GAMBA OSAKA , who have been fighting fiercely to reach the top of the ACL2, will take on their strongest rival in a crucial match. The players have been running alongside Head Coach Vissing, carrying the baton inherited from former Head Coach Poyatos. Young defensive midfielder Rin MITO , who has steadily grown since joining GAMBA OSAKA , has proven his strength when the team was in trouble. He is expected to shine even in the completely away final.

The ACL 2 matches so far have been incredibly difficult, but I've grown so much as a player. I haven't had much experience in international tournaments in my career so far, except for a match against South Korea with a university select team, so this has been a valuable experience. Because of this, even before the ACL 2 tournament started, I was excited to see what kind of tournament it would be, and I had a strong desire to actually play in it.

The away match against Namdin FC in the group stage was a 1-0 victory, but it was a very difficult game. I was able to showcase my strengths at a crucial moment and score the winning goal, which allowed us to advance to the knockout stage with a perfect record. I felt the most confident in that match against Namdin FC. I realized they were strong, and it was the first time I felt intimidated by them. They were powerful, and in their determination to win, they would even pull on my jersey when the referee wasn't looking. Some might call it dirty play, but it was also skillful play, and I felt their fierce determination to win. I was incredibly happy that we won that match, and it remains a very memorable match for me as my best game.

What kind of play did you become more conscious of during the ACL2 matches?

Having experienced the competition in Asia, I've realized that the intensity of the opponent's play and the environment are completely different at home and away. The opponent's tenacity, and, if I may say so, dirty and rough play, are also part of the difficulty of ACL2, so while it's tough, I personally find it very enjoyable. Since experiencing the group stage last year, I've become more conscious of tenacity, not going down easily during play, and being physically resilient.
I was able to demonstrate that tenacity in the play just before the winning goal in the quarter-final away match against Ratchaburi FC. At that time, I was focused on carrying the ball forward, and if I had fallen there, nothing would have happened. I think the opposing defenders couldn't come too hard near their penalty area, so when I pushed forward there, it led to WELTON's goal, and that play was really good.
We've played well as a team up to this point, but in the final, it's all meaningless unless we win. We only need to win, and I don't care about the details of the match. Against Al Nassr, we'll just play our own style of football, and we intend to go for the title and come back victorious. I've watched videos of our opponents. They seem to have excellent players in every position, but we have many advantages, so we'll go into the match with confidence. I believe we can win if our players don't lose their individual battles, and when I'm on the pitch, I intend to go all out against their defensive midfielders.
In Coach Jens's Head Coach of football, we defend from the front line, everyone tracks back to defend, and everyone defends with high intensity, which is a strength that Al Nassr doesn't have.

We want to play in a way that will warm the hearts of our supporters.

I myself have overcome difficult times, and I believe that many people, including Dani, Riku Handa (a contemporary of mine who was injured), and players who have since left Gamba, have helped me get this far and allowed me to play in matches. I think the feelings of those people will motivate me even more in the final. Even if we win, it won't be a title I achieved alone, and the team didn't get this far solely through my efforts. Winning ACL II will reward everyone involved with Gamba. The presence of supporters who travel to away games is very encouraging, and seeing and hearing them cheering so hard motivates me, and I'm truly grateful. It's a completely away final, so I don't know how it will unfold, but it's a one-off match, so I intend to approach it with a strong mindset.

If I actually get to play against Cristiano Ronaldo, whom I've watched on TV since I was little, I'll be excited, but in the final, I'll just play as I always have, showcasing the skills I've built up. I'm not thinking about becoming a hero; if Gamba wins, that's all that matters to me. Therefore, no matter who the opponent is, I will simply give my all to the best of my ability. Of course, it would be ideal if I could score a goal and win, but if that role doesn't come up during the match, I want to play for the team, even if it means doing the dirty work. I feel that I have grown in many ways through this tournament, so it has already been a wonderful tournament, but the impression will change depending on whether we win or lose in the final match. I want to win in order to end on a good note. To that end, I want to play in a way that will excite the supporters and inspire them, and I am determined to play my best for Gamba in any situation on the pitch.