Last year may have been a dream come true for Kashiwa Reysol, but forward Junya Tanaka is determined to prevent 2012 from turning into a nightmare.
Having pulled off the most unlikely title win in J. League history last season hot on the heels of promotion from the second division, Kashiwa currently finds itself in a position hardly befitting of a champion. Five defeats in 11 league matches have left the Chiba side hovering above the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's game against Albirex Niigata, with leaders Vegalta Sendai fast disappearing over the horizon 13 points away.
Amid the gloom, however, a spark is beginning to flicker. Progress to the knockout round of the Asian Champions League was achieved with a 2-0 win over South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors last week, before Cerezo Osaka were dispatched 2-1 last Saturday to give Reysol their first back-to-back league victories of the season.