Akihiro HAYASHI
(Regarding finishing today's match without conceding a goal)
"I think we were lucky to keep a clean sheet. If the ball had hit the post a little more inward, it would have been a goal. Overall, it was a match with many points for reflection, so I am not satisfied. Just because it's my birthday doesn't mean everything will go smoothly, so I want to tighten up and do better."

(Did anyone celebrate your birthday?)
"I was happy because I received congratulations in the locker room after the match, and from the fans and supporters as well."

(After the match, a birthday song was sung from the stands, but has that ever happened before?)
"No, it was the first time. I was really determined to win today, so I'm really glad that we were able to win decisively."

《Keigo HIGASHI》
(It was a victory away, but what are your thoughts on today's match?)
"I knew it would be a difficult match away, but winning there was today's mission, so I'm glad we accomplished that. Scoring two goals from set plays must have been frustrating for the opponent, and I think the kick from player Ota was also something they didn't want to deal with, so it was good that we were able to utilize that. I think it would have been even better if we could have scored from the flow of the game, but we were able to create chances and execute the plays we aimed for, so I want to continue that going forward."

(Although we are in a series of consecutive matches, is the condition becoming tough?)
"Today it was hot, and I got a bit fatigued towards the end. Some players did not participate, while others continued to play, but the coaching staff, including the manager, are managing it well. We have two days until the next Levain Cup match, but I want to focus on the upcoming game and fight together as a team. If we can't play the same style of football regardless of which players are on the field, we won't be able to elevate the team as a whole. I want to fight together with all the team members."

《Summary of Coach Yoshiyuki SHINODA's Press Conference》
"Above all, I am glad that everyone worked hard for the full 90 minutes and we were able to earn 3 points. I want to prepare positively for the next match."
In the match, Sendai utilized the field widely, employing a system that positioned Chrislan to receive long balls, while Ishihara (Naoki) took a troublesome position. However, they managed to prevent any goals in the end. That said, the number of times they lost the ball after winning it throughout both halves was very high. This is a challenge, and I felt that they need to push the opponent a bit more and work on moving the ball.
The goal from the set piece was as planned, and we were able to capitalize on the second ball with (Yu OKUBO) being alert. Our biggest goal is to score, even if it’s a bit scrappy, so I think it was definitely a good outcome.
We have also identified various challenges, so we want everyone to prepare thoroughly for the next step, one by one.

《Q&A》
Q=After the match, player Mita ran over to the Tokyo bench. What words were exchanged?
"Tama (Mita) has been with me for a long time since he joined, and I was very happy to see him fighting on the pitch. When he arrived, I congratulated him on his 100 matches. I told him, 'I will continue to watch you as a key player from now on.'"
However, I was really happy to talk about how "today was our victory," and at the same time, I thought again that as soccer friends, I want us to continue to improve and move forward together positively.

Q=We have been continuing our winning streak without conceding any goals, but the opponent is different. What are the points that are not going well and those that are going well?
"In the end, while Akihiro HAYASHI was able to clear it, it is the defenders who are limiting the angles. However, there were moments when we were nervous about the middle shots, but we must not allow those shots and should block them. Additionally, we need to be cautious about set pieces and long throws. We must ensure that we do not create dangerous situations like that. Today, especially, there were many such scenes at the end."
I think the reason for the clean sheet is that Hayashi or the defensive line, and even further back, the frontline defense is solid.

Summary of the Press Conference by Sendai's Susumu WATANABE
Thank you for your hard work. On the last Sunday of Golden Week, I sincerely appreciate all the supporters who gathered. Regarding the league matches, we have been struggling to win at home since the opening match, and we feel very frustrated ourselves. I apologize for making our supporters feel the same frustration.
As we approach today's game, we talked about bringing the momentum of our consecutive wins in official matches, including the Levain Cup. I had anticipated that FC Tokyo would apply pressure aggressively from the start, but I feel we could have approached it in a simpler way there.
In terms of goals conceded, there were only two from restarts. I can't recall any major crises from the flow of the game at this point, and I think it's a shame.
However, after breaking FC Tokyo's press once, we were able to move the ball well and effectively, or intentionally, advance into the opponent's territory. In fact, we created numerous chances and took many shots. Looking solely at the score, it was 0-2, but I believe we were able to compete confidently against FC Tokyo. I don't think it was a game to be pessimistic about, and I spoke to the players about lifting their heads and standing up again.
I believe that it is our mission to connect this game, this content, and this frustrating result to the next matches, so I want to continue to train positively.