Day two saw us enter full-on combat mode.
"The perfect moment is approaching."

■
Day 2 in Riyadh. After breakfast, we had free time until lunch. Everyone spent their time differently: swimming in the hotel pool, working out or running in the gym, using the sauna, or simply resting. They spent the half-day in a way that suited their own condition and, working backward from the match date, they felt was "what they needed."

"I went for a short run in the morning, then went swimming, and did a little bit of exercise at the gym. After that, I thought about going outside for some fresh air, but it was too hot, so I gave up and slept until lunchtime (Tokuma SUZUKI)."

After lunch, we left the hotel at 4:30 PM and headed to the same training ground of the Al Nassr academy team as yesterday. Players came out of the locker room one by one after changing and warmed up with stretches and other methods, and then, starting a little after 6 PM, all the staff and players gathered in a circle on the field for an open-air meeting. Head Coach Jens Wiszing's passionate words echoed throughout the room.

"Starting today, we will prepare our minds and bodies thoroughly for the final. The greatest moment is approaching. We are able to play in the final because everyone has played in a way that deserves it. I am confident that everyone will play a great game, and I want everyone to believe in themselves and fight. However, the final is not just any match. It is a one-shot deal. What is important is how much you can trust the teammates beside you and behind you as you fight. Of course, Al Nassr has some high-level players. But they are not 100% fresh, and naturally, they have weaknesses as well as strengths. The same goes for us. We can create many more chances to score. We can create many more chances to score goals. We will all create the best possible condition for ourselves and our teammates, and head towards the goal with energy. And then we will finish. We will fight as a strong group. That is why we will prepare to the best of our ability today. Let's go (Visking, the Head Coach)."

The training began the same way as yesterday, with activation under the guidance of physical coach Timo Rosenberg. The training included a running session, followed by a "three-man birdcage" drill to improve cardiovascular fitness. As a side note, around 6:30 PM coincides with the Islamic prayer time (Maghreb/just after sunset), so calls of the "adhan" echo simultaneously from all directions, enveloping the ground in a unique Saudi Arabian atmosphere.
After that, they started with a 4-on-3 drill in the penalty box, plus wide play to review offensive and defensive strategies. There was clearly a sense of alertness in the team's atmosphere and the aura emanating from each player, which was different from yesterday.
"Always be prepared."
"Let's focus on the details."
There are many shouts and cheers. Cheers erupt every time a goal is scored, and applause accompanies good saves by the goalkeeper.
Next up was a cross game with 8-on-8 plus a free man on half the field. The keywords that have been central to Vising Gamba's football this season were repeatedly heard on the pitch.

"Focus on switching between actions and increasing intensity," "Improve accuracy," "Pay attention to quality," "Clearly determine whether to pass or shoot," "Make the best choice," "Move your head and body effectively."

It's been about 50 minutes since they started kicking the ball. The temperature was still 34 degrees Celsius at 7:15 PM, but Genta MIURA said it felt cooler today, perhaps because there was a bit more wind than the previous day, or maybe because his body had gotten used to it. Being able to experience this kind of feeling is probably one of the benefits of arriving at the venue a day earlier than usual for an ACL away game.

"In Ratchaburi, Thailand, it was definitely much more humid, and the heat hit you directly, but here, perhaps because it's drier than the temperature would suggest, it doesn't feel as hot as 34 degrees. Even considering that the actual kickoff is a little later, I don't feel like the heat will be a problem at the moment (Ryoya YAMASHITA)."

"Of course, it's 34 degrees, so it's hot (laughs). It's hotter than Japan. However, the humidity isn't as high as in Thailand, so I don't think the heat will be too much of a problem. If we can get our bodies used to this heat again tomorrow, or rather, let it soak in, we'll be fine. If we can control that, I think we'll be able to fight on match day without being distracted by it (Dennis Hummett)."

"I don't feel the heat that much, but the air is dry, and I'm worried that my throat gets dry very quickly when I move around or speak. However, if I drink too much water, my stomach gets sloshed, so I think it's better to just gargle. I'm checking these things with myself and steadily improving my condition. For the team, it's not often that we get to experience such a big match as the final away from home, and everyone is giving off an atmosphere of wanting to make the most of this opportunity. There's nothing to be afraid of, and I think we just need to unite as one and face the final together (Ryo HATSUSE)."

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After completing a compact and high-intensity training session, the players split into several groups for additional training: the attackers practiced shooting, the defenders worked on long kicks, and some players ran short distances under the guidance of physical coach Timo Rosenberg. The second day of training concluded at 7:40 PM.

