.League like this. In last season’s Tamagawa Clasico, I matched up against Kisaki, and I felt something fateful. This season, with Ito also joining, I think it’s very interesting that the three of us, who were close and interacted back then, can compete against each other in a match.
――I heard that in last season's matchup, player Kisaki made an assist in front of player Endo.
Endo: That was because I was too slow to close down the ball (laughs). I felt that Kisaki's physical battles and duels for the ball were beyond what you usually see from Japanese players. He has the strength honed overseas, and his duels for the ball are really strong, making it quite difficult to break through. He scored from a wonderful cross, and after that, the momentum shifted negatively, causing us to miss out on the victory. This time, I want to make sure not to let him easily deliver crossing balls.
――What is your impression of Endo's play from your perspective, Sai?
Sai: Since the time we faced each other in Germany, I felt he was a powerful player. He’s not just fast; he has a strong burst of speed that comes out in an instant, making it difficult to take the ball from him even when defending. He skillfully uses speed and changes of pace to attack, making him a very tough player to defend against. Throughout the season, he’s truly one of the most troublesome wingers. Although we did win the match (laughs).
――So, what are the key points to contain Iwao, who provided the assist in last season's match?
Endo: Last season, Iwao was paired vertically with Akihiro IENAGA, and it often seemed that while IENAGA created space, Iwao would come up from behind. I believe the approach will change if the combination changes this time. We need to be flexible and adapt during the match.
――Regarding the Tamagawa Clasico, Kawasaki has continued to win matches 3-0 since last season.
Endo: Honestly, I can't just laugh it off. It's frustrating. Our fans and supporters come to watch us win, so I want to give my all to deliver a victory. While there is some frustration, the sense of loss is even greater, so I want to focus on competing on equal terms.
Sai: Looking at just the results, we have been winning, but in terms of content, Tokyo also had chances, and in every match there were moments where if they had scored, the momentum would have shifted. Soccer is a game where if you don’t stay focused and fight for the full 90 minutes, the outcome can be completely different. Even if you are winning 3-0, if you relax your guard, you can be caught off guard, so I think it is important for the whole team to tighten up and see it through.
――Both of you are in your second year with the team, but please tell us your impressions of the Tamagawa Clasico.
Sai: The atmosphere in the stadium is wonderful, and in such an atmosphere, the players naturally get fully immersed in the match—not exactly like being in the zone, but close—and it leads to a high-quality game. We want to deliver a high-level match that everyone watching can enjoy. When you actually step onto the pitch, the feeling of "we cannot lose" is very strong. Especially when facing a player like Endo, with whom I have a friendly relationship, I want to win even more.
Endo: It’s a rivalry across the Tama River, and I believe being able to play in such a wonderful atmosphere is truly a privilege for a player. I feel the passionate atmosphere and am happy to be able to play on the pitch. The previous match was against Tokyo Verdy, and this time it’s the Tamagawa Clasico, so I think it will be a game with a different kind of intensity. It’s a match I’m looking forward to, and I believe the fans and supporters will also come looking forward to this game, so I hope we can put on a good performance.
――How do you want to contribute through your play in this Tamagawa Clasico?
Sai: As a defensive player, I want to secure a clean sheet and win, just like in the previous match. If we can keep a zero at the back, the forwards should be able to deliver results. On top of that, if there’s a chance, I want to join the attack and support the offensive players, including Ito, to contribute to the victory. It would be ideal to record an assist again this time, but above all, the most important thing is for the team to win and to share that joy with the supporters. Even in this special match called the Tamagawa Clasico, I will approach it with the aim of making that happen.
Endo: In the recent Tamagawa Clásico matches, we haven't been able to score and have suffered three consecutive 0-3 losses. I believe that if we can score even one goal, the flow of the game will change, and as an attacker, I want to focus on scoring. If the match continues with a zero score, the team loses momentum, and the atmosphere becomes one of "are we really going to lose like this?" I want to actively aim to score the opening goal.
――As we approach the Tamagawa Clasico on September 20, please share a word for the fans and supporters, including what to look forward to.
Endo: The fans and supporters have seen us lose 0-3 repeatedly recently, and I believe they are coming to watch a match where we finally win this time. We will firmly respond to those expectations, fight hard, and do our best so that, in whatever way, we can finish with a victory in the end.
Sai: The team is in good shape, and we have four consecutive wins on the line. Looking ahead to the championship race, there is no match we can afford to lose from here on out. Although it is a special match, we will stay focused, secure the win, and take one more step forward toward the title.
*Excerpt from the joint press conference held on September 17
