During the initial 15 minutes of the open session, the players engaged in warm-up exercises, followed by passing and control drills and rondos.
In the afternoon, an official press conference was held at Kashima Stadium, attended by Head Coach Oiwa and Player Shoji.
Head Coach Go Oiwa:
"I can confidently say that the players' motivation and condition are excellent as we head into tomorrow's match, aiming to achieve our goal of winning the ACL. Persepolis is a strong team, but we want to play well at home and win, approaching the match with confidence.
(Persepolis FC) gives the impression of a disciplined and united team. They employ an organized and solid defense, launching quick counterattacks utilizing their two forwards, which we must be wary of. We have thoroughly analyzed them and devised countermeasures, and we look forward to tomorrow's match.
In the 2016 Club World Cup, we participated as the host nation's representative after becoming J-League champions. This time, we want to win the title ourselves and represent Asia. To do that, we must win both legs of the final. We will play our brand of football and aim to reach our goal of winning the championship. (Regarding Persepolis FC not conceding multiple goals) We have analyzed them as a very strong team with a disciplined and organized defense. However, they are not without weaknesses, and we are indeed aware of them. It is the role of the coach and staff to prepare the players to execute on the pitch and create an environment where they can play with confidence. While I cannot disclose specifics here, we aim to exploit their weaknesses, score goals at home, keep a clean sheet, and score multiple goals."
Player Gen Shoji:
"Since we are playing the first leg at home, both we and our supporters believe that if we play our style of football, we will win, regardless of the opponent. We want to be thoroughly prepared for tomorrow. The opponent's attackers have quality and seem to possess excellent individual skills. I myself have played against Middle Eastern and African players several times, and I don't think I'll be too flustered. I want to convey the characteristics of their players to my teammates as much as possible, and we have already shared information among the players. I am confident we can contain them tomorrow, and I'm excited to play against non-Japanese players. I hope to give my all.
As the coach also mentioned, we want to challenge for the Club World Cup as Asian champions this time. The Club World Cup is a stage for revenge, and we want to win through the tough competition in Asia and challenge the Club World Cup with confidence. For that, we need to perform in these two matches and definitely win the championship.
Last year, we narrowly missed out on the championship, and this year, our desire to win titles is even stronger. Out of four titles we aimed for, we have lost two so far. In that context, I feel it is fate for both myself and the club to challenge the ACL, aiming for our 20th title. The ACL is the only title Antlers has not yet won, and all of us, including myself, the players, staff, and supporters, desire it. Our emotions are naturally running high. This year, I've had various experiences, such as the World Cup and injuries. This is my eighth year as a professional, and I've overcome many obstacles. There have been good times and bad times, but I consider this final a major hurdle. We have come this far to win the ACL. We want to show a different team from last year. As Zico TD has always said since his arrival, it means nothing if we don't reach the top. We actually failed to reach the top in two titles, and the entire Antlers family has a strong desire to reach the top, so we will do our best. (Regarding the ACL Final) For Antlers, except for Kwoun Sun-tae, it will be the first time for everyone. I think it's a big game for both the players and the club. We have fought for various titles and played against many teams, gaining a lot of experience. Our determination for this match is strong, and it is undoubtedly important, but since we are a club that has experienced many things, I don't think we will be overly tense. The current players are inheriting the tradition of this club, and there are veteran players who support them. Personally, there's nothing particularly special about it. It's still an important match, and if we win, different emotions might arise, but right now, I am calm."
From Persepolis, Head Coach Branko Ivankovic and Player Mohammad Ansari attended.
Head Coach Branko Ivankovic:
"There isn't much to say as it's the final, but we are extremely proud to be able to play on this grand stage of the final. It is an honorable stage for us, and I believe these two teams are the best two teams in Asia. We hope to enjoy these two matches as a team and make our fans happy. Antlers is a good team and deserves to be on this final stage. We will do our best, and since it's a different type of football and an opponent we don't usually play against, I'm very much looking forward to it. We have thoroughly analyzed Antlers. I think they are a very good team and have strengths. However, we have also devised countermeasures for them. We want to play in a way that negates the opponent's strengths on the pitch. I believe our team is also a wonderful team worthy of being on the final stage, so we want to give our all in the final. We have always played without changing our philosophy, whether at home or away. Regarding this final, since we can play the second leg at home, we will be able to play with the support of over 80,000 fans. They always push us, and the team can perform at more than 100%. I believe that in this final as well, all our supporters will be our driving force."
Player Mohammad Ansari:
"First, I would like to express my gratitude for the hospitality in Japan. The presence of two teams representing both Iran and Japan on this stage signifies that they are the two best teams in Asia. Since the beginning of this season, we have had the goal of winning this title. We have done a lot of analysis on Antlers and have respect for them. However, for the sake of both the club and the country, we want to fight with all our might in this final and achieve results."
Between the official press conferences of Antlers and Persepolis, a commemorative photo session was also held with the championship trophy.
After the official press conference, Persepolis FC held an official practice at Kashima Stadium. The media was allowed to observe only the first 15 minutes. The players even had time to take a commemorative photo. During the initial 15 minutes of the open session, a half-court game was being played.
For the final, Kashima Stadium was also decorated. A spider camera was also installed for broadcasting.
