Official matches will resume after a break of about two weeks. In March, we had a series of away games, so this match against Kyoto Sanga FC in the 9th Sec. of the Meiji Yasuda J1 J.LEAGUE 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE will be our first home game in about a month. This time, we players and staff are determined to win, and we want to unite the feelings of our supporters who are hoping that we will win, and secure three points for sure.

During this two-week interval, we mainly focused on reviewing risk management when attacking and our defensive play in front of our own goal when being attacked. In the last two league matches, we conceded goals in the final minutes, which led to penalty shootouts, so we worked on detailed checks and adjustments based on those experiences. We also used this time to push our bodies hard again with rigorous training and replenish our energy in order to get through the grueling "11 consecutive matches" ahead. Personally, during these consecutive matches, I felt that even though I could start the first two or three games in 100% condition, my recovery ability couldn't keep up as the matches progressed, and I was gradually wearing myself down. So, I worked backward from "what I need to do to keep the accelerator pressed on in every match" and used this time to try various things, such as diet, sleep, how I spend my private time, and how I take care of myself, to find the optimal solution for myself.

Kyoto hasn't seen a significant change in the style of football they're playing under Head Coach Cho Kwi-jae. However, I've noticed some momentum in 18-year-old YOON Sungjun, who's been playing as a defensive midfielder in recent matches, and the team as a whole seems to be consistently playing with high intensity in tackles, running, and transitions. We also value that intensity, so if we can outmaneuver them in one-on-one situations and move the ball effectively, we should see them being put on the back foot in various situations, like in the recent match Vissel Kobe(7th Sec.), and I believe that will give us more opportunities to play the way we want. Another key point will be how we behave when we start to lose that team intensity. Ideally, we'd like to maintain that intensity for the entire 90 minutes, including the substitutes, pushing into the opponent's half and moving the ball around, but there will be times when that's not possible depending on how the game unfolds. So, we need to have a shared understanding of how we should proceed in those situations, fight together, and win the match in 90 minutes.

After this match, we'll face Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League 2 semi-finals. To build momentum for that, we want to win the Kyoto match cleanly in 90 minutes. Your support is greatly appreciated.