Official training began at 3:30 PM. It had been raining coldly since the morning, and there were even thunderstorms in the early afternoon, but by the time training started, the sun was peeking through.
With many reporters gathered, the players headed from the locker room to the pitch. First, they warmed up pitchside, then used the wide pitch for running passes. They practiced short and long passes to get a feel for the ground. After a ball-passing drill, the public portion of the training ended after 15 minutes, and they moved into closed-door practice.
Prior to Antlers' official training, Suwon Samsung held their official press conference at 2:30 PM, attended by manager Seo Jung-won, who returned after the semi-final first leg, and player Lim Sang-hyub.
Manager Seo Jung-won:
"The second leg of the semi-finals is finally upon us. There's no doubt that our current situation is very difficult. However, this is a home game, and the team is on a winning streak, so our form is improving. The players are in good condition, and we are preparing well. Since we lost the first leg, we have our backs against the wall. We absolutely want to win and advance to the final. Last time (in the first leg), we played away. We scored two goals in a good atmosphere but then conceded and lost. The difference this time is that we are playing at home. We are well-prepared in terms of player condition and other aspects. We have won two consecutive league games, so I believe the players will fight well with this momentum. Regarding the players regaining stability, I think it's primarily due to a difference in motivation. As a manager, I want the players to play with confidence. When I returned, the atmosphere wasn't good, but recently, we've been playing in very good form. I think the players are playing with a lot of confidence now. We scored two goals away, but I don't consider that an advantage at all. In fact, I think it's a disadvantage. Even though winning would secure our spot in the final, it's a disadvantageous situation, so we want to play a game focused on offense. For that, it's crucial for our midfielders to control the ball. We have nothing to lose, so I expect the players to give their all. There's no doubt that the players' morale is very high heading into the final. We've prepared well and are in good condition, but we want to forget about the good atmosphere of our winning streak and focus entirely on tomorrow's match. For that, I believe mental fighting spirit and giving our absolute best are the most important things. We definitely need the support of our fans, so I hope they come and cheer us on. I think Antlers are a very strong team. They have high-quality players in every position. We particularly need to watch out for player number 9, Suzuki, and midfielder Leo Silva. Their results weren't great at the start of the season, but I think they're in a very good mood now. We want to prepare thoroughly."
Player Lim Sang-hyub:
"Since the manager returned, the players' mentality has stabilized. We've won consecutive league matches, and we scored two goals away. We're determined to win tomorrow and give our all to win and advance to the final. With the manager back, the overall atmosphere and spirit of the players have stabilized. We knew the first leg away would be difficult. Tomorrow is a home game, and we've won two consecutive home matches recently. We want to fight hard. We've come this far as representatives of Korea, so I feel a strong sense of responsibility. I believe our supporters will come and cheer us on without us even asking. I hope so."
Antlers' official press conference started at 3:00 PM, before official training. Manager Oiwa and player Anzai attended.
Manager Go Oiwa:
"This is a very important match, the second leg of the semi-finals. Even though it's an away game, we want to start aggressively and proactively. Regardless of the first leg's result, we don't want to be passive; we want to take the initiative. It's an away game, and we need to be careful about the early stages, where we conceded two goals in the first leg. We want to be proactive, take the initiative, and start strong. (Regarding adjustments from the Urawa match) It's a different competition, and I've emphasized changing our mindset. It's important that the players are positive and proactive for this match. That attitude is leading to good preparation now, so we want to express that well on the pitch tomorrow. (Regarding the first leg's result) I consider the 3-2 scoreline from the first leg as if it never happened. It's important to assess the game situation and flow and maintain a strong connection between the pitch and the bench. There's talk of a long-cherished wish, but instead of looking too far ahead, we're only thinking about winning this second leg and advancing to the next round, to the final. We want to prepare in a way that allows us to pour all our energy into tomorrow's 90 minutes. (Regarding changes in Suwon Samsung) After analyzing their recent matches, I felt a good atmosphere and the players' positive attitude. I think with the manager back, they have strong team management. As I've said many times, we also need to show an aggressive fighting spirit from the start of the match, without being passive to the opponent's momentum."
Player Anzai:
"We were able to come back and win the first leg, but putting that aside for a moment, we want to go there and firmly win this away match. They are a team that comes out very aggressively from the start, so we need to make sure we don't start wrongly. We need to enter the game with more spirit and concentration than our opponents. Set pieces are a strength for both teams, so I think that will be a key point. If we win, we automatically go to the final. I'm sure the first goal will heavily influence the outcome, but whether we concede first or score first, we will remain committed to winning and play that way."
After official training, they responded to media interviews.
【Video】Official Training
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【Video】Anzai Player Press Conference
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【Video】Manager Oiwa Press Conference
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