▼▼MOVIE▼▼
In the afternoon, an official press conference was held at Kashima Stadium, attended by Antlers Manager Oiwa and player Nagaki.
Manager Go Oiwa:
"There's the difficulty of the first match, the difficulty of the tournament regulations being a single elimination, and the difficulty that our opponents are in mid-season. However, we knew all of this, so we will show on the field that we have prepared thoroughly for it. We have accumulated various training sessions during our camp and in Kashima, so we want to enter the game based on our past practices. I think the opposing team might flexibly change their system and players. There are distinctive players we must be careful of, so we want to prepare thoroughly to deal with them and then bring out our strengths."
▼▼MOVIE▼▼
Ryota Nagaki:
"This is a match we absolutely must win, and the entire team has been preparing well for it. We want to play with only victory in mind. Since it's an opponent we're playing for the first time, we've done our analysis. I think it's important for the players to constantly check the situation with each other. Within that, we need to communicate well, and there will be times when we have to make adjustments among the players. If we can respond effectively in those situations, I believe we can lead the game into a favorable development, so I want to be conscious of that."
▼▼MOVIE▼▼
Representing the Newcastle Jets were Manager Ernie Merrick and Captain Nigel Boogaard.
Manager Ernie Merrick:
"It is a great honor to be here in Kashima. We know about Antlers, and I believe they are one of the most successful teams in Japan. I've spoken to several Brazilian coaches with experience coaching in Japan, and I have the impression that Japan is a team that fights as a collective. I think it will be a very tough match, but we are determined to win and advance to the group stage."
Nigel Boogaard:
"It's a huge honor to play against Antlers, who are probably one of the strongest teams in Asia, and I hope it will be a good match. I'm very honored to be able to play in front of the crowd in this stadium, and I want to win the match and advance to the next group stage."
After the press conference, the Newcastle Jets held an official practice session at Kashima Stadium. Only the first 15 minutes were open to the media.
