"Sei MUROYA"

(The result was 0-3. Looking back on the game)
"We need to reflect on the part where we conceded goals consecutively in the first half."
I think we cannot become a strong team unless we become a team that can quickly switch and regain points after conceding. I want everyone to work together to improve in that area."

(I was trying to break through the organized defense of Sendai with my individual strength)
"We were in a losing situation, so I was conscious of playing more aggressively. I tried to break through and become a starting point in my area, but I couldn't convert it into a goal, and I'm personally very frustrated that we lost 0-3."

(Player Muroya himself thinks that he was able to play well by organizing what he should do by taking a little break from the official game)
"Honestly, I wanted to score in the attacking part. I want to increase the number of plays where I can shake off the opponent and break through."

What was the momentum and challenges of the attack?
"Since we were in a behind situation, I played with the intention of breaking the opponent from the right side where I was. However, I have to reflect on the fact that I couldn't score and I felt the need to improve the quality of my play personally."
There are times when we concede goals in any match. Among them, the entire team must have a mentality to turn the game around, and we cannot win a match like today without showing more determination and fighting spirit.
Since the match is still ongoing, I want to reflect on it thoroughly and prepare for the next match.

"Takuya UCHIDA player"

(Looking back on today's match)
"I think it was good that I was able to participate in the attack several times in the first half. However, not being able to score there is my own challenge. I believe that I cannot play in the game unless I aggressively attack with my dribbling, which is my strength, and increase the number of times I take the ball to the shot."
Instead of looking down after conceding a goal, we need to switch and go all out to recover. We won't get results unless we improve in that aspect and train for the next game.

(Today I played on the side. As for the points I was conscious of in the attack)
"The coach instructed me to be aware of positioning. I tried to receive the ball on the side and become a starting point, and create a situation where Ota can easily move forward."
I feel that I need to increase my physical activity and improve the quality of my performance because I haven't been able to produce results such as goals and assists. There are also parts that have gone well, so I want to continue with those."

"Summary of Tokyo Hasegawa Kenta's Press Conference"

"Today was a complete defeat. In terms of the start and the way we played in the first half, we were very passive. Our pressing was weak, our reaction to second balls after long balls was slow, and we conceded the first goal and toned down our intensity. I think we still lacked the mental strength to endure after conceding a goal. As for our performance in the second half, I think we showed great courage, pushed forward, and demonstrated a fighting spirit. In that sense, I believe Sendai was much more focused and aggressive from the start today. I think that directly led to the result. In the first three matches of the Levain Cup, we played two away games and one home game, and we won the home game. On the other hand, in the remaining three matches, we have two home games. In that situation, we want to secure points at home and advance to the knockout stage and playoffs. We will continue to prepare thoroughly."

"Q&A"
Q: In the first half, Kubo was stopped many times when he tried to dribble, but in the second half, he also made good passes. What is your evaluation of Kubo's performance today?
"I think it was very good. Although the point difference was wide, they showed a fighting spirit until the end. They were challenging the ball properly and showing an attitude towards the goal until the end. Of course, they couldn't produce results such as assists or goals, but I think they showed a strong determination in today's match."

"Summary of Sendai Manager Susumu Watanabe's Press Conference"

"Thank you very much for coming to tonight's weekday night game. We had over 7,000 supporters gather, and we really appreciate it."
The league game has a slightly different atmosphere, and tends to be a little fluffy, but we sent them off saying, "First, let's sweep away that kind of atmosphere with our own power." Also, although we won the recent Nagasaki league game, it was far from our ideal performance, so today, with a different lineup, we sent off the players with the intention of erasing the game content from the previous match as the same Vegalta Sendai team.
I think they played with great enthusiasm and demonstrated excellent tactics. However, since there is another game coming up soon, we must not let our guard down, be satisfied, and diligently prepare for the next Urawa game.

"Q&A"

Q=Please explain the reason why you chose to adopt the 3-5-2 formation from the start and maintained it even after the accident, despite having prepared multiple systems in advance.
"First of all, we were preparing with the assumption that FC Tokyo would come with a similar setup as they did last time at Ajinomoto, with a playmaker in the attacking midfield position. In that regard, we thought it would be more effective to have two forwards and an anchor."
However, in the midst of various preparations and simulations, last night, a thought came to my mind, "No, wouldn't it be better to go with a 3-5-2 formation even if the opponent has a double pivot?" So, in today's meeting, I discussed the idea of "let's go with a two-striker formation even if the opponent has a double pivot" and sent the team out. Although we didn't train specifically for that on the pitch, just explaining it on the board and being able to execute it to that extent shows that it's not just about adapting to the opponent, but also about how we can take control in both attack and defense by organizing ourselves.
Even after the accident, I had a vague idea of what I could do, so I thought it would be better to keep the system as it was. In the end, we went up to 3-0, so we went back to the original 3-4-3 to relieve the burden on the midfield and closed the game."

Q=I thought Kubo, the opponent's player, would be the key player, but in the first half, I matched up with Nakano a lot, and I thought Nakano and I were similar in terms of playing style, so I was able to take the ball a lot. In the second half, I felt like I was running away from Nakano quite a bit, but I think the plan to deal with Kubo was working well, don't you think?
"We didn't specifically prepare for him. It's not like we're playing against Kubo, but against FC Tokyo. Of course, I think he's a key player. In reality, when the ball comes to him, he has the power to push forward and can come up with various ideas. He has the ability to hold the ball in a way that is very troublesome for the opponent, and as a pure soccer player, I was surprised that he can do this at the age of 16.
But there were parts that we were able to defend as a team, and there were probably parts that we were actually beaten, so I think it would be good to watch the footage again and organize it."
However, I think if we could have erased him a little more even in the second half of the 45 minutes, we could have played a little more in the opponent's territory as a team, but I hope we can reflect on it as a whole.