Kento HASHIMOTO
"If you run hard, the ball will come out."
　I believed so, and my athleticism and intensity are also my strengths.
　(From the defensive midfielder) I thought that playing on the side would increase the chances of utilizing his strengths and scoring.
　I think both goals were able to utilize the intended form as planned.

　They suffered three consecutive losses and their ranking dropped to the middle, it was a difficult situation.
　But no one on the team has given up.
　I wanted to win somehow, and it's frustrating that I couldn't, but I fought firmly against the strong Kashima.
　Although we are entering a break period, I am confident that we had a good fight today and I want to build on that for the next match.

(Regarding defense)
I think we were able to respond well by coordinating with 成 against the opponent's fullbacks.
　However, the second goal was created from the side and exploited through the middle.
　Including the collaboration with the defensive midfielder, we want to improve in that area.

"Takuji YONEMOTO"

"(It was my first start in the league this season, but?)
I wasn't really aware of that."
　Above all, because the team is currently not in a good situation and has not been able to win, I tried to fight for the team, for victory.

　I don't think the way the game started was very good.
　However, even though we conceded a goal first, we persevered and fought without giving up, and managed to equalize. We had a good start in the second half as well.
　Although it ended in a draw, I think we need to continue fighting like we did today, as if it were normal... or rather, as if it were obvious.

（What did you focus on during the game?)
Personally, I felt that I couldn't press in the midfield, so I tried to switch on my defensive mode. Nagai player was fulfilling that role upfront, but I wanted to push them forward as much as possible and put power into our attack.
　If the opponent runs behind, I was also conscious of following them there.
　If we get beaten in the midfield, the game won't be competitive.
　Today, I played as a defensive midfielder for the first time with Yojiro TAKAHAGI, and even though the practice time was short, I think it went "okay".
　I think we can improve our coordination more, and that will be our challenge from now on.

What did you want to bring to the team on a losing streak?
Somehow, I felt like I was afraid of making mistakes or that I would shrink when I made a mistake. I felt like I lacked confidence and played with a negative mindset, so I first said, "There is no fear of making mistakes." I said, "Even if you make a mistake, let's cover it together."

　Today, he said to me, "Even if you make a mistake, I will recover it. So keep moving forward. Don't be afraid to pass the ball forward."
　I think mental is really important.
　I think that kind of positive attitude was necessary and also a factor that allowed us to move forward aggressively.

　Today, everyone played with their emotions and was full of energy.
　◈However, the fighting spirit should naturally be present in everyone.
　In addition to that, the alpha factor determines the outcome.
　However, I want to be able to play games like today at the very least, as a matter of course."

"Summary of Yoshiyuki SHINODA's press conference"
"I am disappointed that I couldn't show a victory in front of many fans and supporters. I want to reexamine the parts where I couldn't win."
By conceding a goal from the side early on, we made the game difficult for ourselves. However, the players did not stop pushing forward and managed to equalize in the first half. I think the players ran well and fought well as a group, as evidenced by the goal we scored from a short counterattack at the start of the second half.
Although we were caught up in the end, I regret not being able to endure that time tenaciously and raise one more gear in the end.
However, the players really persevered and didn't give up. I want to reexamine this something that we couldn't win and keep doing it.

"Q&A"

Q=Regarding the scene where we conceded the first goal
"Kashima is a team known for their attacking style with a sense of speed, even when flowing to the sides they come at you with dribbles. The second goal was like that too, they are relentless and even when it comes to crosses, they throw themselves in to try and connect. We had to stop that and it's very disappointing that we let the ball slip in."
There are people, but we need to defend ourselves by taking a step forward. We knew Kashima's attack, but maybe there was more power than we thought among the players."

Q=Regarding the position Nakajima player took
"(Nakajima) Shoya was positioned close to the attacking midfielder. He himself also did things like neutralizing the opponent's defensive midfielder, but I think that happened because our line dropped. We were able to create a chance in the very end, but I think it would have been better if the whole team could have raised the line a little more to step up the gear."

Q=What was the intention of using player Hashimoto in that position?
"Kashima's full-backs come up to a very high position. They can stick to their opponents well. And I chose to use them because they can attack the space left by the opponent's full-back along with Muroya."
Although there were times when he lost the ball while carrying it, one of his characteristics is that he can quickly come out with a jump to a cross or a short counterattack. He can also play in the center, but today, that position was important, so we entrusted it to him."

Q=How is player Yonemoto performing?
"First of all, there is a feeling that he has returned to the pitch properly. In the first half, he went too far to steal the ball and was avoided, so I think there was still a gap in his sense of distance. However, his running throughout the 90 minutes can be truly appreciated, and I think he will continue to improve in the future."

《Kashima - Coach Go OIWA's Press Conference Summary》
"I am impressed by their toughness and their great performance in this tight schedule."
I am amazed and delighted by the toughness of the players rather than the game content.

《Q&A》
Q: What is the motivation for this match considering the schedule of three consecutive away games?
"I think the words 'Don't make excuses for this tight schedule. Instead, let's raise our own evaluation by continuing to win in this kind of schedule' that Ogasawara said to the players before the previous Gamba Osaka match summarize it. The players themselves have prepared for the previous Gamba Osaka match and this FC Tokyo match with those words. I feel that it is enough to have the motivation and feelings like that among the players before I say anything."

Q=What was the intention behind the first player substitution?
"Because we were in a losing situation, I conveyed a message to the players to be more aggressive. As a result, the players understood the message and played accordingly, which allowed us to push the opponent in the second half and showed a great reaction. I highly appreciate their performance."