《Yojiro TAKAHAGI》
"It was a tough away match with only two days in between. Although we ended up conceding a late equalizer and it tends to create a negative atmosphere, I want to take a positive view that we were able to earn one point."

(I think the second half was a wonderful battle as a team)
"In the first half, we struggled to take the ball away from our opponents. In the second half, we corrected that and were able to win the ball higher up the pitch and connect it to goals. We were able to change in the second half by reflecting on our first half mistakes, so I believe continuing this way will be important throughout the year."

(Assisted the second goal. Looking back at that last pass)
"After winning the ball, I made the last pass for Adailton to go straight to the goal, but he returned the ball and it turned into a one-two play.
Changed the judgment, created some time to stop the defense's feet, and passed to Diego OLIVEIRA. I think the goal was skillfully scored by Diego OLIVEIRA.

《Diego OLIVEIRA》
It was a very difficult match, and the result was harsh. In the end, it was a very disappointing outcome, as it felt like we lost 2 points.

(The second goal was a wonderful goal, running firmly up to the front of the goal)
"I believed the ball would come, and by running up to that point, the ball came. In that moment, I was able to stay calm and finish."

(Contributed to defense with abundant physical activity. A message for the upcoming home three consecutive matches)
"I am happy to have scored a goal, but I am truly frustrated that it did not lead to three points. Honestly, regardless of whether I score or not, I wanted to take all three points. Although the upcoming home three consecutive matches will have a very tight schedule, I hope to rest well and prepare for the next match."

《Manato SHINADA》
(The last two starting appearances were in place of Takahagi. This time, I played with Takahagi on the field)
"I started with a double pivot, but I didn't want to give the opponent's midfield, especially the anchor, any freedom. We set up a man-to-man marking with three players in the midfield."
However, there were mismatches on the sides, and since the midfield needed to slide, a high level of movement was required.
Takahagi was playing as an attacking midfielder, but he really had a view of the entire team, maintaining balance while playing, and he was also a key player, which made me feel reassured once again.

(The result was a draw, but I felt it was a promising performance)
"I felt that there were only a few moments where we were outplayed by the opponent, mainly at the scene of the opening goal. Although we spent a long time defending, I believe we were able to create a solid block and progress as a team in the match.
As an individual, I want to make a difference when I have the ball, so I want to be able to work hard not only in defense but also in attack.

(There have been no losses in the matches played so far)
"Regarding the results, it's difficult as it's not just my own evaluation, but I do feel that I am gradually performing at the J1 level.
At first, I was a bit worried about causing trouble for those around me, but now I don't have those feelings. People around me have gradually come to understand me, and we have been able to create good synergy. Personally, I want to contribute more plays that help the team win.

(In the case of my first start, I played again two weeks later, but this time I played after just one week. Were there any changes in preparation?)
"There are no particular changes, but since it's a situation where anyone can play at any time, we have to prepare to give our all for 90 minutes. I'm able to play without hesitation in that regard, so I have no worries about it."

《Tokyo - Summary of the Press Conference with Director Kenta HASEGAWA》
"The first half was a difficult development. It took time to get used to the subtle positioning within Kobe's system."
There were many longer balls, and due to the unique pitch conditions in Kobe, the ball handling did not go well, resulting in Kobe outpacing us in recovering second balls.
We adjusted midway through the first half, and it wasn't bad, so we continued in the same form for the second half. In the second half, recovering second balls and transitioning to attack by connecting passes became much smoother.
We turned the game around and had many chances to seal the deal, but not being able to score there led to the final goal conceded. However, with 32 points from 17 matches, the players have done well. We want to continue to add points in the next 17 matches.

(Today, we used both Takahagi and Shinada at the same time, but regarding the intention behind the midfield deployment and the evaluation of their performance)
"We didn't know what kind of system Kobe would come with, so we wanted to be able to respond in any shape. There are also team circumstances, and Kobe has excellent talent in the midfield. Today, Iniesta was on the bench, and if we give the opponent freedom in the midfield, it will be a difficult match.
The three in the midfield did well. Shinada also remained calm and performed as time went on. I think it wasn't bad.

(I think there were some good aspects in terms of adaptability during the match)
"Even though we conceded a goal first, the players adapted over time, and if our movements come together, we can definitely score."

(What about the point where we couldn't score the third goal?)
"With Kobe pushing forward, it was physically tough with only two days in between, and we were stretched out. I think the fact that we couldn't deliver the final blow resulted in us earning one point."

《Kobe - Thorsten FINK Coach Press Conference Summary》
In recent matches, I think there have been many games where we have outperformed our opponents in terms of ball possession and number of shots.
Basically, we are satisfied with our performance, but there are many cases where mistakes like those in the second half lead to conceding goals, so we need to eliminate such mistakes to change this situation.
In the first half, we played really well, hitting the post with a shot, and I think we were able to shake the net with a good flow regarding the goal, so it's unfortunate that after such a good first half, we conceded a goal due to a mistake in the second half.
I am happy that in the end, the team showed a good mentality and was able to secure one point.

(How do you perceive the number of 20 points after finishing 17 matches in the first half of the season?)
"At the end of the first half of the league, there were many matches where we could have achieved better results. For example, in the away match against Kashima, there were matches that were decided at the very end.
There were many matches that we couldn't decide on our own, so I think we could have had more points than we do now.
This year's league matches have already seen us face Kawasaki twice, which is usually unlikely. Furthermore, I believe that the results would probably differ between playing Kawasaki twice and playing other teams twice, so there are factors like that as well.
There have been many injuries among players recently, but some of those players will be returning in the future. If key players come back, it will be a plus for the team and could lead to better results.
However, realistically speaking, given the current points total at this point, it is believed that winning the league is unlikely, but we want to focus on finishing as high as possible from here and also concentrate on the development of young players, which is the club's intention.