Cayman TOGASHI

(It was a frustrating match)
"I think the start of the first half was everything for today's match. From the beginning, we couldn't really play the football we wanted to. In the second half, fresh players came in and switched things up for us, but overall, the opponent was superior in the match."

(There were many scenes where the ball didn't come in the first half)
"I felt that both defense and attack lacked coordination. Unlike the home game against Yokohama in the Levain Cup, we showed our bad side. We displayed a similar softness to the Levain match against Sendai, and the first half was a very wasted opportunity."

(It felt like we shifted into a higher gear in the second half)
"It was good that we were able to turn the game around, but there may have been some moments where we relaxed."
Although we have been eliminated from the Levain Cup, I believe it is important for the members who participated in the Levain Cup to figure out how to turn this frustration into a positive for the team from here on.

(About my goal)
"I think it was the result of the players who came on as substitutes making a solid switch. The assist was also from player Hiraoka, and it was thanks to the players who have been preparing diligently that we were able to score this goal.
However, even if I can score a goal, I feel it doesn't mean much if we can't win. I'm playing for the team to win, so it's just frustrating.

(The goal was from a pass by Hiraoka)
"It was my first time playing with Hiraoka, but his feelings connected to the goal. That's why I wanted to win."

《Kiichi YAJIMA》

(The match ended in a disappointing result, but as an individual, you must have felt a sense of achievement by scoring a goal, right?)
"Although this is not a league match, scoring a goal in this uniform was one of my goals, so I am happy to have achieved that first. However, since it did not lead to a victory, I have mixed feelings about it."

(You were in a good position)
"Being in the right place for some reason is one of my strengths, so if I stop making those movements in that situation, I think I won't be able to score. When Shinada was in his kicking motion, I felt he could either lift it to the far post or aim for the goal, so I thought there would be a chance as long as I filled that space, and I'm glad that resulted in a goal."

(You came on as a substitute, but what instructions did you receive from Coach Hasegawa?)
"Since we were in a losing situation, I received instructions to change the flow of the game and to first score one goal before anything else."

(At one point, we took the lead and I thought we created a good flow)
"I think it was good in terms of changing the flow, but after that, if we don't become a starting point in the front line and eliminate the goals conceded, it won't lead to my evaluation. It was good up to a point, but I want to keep working to go further from there."

(This has become a big step)
"But we couldn't win. Next, I want to connect it to victory. Also, I definitely want to participate in the J1 League. I believe that it's not about the members rotating through turnover, but about earning my place through my own strength and scoring goals. I want to take one step at a time towards that."

Summary of the press conference by Kenta HASEGAWA, Tokyo's coach

"I am very disappointed that we have been eliminated in the qualifiers. I believe the fans and supporters in Tokyo were looking forward to this, and I sincerely apologize for the conclusion of this Levain Cup."

Today's match had a very poor first half. We couldn't compete, and the Niigata players were quicker to react to loose balls and second balls, which naturally led to the ball rolling towards them. I think it was a first half with very little movement. In the second half, we showed some spirit and were able to come back for a while, but we conceded a goal from a set piece and ultimately ran out of power, which was very disappointing as we were pushed back by Niigata.
How the young players will connect this experience to the next. With one more match remaining, I want to prepare thoroughly to show a good performance at home and achieve a result that responds to the feelings of our fans and supporters.

《Q&A》
Q=In a situation where the game is not progressing as expected, Shinada was distributing the ball well. What is your evaluation of Shinada?
"I think we were completely ineffective in the first half. In the second half, they showed their determination and attitude towards scoring, which was very good play. The difference between the first and second halves was like watching a different person play. (Manato) SHINADA is somewhat of a slow starter, so since Niigata always comes out like that in the first half, I talked before the match about going all out from the beginning. If we could make more substitutions, I would have wanted to replace him during the first half based on his performance."

Summary of the press conference by Niigata's Masakazu SUZUKI

"First of all, even though the tournament is different, I feel joy in winning at home.
In the game, after being turned around, we caught up and surpassed them. Until now, there has been play that does not give up until the end, and I believe that continuing that without change has led to this result."

《Q&A》 Q: What was the reason for the comeback? "The most important thing was not giving up. Each player's awareness to aim for victory without giving up until the last minute of the 90 minutes was good. However, being broken through in certain situations led to conceding goals, and that is also an area for improvement. If the players on the ball side can cover based on the ball situation without being easily shaken off, I believe the team can level up even more."