This week's match is the fourth of four consecutive official home games, against Albirex Niigata. I'm happy to once again be able to play in the special atmosphere created by our home supporters. I always feel the excitement in the stands the moment Gamba switches on their attacking switch, and that cheering gives me the strength to run. Feeling the cheers and applause firsthand makes me feel like "We have no choice but to win!" This time, at home, I will run and fight with all my might for the team. Let's all aim for a sixth consecutive official win.

Although we managed to grab a win against Yokohama F･Marinos in the previous match, not everything went as planned. We started well and had some offensive opportunities early in the first half. However, halfway through the match, both of us wingers started devoting more energy to defense, which wore us down physically and reduced the number of times we went on the counter. On the other hand, we all shared the understanding that if we could keep the score at 0-0 in the first half, spaces would open up in the second half, so in a sense, we were able to endure the difficult times and go into halftime with a scoreless draw, which was according to plan.
Also, at the start of the second half, we were a little stiff, dragging on from the momentum we had at the end of the first half. We played too much risk-free football and allowed the opponent to push us back and concede a goal, but after that, the opponent created space and we were able to attack as we intended. We knew that if the game developed like that, we would be able to find attacking opportunities, so I think the fact that we were able to step up our game at that point led to the comeback win. Above all, it was good that we were able to continue our winning streak.

In this context, we face Albirex Niigata, and I expect it to be a very difficult match. Although Niigata has not been winning much lately, they have been playing very close and good games recently, and their tenacity around the ball means it will not be easy to break through the net. However, just like the Yokohama F. Marinos match, there will inevitably be moments when they lose their balance or show weakness due to being caught up in a relegation battle, so we will need to be mindful of this. Niigata, like Gamba, is a team that strives to keep possession of the ball, and mistakes are bound to occur when passing the ball. If we can properly activate the team's switch in a way that induces a mistake from the opponent, I believe it will definitely create a chance for us. When that time comes, please support us with your support. Thank you very much.