The players prepared individually until 4 PM, the start of the official practice, and warmed up on the sidelines of the pitch.
During the 15 minutes open to the media, the players used the entire pitch for passing drills and possession training.
Prior to the official practice, Antlers held an official press conference at 3:30 PM.
Manager Go Oiwa
"I think away goals are an important factor for us. I feel that if we approach the second leg with a strong determination to score away goals, rather than focusing on the first leg, we can achieve the desired result. This season's J.League has been a series of back-to-back matches with a tight schedule. I believe it was a very meaningful week for the players, and we were able to come to Shanghai with ample time. I feel that we will be able to show an aggressive attitude from the start of tomorrow's match. In the first leg, we were able to proceed with a lead. I feel that game control when leading is something we must do well in the second leg as well. In the first leg, two of our goals came from set pieces, and one from a breakdown in play. We will continue to target their weak points in the second leg. The staff, club officials, and players all understand the importance of tomorrow's match. However, we will approach the match with the mindset of having "come away" and focus on winning decisively. That is the priority. We hope to advance to the next round as a result. We will prepare thoroughly for this match. That is the spirit with which we want to approach it."
Shoma Doi
"I've been with Antlers since the youth academy and have seen and experienced winning many titles, but the AFC Champions League is the only one we haven't won. I don't know how my other teammates feel, but personally, I have an exceptionally strong desire to win it. Tomorrow, I want to rewrite Antlers' history with the staff and my teammates. I want to work hard to make that happen on away ground."
Shanghai SIPG's official press conference was held at Shanghai Stadium from 6:30 PM.