《Akihiro HAYASHI》

(Looking back on today's match)
"Playing a perfect game is difficult when the team is not in good condition and playing away from home. We wanted to win in order to have an advantage in the next second match. We knew it would be a tough game and there were areas where we could have been more efficient in defense and attack, but the most important thing was the result, so we are happy to have won solidly."

(Will this victory be a good starting point?)
"There were some positive aspects in today's game, and even in the games we lost, there were good parts. However, only the results were not left. Today, we thought about how we can achieve good results by leaving results, and we have to think more and more."

(There was a big save today, but)
"As a team, we were able to limit the course well, so it wasn't that difficult to stop it. However, it's not that we're in a lot of trouble because we're being shot at, but rather whether we can limit the course within that. Perfect defense is not something that can be done every game, and I think it would be easier if we could have a more decisive mindset like "It's okay to let them shoot in this situation." Of course, I still think we can prevent shots, and even if we do let them shoot, we have to limit the shooting course by adjusting our body position."

(For the weekend game)
"I want to approach the weekend game with a fresh mindset. In the game against Iwata, I was involved in two goals against, so I really wanted to win today and connect this game to the league. I have made up my mind to communicate my thoughts more and more, so as a team, I want to talk about things that we are not satisfied with."

"Takuma ABE"
(Please review the scoring scene)
"I was prepared for a left-footed cross from player Ogawa. I had to readjust my position because I was in an offside position. I was expecting the ball to come in that trajectory if it was a right-footed cross, so I was able to make a good connection."

(Did the game progress in our favor with Abe's opening goal?)
"It was right before the end of the first half, so I think it was a good time."

(I think we've been struggling to score the second goal lately, but could this be a turning point?)
"We had several chances today, but we couldn't score the second goal, so we need to make sure we finish those opportunities."

(It was a victory in the midst of three consecutive losses in official games, but how do you want to connect this victory?)
"I think it's important to have a win, because it gives us energy and we can't help but feel down when we don't win. So it was good to win in the full 90 minutes."

(What are the parts that you can feel the response by the way of fighting against Hiroshima again, although the second game is about a month ahead?)
"I felt that if we move together and fight by passing, we can create chances. I want to do the same thing in the second game without changing that."

"Press Conference Summary by Coach Yoshiyuki SHINODA"
"Thanks to the players' efforts and the support of the fans and supporters, we were able to win solidly, which is a big deal for the team. It would have been better if we could have scored the first goal earlier and then taken the second and third goals to advance the game in our favor. Right now, we are struggling not only to score the first goal, but also to add more points, and there were many challenges in today's game. We changed our system during the game and made adjustments, but overall, I think we could have gone forward a little earlier, and we will work on that in practice. We haven't achieved anything yet, but we want to prepare for the second game in a month. We have a league game in three days, so I hope we can all prepare for the game together."

"Q&A"
Q=What did you think about Hiroshima's fresh members?
"First of all, I felt that the opponent was fresh from the beginning. They were a very well-organized team, and it was difficult to play against them because Hiroshima always plays like they did today, no matter who is on the field. In today's match, we needed a win, so Morishige and Hayashi played in succession, but we used other players who were in a fresh state. I think we were able to handle them well with those players."

Q=Recently, our team has been struggling to score a second goal. We were unable to score a second goal today as well. If you have any suggestions for future measures, please let us know.
"We couldn't break through the opponent's defense with our 5-4-1 formation, but we should take the fact that we scored a goal in a positive light. However, considering the away goal rule, we needed to score a second goal. We need to keep working together as a team. We had some chances in the first half, including from Ryoichi Maeda and set pieces, so we need the ability to finish them. I think we can step up our game by scoring another goal. When we're in a situation where we can't win, we tend to focus on defending our one goal lead, so as a group, we need to train hard to overcome that mindset."

"Hiroshima - Hajime Moriyasu's Press Conference Summary"
"I would like to express my gratitude to all the supporters who came to cheer us on, even on a weekday night. The first 90 minutes of the Levain Cup playoffs have ended, and we are currently trailing 0-1. We were aggressive both offensively and defensively, and created chances. We have a tough second game ahead of us, but we want to take the chances we couldn't convert today and advance to the next round. The players challenged bravely and we can take away the positives. They definitely gave it their all."
However, there is also reflection. It's not just about today, but we have lost in close games. We conceded a goal today due to a mistake. Wins, losses, and draws. It may seem like a small difference, but it's significant. We need to address this as a team. We need to thoroughly and relentlessly work on it.
"The players also said, 'The performance was good. Both individually and as a team. However, we are losing as a result. We have to focus on the momentary gap.'"

"Q&A"
Q=About Tsukasa SHIOTANI.
"I am grateful that I chose Hiroshima even though I had offers from other teams when I transferred from Mito. We fought together, grew together, won titles, and played for the Japan national team. We gained various experiences in Hiroshima, including participating in the Olympics, and shared many joys. Wonderful memories."
Next is a new challenge. As a teammate who fought together in a different team, I pray for success at Al Ain."

Q=There is still one month until the second leg. How can we improve our scoring ability?
"There is only practice. We can create opportunities. The key is how we can relax and perform in the final moments. Can we make decisions naturally? We are under pressure, so how much can we remove it? That's the key."