"I definitely felt like my body was moving more easily today than yesterday, but I don't feel particularly light yet. However, based on how things have been so far, I have a feeling that tomorrow will be the lightest, and that's very positive for the match. The fact that I arrived in Riyadh a day early is also a tailwind, and I feel like I'll be in good condition on match day (Suzuki)."

"Everyone has been showing the same intense energy as in the 2nd Leg of the semi-final against Bangkok United, and I feel that we've all been moving forward yesterday and today with a strong sense of focus. I don't feel that Jens' words have changed much since we came here; in fact, they're as passionate as ever, which really gets us fired up, and he's also been encouraging us to push even further in what we've been working on. I can really feel the team's passion growing day by day, and we're heading towards the final in a really great atmosphere (Yamashita)."

"Now that it's the second day, I'm starting to feel like my body is moving more freely. There's still time until the final, so I made a conscious effort not to push myself too hard or get too worked up during today's practice. I think the worst thing for me would be to get too worked up before the match and lose my alertness. So, I haven't watched too much footage of our opponents yet. What's important is how we're going to approach the match and how close we can get to the ideal of Jens's football. I'm grateful to be able to compete in the final in this place, and I'll spend the next day preparing thoroughly, focusing only on expressing myself properly (Takeru KISHIMOTO)."

"Today is the second day, and just as the Head Coach said at the beginning, 'gradually raise the intensity,' I can feel everyone relaxing appropriately, but also gradually switching on and creating an alert atmosphere. I myself am trying to do what I need to do as usual, without putting too much pressure on myself, but I'm incredibly motivated (laughs). I feel that ACL2 has been a tournament where I've been involved in many scoring opportunities since last year, and it's a tournament where I've been able to create good momentum for myself, so when a chance comes, I want to show through my play that I have a reason to be here, and I want to give everything I can to help Gamba win. I'm prepared for the level of our opponents to be considerably higher than in previous matches, but that's precisely why I'm also very excited. The individual level of Al Nassr's players is certainly high, but none of us are intimidated by them, and we have a vision of winning if we play without showing too much respect, and we can win. I want to align our feelings on that, fully demonstrate the football that the team has built together up to this point, and enjoy that moment (Gaku NAWATA)."

"The ACL2 is a tournament where I've felt frustrated because I haven't been able to contribute much to the team. So I'm genuinely happy to be able to compete in the final and to be able to aim for it with everyone so that Gamba can win. Especially recently, instead of just thinking that it's enough if I do well or if I can play well, I feel the joy of winning as a team more than ever before, so I spend each day with the feeling that I will do my best to do what I can to help Gamba win until the very last moment of the final. This time it's an away final, so we won't be able to receive the cheers of many Gamba supporters in the stadium like at Panasonic Stadium Suita Stadium, but the fact that there are many supporters who believe in our victory and are cheering us on remains the same no matter where we are. We all want to respond to their feelings by winning the championship (Jiro NAKAMURA)."

"Until the very end of the final match, I will give my absolute best and see it through. That's all I think about. Personally, I've had a few setbacks, but I've been in great shape since coming here, and I've been feeling really good in practice, so I'm confident that I can definitely do it. Unlike our opponents, we're used to playing at a high tempo, and that's a skill we've honed in Japanese football, but that being said, anything can happen on the final stage. I think it's important to focus on the details, such as minimizing mistakes and being fully aware of what's happening around us. If we do that, we'll definitely create chances and get the results we want. On top of that, we'll win the trophy and celebrate with everyone when we return to Osaka. As a team, we have a clear image of that, so I think we'll be fine; all that's left is to give it our all on the pitch (Issam JEBALI)."

"I felt a sense of excitement deep down when we secured our place in the final, but now that our opponent has been decided as Al Nassr and we've moved to Riyadh, that excitement has only intensified. Many teams have fought for a place in the final, but only two can make it there, and we are now one of them. Faced with this situation, I don't think there's a single player, including myself, who can't fight, and I can feel that atmosphere in training. Of course, our opponent is of high quality, and we are prepared for a difficult match. But at the same time, we can see that if we build on the strength we've accumulated, further refine our skills since coming to Riyadh, and don't neglect the details of our preparation, we can get closer to victory. I believe that many Gamba supporters from Japan will send us their support, and in fact, since the ACL2 semi-finals and beyond are broadcast in my home country of Brazil, my family and friends in Brazil are all cheering for Gamba and for me. We want to seize victory by supporting each other for the sake of the team's victory, and by prioritizing the team's victory in everything we do and deciding what the best play is (WELTON)."

Tomorrow, the 15th, the official press conference and pre-match training will finally take place at King Saud University Stadium, the venue for the match. With limited time, Gamba will spend their last day on their quest for the title, experiencing the stadium atmosphere and pitch conditions.

Interview and text by Misa Takamura