Official Press Conference
Coach Ishii
"I am happy that we won two matches and can now play against our next opponent, Atlético Nacional. Atlético Nacional's strengths are their well-organized defense and attacks from various formations. We will analyze their weaknesses. The key to tomorrow's match is scoring first. In the Mamelodi Sundowns match, there were dangerous situations in the first half. If they had scored, the situation would have been different. It is important to score first."
Player Nishi
"I am enjoying the games, so I don't feel any pressure even as we advance. Regarding Atlético Nacional, we have obtained information thanks to our scouting staff. Their front-line players have high quality. I think it's important to show our strength by seeing what kind of game we can play from here on."
Coach Reinaldo Rueda
"It is a great pleasure for us to be here. We want to make this a good tournament. We also have the great responsibility of representing South America. Time difference is a big factor. The time difference has a significant impact. It particularly affects Latin American players. We have also been playing in our domestic league right up until now. We are trying to minimize the impact of the time difference. I think Mamelodi Sundowns was also affected by the time difference. We want to concentrate on defending against Antlers' strength in aerial battles. There was also the accident, and emotionally there are difficult aspects. We also received support from Brazil. Chapecoense is like a brother team. Although we couldn't play against them in the end, giving them the title would be a tribute to them. They were in the middle of their dream, so in that sense, we have to do our best for them. We had good results with a single defensive midfielder away from home, and the coordination was good. We have considered various variations for the lineup. I want to choose the best players based on the situation tonight. We need to analyze the opponent and consider the team composition. We also need to adapt to the pitch conditions. Antlers play attractive soccer. Their tactics and teamwork are excellent. They played a good game against Santa Fe. I think this team is on par with South American teams."
Player Felipe Aguilar
"The team is in good condition, and we haven't lost our game sense because we played league matches right up until recently. The time difference is always a key factor. We adjusted during our training camp to minimize its impact. We analyzed Antlers by watching their match against Mamelodi Sundowns. They play deep soccer and have speed. They are also good at attacking from the flanks. We will analyze them so that we don't get surprised. The Atlético Nacional team and staff were very happy to transfer the title to Chapecoense. The people of Brazil are our brothers, and we want to play a game that can bring the title back for them and their families. We want to play with respect, no matter who the opponent is. We will play with our own strengths. It doesn't matter who the opponent is."