First of all, it is extremely difficult to get three points away from home, at this stadium, at Kashima, and to beat a team like Kashima, so in that sense, I think the fact that we were able to win is thanks to the players' tenacity in fighting until the end.
I think there were quite a few players in Kashima who played in the EMPEROR'S CUP with only two days between five consecutive matches, but if you ask whether they started the game well after a week's rest, it's often the case that players who get into a good rhythm with only two days between matches can get into the game quickly. Today, for example, the start of the game was not good, and Usami's opening goal was very important. I think Takashi had been struggling to get through it up until then, but that one goal freed him from the curse, and he played very freely, and he played his role in defense until the end, so I think he did a really great job.
The match was two or three days after the national team returned, but they hadn't been used much over there, so I was a little worried about their match fitness, but I think Yonekura was a little tired. He was tired from the trip and mentally exhausted. Since he hadn't played in a match, he didn't have much rhythm and didn't play like he usually does in today's match, but I think he played well until the very end.
We were upset at Nagoya away from 2-0, so we learned from that lesson and decided to fight until the end. The Kashima team never gives up and fights until the end at this stadium, so we talked about continuing to fight in the second half, and although we were pushed back at the end, I think it was a very big victory that we were able to win.
This is the first game of a three-game series, so we want to win today's game, gain momentum, and give it our all in the midweek match against Jeonbuk, win it, and move on to the next round. There are only three days between games, but we'll all be preparing well.

Q: Regarding Usami, you haven't scored a goal since you moved to the left wing, but as the Head Coach, what do you feel is the biggest area in which you've improved, including your play today?
A: In Takashi's case, last year there was a long period of silence when he stopped scoring, and he also had some difficult times this year, but I think he will be able to get on a roll and perform well in the match against Kashima.

Q: Regarding Usami, after scoring the opening goal, it looked like he ran towards the Head Coach with great momentum. Did you say anything to him?
A: No, I thought he was going to someone on the bench, someone else, and when I turned around, I was the only one there (laughs), so I was like, "Oh, it's me." I never thought that Takashi would come. I was just wondering if he would go to someone on the bench. I think Takashi himself must have had a lot of worries and suffering, and the fact that he changed positions and produced results in this way means that he has overcome something and I hope that he will play well.