We’re facing our second “Osaka Derby” of the year. This is a very important match, holding special meaning for us and for our fans and supporters. We absolutely want to win, to deliver the “victory” that will make you happiest, and to celebrate that victory with you all.
Our recent match against Bangkok United (ACL2 semi-final 1st leg) ended in a disappointing result. It was a match of a different intensity than a league game; each player had too much time on the ball, which ironically made it difficult to find an attacking rhythm in the first half. I feel that conceding a goal at that point made the flow of the game difficult. Furthermore, after that “goal conceded,” we spent more time pressing in the opponent’s half, but it wasn’t easy to break down a defensively positioned opponent, and ultimately, the match ended without us being able to score.
When things turned out that way, I do think about what we could have done better in preparation for the second leg next Wednesday, but right now my mind is focused on the upcoming “Osaka Derby.” I’m going to concentrate on winning that match.
Cerezo Osaka has seemed to be struggling a bit in their last few matches, but that’s precisely why they must be hoping to change things in this “Osaka Derby.” They’ll be coming to Panasonic Stadium Suita with a lot of determination, and I imagine they’ll show a different kind of strength than they have in the last few matches.
However, we also want to use this match as a springboard. We intend to express our determination in every aspect of the game, including our ball control, intensity, and running ability, and we have a clear vision of working together to break through and score a goal.
Personally, I’ve managed to score once each in the past “Osaka Derby” matches, both in the league and the cup, and last year I was able to provide an assist in the league matches, so I’ve been involved in scoring in many games. I’ll be looking to score again tomorrow if I get the chance. THIAGO ANDRADE of Cerezo Osaka , who I’ll likely be facing, is an incredibly fast player, but if I let him get the better of me and keep dropping back, the team won’t be able to gain momentum. So I’ll try to push forward firmly in my area and get involved in the attack.
Although we have a match in 2nd year of junior high school days, we’re not worried at all about playing back-to-back games. We had a great atmosphere and a good training session, including the practice the day before, and we’re just going to put everything we’ve got straight into it. We appreciate your support.