First of all, I would like to congratulate Head Coach Moriyasu, the Hiroshima players and supporters. I would also like to thank the Gamba supporters and players for not giving up until the very end of the game and for their strong support and play that pushed them to the brink.
As for today's match, I thought the first goal was the key, and I think we played a really great game in the first half. And we were able to score the first goal. I think that period in the second half was the deciding factor. We put Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira and Kurata in and moved Usami to the left. We were using them as the main players in the final stages, so in a way it was inevitable that we didn't score. I think that Kashiwa, who came on as a substitute, and Asano's shots were very difficult, but that equalizer had a big impact, and we could have kept our cool and built up the play even if we had conceded a few more goals, but I think we played a little too many long balls in a situation where we had to score two goals. I think the players played really well in this schedule with only three days between games and two days between games, and I think the players played with all their heart in the intense game against Urawa and these two championship games, and I think we were able to fight a great championship.
In terms of the results, I think the red card in the first leg and the comeback have had a lasting impact, and although it's fine for us to get heated up from now on, we need to make sure we don't overheat and also train our mentality properly.There is still the EMPEROR'S CUP left this season, so we will take some time to rest and then get ready again for that.

Q: The championship was played two days out of three days, but this was your 57th official match this season, and you showed no signs of fatigue and played very boldly. You may not have had many options, but how did you plan to play today?
A: The first half went as planned. In the second half, we put in Kurata and Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira to put more pressure on the opponent. I think that the substitutions were not as effective as I had hoped. However, Kurata dribbled boldly and took a few shots, and Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira also went a little behind the defense and had a header, so I was watching with the hope that they would be able to take advantage of that opportunity. So, I think the players really played the way I expected them to, and I think the reason we didn't win was because we didn't finish it off properly, and I was too lenient on myself.

Q: Following up on the previous question, you said that when you brought in Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira and Kurata, the pressure wasn't effective enough, but before that, Nagasawa and Usami were passing the ball around the middle in attack and it was going very well, so the substitution was probably as planned, but I think there was also the option of delaying that substitution a little and continuing with the same format. What do you think?
A: Yes. I think I take responsibility for that as well. If Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira had scored a goal, then the substitution would have been a good idea, and I think it's all down to hindsight. However, in the end, Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira didn't play. His foot hadn't been working that much in the last two games, so I thought he could play a little more, but I think he wanted to start as a starter, and he accepted it for the sake of the team, and I think it was difficult to start a game as a bench starter. I think Nagasawa was also a starting point in the front line until that time, but of course, as you say, I don't know what would have happened if he had been held back a little more, but from the bench, I thought that he was a little less stable with the ball, or rather, his footwork in the front line. Last time, he played very aggressively and it was a game with two days off, and he was moving so much on both offense and defense in the first half, so I wanted to use a player with a little more power at the end. Of course, Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira has been the ace player all this season, so if you only look at this game, that may be the case, but if you look at the whole season, I think his presence was very important to the team, so in the end, I think Kurata and Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira led the team especially towards the end of the season, and I'm looking forward to seeing them play. Of course, we talked about a little more, but in the end, I made the decision myself to bet on them, and that bet didn't work out.

Q: During the Nabisco Cup, you said that you were not able to give the team any openings, or rather, that they were determined to win the title after winning the triple crown last year. I think that you have probably improved in that area, including during the championship, but please tell me more specifically about the team's situation in that area and how you would like to improve for the remaining EMPEROR'S CUP.
A: In the Nabisco Cup, Kashima is a really great team, but we played a very good game in the previous match against Sendai, so I thought we would be able to go in with a good performance, but Kashima came in with a very strong mentality and we were unable to play our own football, so after that we played the ACL and the Nabisco Cup, and until we lost 0-2 at home to Hiroshima, I felt like I was still dragging my feet, not the players, but myself, and I'm sorry that it took me a while to switch gears. However, in the EMPEROR'S CUP, we were able to play aggressive football like today, losing 2-0 to Kawasaki without national team players, and I think it gave us a lot of confidence to be able to get revenge on the team that we lost to 3-5 at home, and in that environment, we played against Yamagata and then Urawa in the CS. I think that the players were able to go all the way to the finals with a very strong feeling of determination and confidence in this championship, even in the midst of such a fierce match. However, that part was too strong and ended up with him being sent off like that, so I wish he could have controlled it a little more mentally, but I think that we got too heated up after reflecting on the fact that we didn't have enough fighting spirit at the Nabisco Cup, and even though Konno got a yellow card today, he became very aggressive and played great in these three games, and I think the loss gave the players new motivation to play. It was the first time we lost to Hiroshima in a league game at home, so I think the players recovered really well after losing like that and played great.

Q: Regarding the substitutions of Kurata and Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira, right after Kurata, Head Coach Moriyasu immediately brought in Asano. And right after Anderson PATRIC Aguiar Oliveira, he brought in Kashiwa. It seemed as if Head Coach Moriyasu was waiting for the opponent to make a substitution before playing his card. What did Head Coach think about that?
A: I think it's inevitable that the team chasing has to make the first move. I don't think the leading team will make the first move, and unless the losing team takes the initiative, they have to be the chasing team, so I think it's a common tactic to make substitutions in that area. In the first leg, we got a free kick from Kurata's foul, and we had the equalizer from there, so I think that when they saw that Kurata was cut on the left, they put in Asano, and then Kashiwa. Well, I think that Head Coach put Takashi on the left and judged that he couldn't defend, but I think that's a good thing, and unless the chasing team makes a move first, the leading team won't make a move, so if there's a pinch when they make a move, there's also an opportunity, so I think that was the deciding factor.

Q: From your perspective as Head Coach Hasegawa, you are of the same generation as Head Coach Moriyasu. How amazing is he?
A: I think he is very good at managing the team. He sets targets throughout the year. Normally, I wouldn't say this, but I don't think I could have substituted Sato at that time. I think that's because of the trust he has with Sato. I don't think that an ordinary Head Coach could do something like that for a whole year, and he has the mental strength to keep doing things the same way. If I hadn't won last year, I might have changed things a little this year, but he just kept doing it. I think he is a very wonderful Head Coach because he can do the work of strengthening the team by following through on those points.