Manager Ishii: "Ever since winning the Nabisco Cup, I've been looking forward to participating in this tournament. Our opponents, Independiente Santa Fe, are a historically strong club from Colombia. We will analyze them, and I want to prepare so that Kashima Antlers, representing Japan, can play a great match against such a strong opponent and win our third title."
Player Shoji: "This is my first time playing against a South American team, so I'm looking forward to it. At the same time, the Suruga Bank Championship is not just for Kashima Antlers but also a tournament where we represent Japan, so I want to make it a tournament where we can prove that Japanese clubs are strong. I want to prepare well for the match."
