Diego OLIVEIRA
"It was very difficult, and despite the tough competition from Sendai, there were many high-quality players. Among them, I am glad that we were able to secure a victory today. Sendai was a very strong team."

(Looking back on the scene of the penalty kicks)
"I think it's important to play as usual, not only in practice. It would have been good if I could have scored in the first penalty kick, but I was able to calmly score in the retake. I'm glad that I was able to seize victory in an important and tough match."

(Became the sole leader in the scoring rankings)
"I don't care about the scoring rankings. The important thing is that soccer is a team play. I play with the team's victory as the top priority."

(In the scene of the first penalty kick, the opponent also made a similar move)
"I could see the movement of the GK. Of course, I think they also understand my style, so among various GKs, I think there may be cases where they come up with countermeasures like that. It didn't bother me at all."

(How was it to face Shimao Mate player?)
"He is a very strong player, and I felt that he uses his physicality well to cover a wide defensive range. He is a fantastic player, and the defense led by him was very solid."

"Hirotaka MITA"
(Starting for the first time since returning to play against my former team. Did the coach give any instructions?)
"There wasn't anything special, but he did say 'I'm looking forward to it'."

(About my performance today)
"It would have been good if I could have scored or been involved, but we were able to step up our game in the second half and win, so the result was good."

(He was talking about surpassing the opponent in ball situations and in front of him)
"The defense line defended with their bodies at the end, and the midfield and forward worked hard until the end. Today, we were really able to go for the ball aggressively, and I think that was a factor in bringing victory."

(He needs to adapt to the team while playing after joining in the middle of the season)
"We talked to make adjustments for both center backs, such as defensive agreements and picking up second balls."
Also, because there are two fast forwards who face forward, I think it is necessary to adjust the part of what kind of pass and what timing I want from now on.

(How was it to play as a starter at Ajinomoto Stadium after a long time?)
"I felt excited listening to the entrance music, and I am grateful that the fans and supporters created such an atmosphere. Stepping onto the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium as a Tokyo player still gives me a special feeling."

(There were two free kicks today, but Mita did not take them)
"I judged that the shots from players like Morishige and Jael had a higher chance of success based on the distance. I think Sendai's players also expected me to take the kick, so I gave it up."

(Did it become a return favor to Sendai?)
"Since it's a competitive world, rather than for Sendai, it was good that we were able to accumulate points towards winning for Tokyo today."

Akihiro HAYASHI
"I often feel that a series of small plays have a big impact when looking back on the game. I have experienced a lot of frustration since joining Tokyo, not only myself but also everyone has had various frustrating experiences. In the midst of that, I am fighting this season with determination. I think it is not only the technical aspect but also strong emotions that have a big influence."

(Even though the members have changed, we are able to maintain a stable performance)
"Since the preseason, we have been demanding various things from the defensive line. I think that has created a situation where it is somewhat difficult for the opponents to attack. I believe that the accumulation of that has allowed us to achieve the result of not being broken (not conceding goals) after playing for 90 minutes. Even when the team creates scoring opportunities, I think it is mainly because our mentality is at the forefront that we are able to withstand it. I hope we can continue to do so."

"Tokyo - Summary of Coach Kenta HASEGAWA's Press Conference"
"It was a difficult match, but Diego scored well for us."
The match against Sendai has not been won at all in the past year and a half, including the Levain Cup, so I wanted to do something about it today.
I always felt like I was putting pressure on, but I was often skillfully avoided. Today, I wish I could have played more aggressively, but I think I was able to successfully shut down the opponent's soccer and strategize from the first half.
There weren't many chances, but Nagai managed to break through behind the defense line in a good position. It was crucial to be able to break through once like that. With the Emperor's Cup in between, the next league match is against Hiroshima, so we want to prepare thoroughly again."

(Both teams didn't seem to have many chances, but we managed to score one point. What was the intention behind the way we played after taking the lead?)
"It was a substitution made to score an additional point. However, Sendai is good at dragging the game out, so they have used the gaps between our players and picked up second balls from long balls before. Today, I think our players fought until the end while maintaining balance."

(If we hadn't scored at that time, were you planning to take offensive action afterwards?)
"Since it was a home game and we wanted to win, I intended to do so. However, if we attacked too aggressively, we would have fallen into Sendai's trap. In that situation, it was good that we were able to score the opening goal at a good time.
In the front line, Nagai was making good movements. However, Diego couldn't get his engine running as usual, but by bringing in Jael, the engine starts. I was also considering when to bring in Sangho. He can also activate the attack with his individual strength.
Jael is the perfect player to disrupt the opponent's organization. The expectations are high.
Even while Sangho was absent, Mita and Omori have been playing well. It is significant to have speed-oriented players on the bench who can change the flow like Sangho."

"Summary of Sendai - Susumu WATANABE Coach's Press Conference"
"We sent the players out with the intention of not giving any opportunities and instead taking advantage of the opportunities ourselves. In the first half, Tokyo intentionally dropped back, so we spent the first 45 minutes thinking about how to overcome that while also managing the risk of not getting caught on the counter. We predicted that they would definitely step up their game in the second half."

(I think it was a reasonable match with a score of 0-0, but the start was a plan to endure)
"During the course of the match, we actually lost the ball and were hit by a counterattack. That scene exposed the opponent's intention, but the positional balance during our attacks was the problem."
There, I immediately told the midfielder to manage the risk in this way, but if we do that, we won't be able to have enough players in the front, so I wanted to switch to a more powerful attack. The current situation is that we held back.
"Since we have to consider the entire game, we cannot recklessly attack and disrupt the balance. So, it's okay even if the first half ends in a 0-0 draw."

(I had in mind that Tokyo would come for a quick attack from the start)
"To be honest, I didn't expect Tokyo to defend that much. In the previous match against C Osaka, Hasegawa coach also said that it was a strategic move, so I understood that it was a 90-minute game like that. However, we are not a team that is good at possessing the ball like C Osaka, so we couldn't break through."