It was great to see so many supporters from Osaka and Japan come to the match, and to be able to give them a victory as a gift. I think it was the result of the players fighting with concentration until the very end.
I've watched a few of Seoul's games, and they're very tough, and since they won at Kashima's home ground, we were very wary of their physical strength and set pieces. We had some dangerous moments on the counter, but in the second half, we were able to regain our rhythm and score goals playing the kind of football we want to play, which I think is great. However, we've only just finished the first leg, so we'll have another week to prepare and train hard so we can win another home game.

Q: I think the first and second halves of the game were completely different, but what instructions did you give to the team when you brought Kurata in for the second half? What did you tell the team?
A: In the first half, the players looked heavy and were not playing Gamba football, so I put in Kurata and we wanted to create a bit more rhythm. Seoul's block was very solid and we couldn't break through it, but we talked about connecting the ball more firmly, creating rhythm and waiting for opportunities. I think Aki really created the rhythm for the team in the second half.

Q: Usami played brilliantly, scoring two goals, but there was an accident in the previous game, so were you a little worried? Also, what is your assessment of his play today?
A: I think he played great in the second half, especially after scoring a goal, but watching the first half, he made so many mistakes that I honestly thought we should replace him, and I felt like he wasn't in top physical condition. I think he's gotten a little tougher because he was able to produce results like that even when he wasn't in top condition. I think he got a huge advantage today by scoring two goals.

Q: The result was very different between the 2nd Leg group stage match against Seongnam in March and today. Have you made any changes to the team since then in preparation for the ACL, or has the team's condition and combination simply improved?
A: We didn't do anything special for the ACL. I think the team's condition and combination have improved compared to back then. However, I think the players learned a lot from the bitter and painful experiences they had at the ACL, and I think each player came into the match today with the harshness of Asia in mind and with determination. In that sense, I think the painful experiences are a big difference from back then.

Q: Fujiharu on the left, even with Cha Du-ri in front of him, was involved in many goals, and Yonekura on the right also scored a goal, so both fullbacks excelled on both offense and defense. What do you think about that?
A: With only three days left in between games, Yonekura played one game due to knee pain, but even though he was not in perfect condition, Fujiharu played all day and was very tired, but I think his determination to play today and his determination to not lose were evident in his play. I think Fujiharu was also very fired up to play against Cha Du-ri, which I think led to his performance today.

Q: There is now the second match remaining. You always say that Korea is physically tough when it comes to playing against Korean teams. How will Japanese football respond to the physical aspects of Korean football?
A: When we play against Korean teams, we need to perform well in the basic areas, such as strength in close contact with the ball, the number of times we sprint, and how strong we make those sprints, otherwise we won't be allowed to play, so I guess it's inevitable that those kinds of expressions end up happening a lot.
The J.League also plays very intense football, but rather than having the same kind of physical strength as the Korean teams, where the players are really tenacious and put their bodies on the line in front of the goal, the current coaches are trying to focus on those aspects of the Japanese J.League and make it stronger.
However, I think that technical aspects are still Japan's strength, and when it comes to how to match up with a football that puts such aspects at the forefront, when playing against South Korea, the first priority is to make sure that we do not lose in terms of physical strength or mentality. That is, if we do not fight in a way that allows us to put up a good fight, even if we cannot say that we are on equal terms, then we will not be allowed to play, and I think that is why such expressions are often used by Japanese coaches.