Takuo OKUBO

I wanted to win.
The league matches are going well, but with the elimination from the Levain Cup decided, it was a match where everyone had to "show something" in order to break into that (the league matches).

I don't think we should say 'own goals are unavoidable' regarding conceding goals.
For example, there was a scene earlier where Yoshimoto switched places with the opponent, and if he had been able to stop there or prevent the cross from being made, a goal could have been avoided.
Before that, throughout the match, we were too easily allowing Sendai's two forwards to create opportunities. I think a stricter response was necessary.
The intensity that is usually needed when defending against Diego and Kensuke in practice matches was required.

(Was there a consecutive save?)
I always strive to maximize my abilities when given the opportunity, just as I always do, and I am preparing for it.
I thought I gave it my all, but it's disappointing that it didn't lead to a positive result for the team.

(What did you keep in mind when playing with younger players?)
As a GK, I can't really give play advice to the field players, and what I can do is limited... However, I wanted to show a stronger attitude towards winning in the final moments, including myself.
I believe that if we could show a more aggressive attitude and momentum towards victory, we could have had a better match.

Opportunities don't come around often. It's a waste, especially since we have fans and supporters coming to see us at Ajinomoto.
For example, in the J1 League, there are always situations where teammates argue with each other.
Today, I wonder if there were players who showed such an attitude... I wanted to see plays that would instill a sense of crisis in the league members.

Manato SHINADA

There were aspects of the training and what we have built up in J3 that we were able to showcase in this Levain Cup, and I believe some of it was effective.
That's why I wanted to experience more stages like this. In that sense, it's frustrating and disappointing to be eliminated in the group stage.

Regarding today, we played with a double pivot, and it was more about Kajiyama maintaining balance while I tried to move forward and get involved in the attack.
I think we did well in that coordination, but we couldn't get the defensive slide in time, and we weren't able to completely take the ball from the opponent.

There must have been a sense of dissatisfaction in terms of pressure going forward.
While it is possible to create a starting point in high positions or on the sides, I think there were not enough players to make a move in dangerous positions for the opponent.

(Was there a through pass to Takefusa KUBO?)
Kubo is a player who can score goals.
I understood what he was thinking, so I passed the ball.
Still, it hasn't led to results... It means both of them lack strength.

However, whether I can connect the various experiences and feelings from my plays to the league matches depends on myself.
The Levain Cup is over, but I want to keep my spirits up and keep pushing forward.

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

I think they showed their determination.
Since it was the final match of the Levain Cup at home, we all entered the match with the desire to win for the fans and supporters who somehow rushed to the stadium to cheer us on.
I believe that each match showcased the maximum effort from everyone.
I believe that the reason we couldn't ultimately break through the goal was due to a lack of strength. I once again felt that we need to train more and become stronger.

《Q&A》
Q=What are your expectations for player Yajima, who was used as a starter?
Yajima returned from injury, went through J3, and scored in the previous match of the Levain Cup.
Today, when I saw the members of Sendai's defensive line, I noticed that many players who are playing in J1 participated, and they handled the post play well. There were also some close shots, so I think he showed a good performance.
However, we need to improve the accuracy of the final pass and the ability to finish chances.
I think he showed a very good performance as a starter in the Levain Cup.

Q=What were the reasons for not scoring a goal?
I think it's the accuracy of the last pass and the quality of the shot.
In the first half, there were scenes where we regained possession in high positions and launched short counters, but the final pass was off target, and while we did get into good shooting positions, the accuracy of those shots still needs improvement. We need to help them raise their precision in those areas.
I think that will lead to a deeper team roster and increased competition.
They did their best today in their own way, but I felt there was a gap in the intensity and quality of play compared to the members in J1, so we need to implement training that encourages further growth."
Q=What was the intention behind the last substitution?
I felt there were areas where the approach was lacking.
It's fine if we draw, but I wanted to aim for a goal with crosses from the side, like Yanagi's.
In that case, we must be wary of the opponent's counterattacks, so in such situations, I thought it would be better to place Okazaki instead of Yoshimoto at the back to counter the opponent's counterattacks, so I positioned Okazaki as a center-back.
"With expectations for Okazaki's build-up, we made the choice to bring in Yanagi by substituting Yoshimoto with a more aggressive intent."

Summary of the press conference by Sendai's Susumu WATANABE

"We had many supporters gather at Ajinomoto for the weekday night game. Thank you. I also appreciate the supporters who sent us great power through the television broadcast. Our goal for the Levain Cup is to become finalists, surpassing last year's Best 4. We started the season with that goal in mind. Within this long stretch of 15 consecutive matches, there are Levain Cup games, and how to choose the members as we proceed is something that I believe every J League coach is struggling with."
Even with injuries preventing players from returning, we have been rotating various players and steadily accumulating points, and today we have come to Ajinomoto.
Unlike last year, I was really happy to have situations where I could decide for myself, and I wanted to play with that feeling of style.
In fact, I believe that earning 3 points with today's members and being able to break through demonstrates the overall strength of the team very well.
However, regarding the content of the game, there were many mistakes until the match was influenced by an own goal. These were not mistakes born from challenges, but rather careless mistakes. It's not about the opponent; the problem lies within ourselves, so I talked to the players about facing this issue squarely and eliminating it.
There is nothing better than being able to reflect after a win, so I want to use this advancement to the Final Round as momentum and head into the last away match against Kashima in the 15 consecutive games."
《Q&A》
Q=What is your evaluation of the defense that kept a clean sheet?
The defensive strategy we initially planned was not working well in the first half. We were able to make adjustments and either correct that or change the system to stabilize things, so I believe we were able to establish a solid defense.
It was a long-awaited clean sheet, so I am happy, and I hope we can continue from here.