After winning our last match against Shonan Bellmare, we are back at home. From here, we have four more matches at Panasonic Stadium Suita, including our match against Toho in the AFC Champions League 2. As a team, we want to steadily accumulate points in the league, focusing on our four consecutive wins, and get off to a good start in ACL 2!

In the previous match, the 28th Sec., against Shonan Bellmare, we were able to pull off a comeback victory, helped by the numerical advantage we had at the end of the first half. However, to be honest, the content of the match was far from satisfactory. We started with a three-back formation to counter the opponent, but the "strategy" we had prepared as a team was not fully reflected, and although we were unlucky enough to concede two superb goals from the opponent, I felt that each player needs to improve their defensive response in certain situations.

With the score at 1-3 at halftime, I entered the second half imagining a play that would annoy the opponents. Rather than passing the ball forward to our double defensive midfielders, Shuto (Abe) and Rin (MITO), I consciously decided to drop back and drag the opposing right center back along, knowing that they are players who excel at getting forward themselves. I actually told Rin to keep pushing forward into the space created by that. In the end, I think it was a positive thing that we were able to execute that strategy, including Rin's goal early in the second half. However, I reiterate that we still have a lot to work on, including the four goals we conceded. We'll keep that in mind as a team, but we'll also use the fact that we won as motivation to move forward. I also believe there's still a lot we need to improve, both personally and numerically.

To be honest, our opponent this week, Urawa Reds, is a somewhat difficult opponent in terms of how we match their tactics. While our ideal is to maintain possession of the ball, take the initiative, and break down the defense, Urawa, on the other hand, plays in a way that favors that kind of development. In fact, I think that's why, as in the first half of this season, when Urawa dominated the game and we were on the defensive, we were able to land counterattacks and win. With that in mind, I think it's important to keep Dani (Head Coach Poyatos)'s tactics in mind, but also to avoid playing into their opponents' hands depending on the situation. Please support us.