《Sei MUROYA》
(In the first half and at the end of the match, we put our bodies on the line to defend the goal, and there were moments of passionate play)
"Personally reflecting, I think I will do that again later, but I believe we did our best and had several scoring opportunities, so I don't think we should be too discouraged. Hiroshima also played wonderful football. Although we lost, I want to switch gears quickly for the next match."

(Regarding the start of the first half)
"Hiroshima was good at possession from the back, and they often managed to slip through our defensive line. The opponent effectively utilized the sides to create time. It would have been better if we could have pushed up a bit more and kept the team compact, but Hiroshima was generally able to control the match better. I think that was a factor in why we couldn't apply strong pressure from the front."

(How was the heat?)
"It was hot today. That said, our characteristic is to fight regardless of the heat. Everyone is able to work hard and compete. Even in this heat, we are able to do our best, so I don't feel that the heat is a particular issue."

(The goal conceded at that moment separated the teams in a closely contested match)
"In the recent match, we were managing to hold on by a thread. This time, we were the ones who got scored on. It was a match where it wouldn't have been strange for us to win, so at the very least, I wanted to end it in a draw."

(The away matches continue from here)
"We've just had a lot of home games up to this point. It doesn't bother us that much. We are in first place, but we always want to think like challengers and fight even in away games."

(Matches like today will likely increase in away games in the future)
"I think many teams will start to create blocks to guard against our two forwards. We need to work as a team, including myself, on how to attack from the sides. After conceding a goal today, we were able to create scoring opportunities, and if we had converted those, the outcome of the match would have changed. I think it was that close of a match."

Kento HASHIMOTO
"In the first half, we talked about applying pressure as a team whenever there was a chance to win the ball from the front. We tried to win the ball several times, but we couldn't do it effectively, and we ended up being the ones who had to defend against the ball."

(Still, the first half was 0-0)
"That part went well. In the second half, the opponent will get tired, and we were conscious of stepping up our gear and going for the goal."

(The goal conceded was taken after the defensive organization was shaken left and right)
"I can't say I was patient; I was caught off guard for a moment. On the contrary, I don't think there were many scenes where we were attacked other than that moment, so it was a very frustrating goal to concede."

(Points for reflection from today's match)
"I think it's possible to concede one goal against any team, so we want to create attacks that can score at least one goal in every match, and we wanted to create even more chances. There are still issues to address. We want to push the opponent more and increase the scenes where we create chances."

(I wore the captain's armband towards the end)
"It was the end of the match, but from that timing, I thought we should try to attack from the sides as much as possible. Muroya and the players on the sides took high positions to aim for the goal, but we couldn't quite shift into a higher gear, and including myself, we need to pursue that aspect much more."

(After passing the ball to Jael, it was difficult for the ball to move forward)
"He is a player with different characteristics compared to Nagai, and we couldn't utilize his strengths as a team. The opponent set up a solid block and had a very strong defense. We will need the ability to break through such defenses in the future."

《Tokyo - Summary of the Press Conference with Director Kenta HASEGAWA》
"It became a difficult situation, but since Hiroshima made the first substitution in the second half, I thought if we could endure that moment, chances would come from our substitutions. Unfortunately, we were caught off guard by a player from Kashiwa during the time we were concerned about.
We conceded the first goal, but the players fought hard until the end. Muroya also stopped Kashiwa's final counter, showing their determination. Even in defeat, I believe it was a play that can lead to the next step.
There was a scene where we could break through Hiroshima's solid defense after the first half's water break, so I hope we can score in situations like that. It was a disappointing result, but I want to switch my mindset and fight hard in the upcoming away games starting with the Sapporo match.

(From the next match, it will be the first-ever 8 consecutive away games in J-League history)
"I believe we have no choice but to fight tenaciously. I am prepared for the difficulties of away games and the unique atmosphere, so I know it won't be easy."

(About player Muroya. The defense that finally stopped Kashiwa's counter was wonderful. There were also scenes in the first half where he defended.
"The last wonderful play was a fantastic response that did not give up while Kashiwa had already made a move.")

《Hiroshi JOFUKU, Hiroshima Coach Press Conference Summary》
"We still can't see Tokyo's back, but in a long season, we don't know what will happen, as we experienced last season. As long as there is a possibility, we want to aim for the top."
In the first half, I believed that connecting passes to wear down the opponent would be the best strategy against their sharp counterattacks. The players responded well, including the defense after losing the ball. Today's football gives us confidence. From here on, we want to keep accumulating points without giving up. Many people came today to support us as a purple mass. Their presence was amazing.

(What does it mean to win against my former club in Tokyo?)
"Of course, this place (Ajinomoto Stadium) has been a cursed ground for me. That is solely because the team I built was not strong enough compared to the opponent."
So right now, we are putting all our effort into the team's growth with each match. We want to finish in a higher position. We want to become a group that continues to grow.
I don't have anything special to say about myself. However, when we can't win, I've been told that I put too much pressure on myself. Still, even though we haven't won the championship, I think the players understood the significance of this victory when they poured water on me after today's match.