Head Coach DANIEL POYATOS : "We have a lot of matches to play in April and May, so we wanted to be in good condition for each match, and so we've been focusing on our conditioning during this break. Our opponent, Niigata, works hard, but at the same time, they press hard, switch between offense and defense, and move the ball quickly. We're struggling against an opponent who uses high pressure and plays man-marking, but we have a completely different player composition than other teams, so we need to fight while keeping a good balance. We have a tight schedule, so we really need everyone's strength, and while I value all of my players, I want to consider the composition of the team that will help us win while assessing their condition."

MF16 Tokuma SUZUKI "Niigata is a team that excels at having the ball, so I think it will be important to prevent them from using their strengths. However, if we try to eliminate the strengths of the opponent by pressing too hard, it will actually bring out their strengths, so we need to first think about how we can defend while keeping our strengths. If we can get that right, I think we can create our own style of football. Our opponent has yet to win a league match, so I hope we can exploit that weakness well. We will have consecutive matches from now on, so it is necessary to take each match seriously, but I think that if we win, everyone will gain momentum, so I want to start the consecutive matches with a solid win."

DF20 Shinnosuke NAKATANI "Niigata seems to be a little more aggressive in defence compared to last season, but I don't think there's been much change in the base. However, the build-up will change depending on whether Inamura (Hayato) comes on or not, and although the FW are not that big, I think they will come forward using their mobility, so I think we need to be careful of the speed of those who get behind us. I think it would be good if we could create a situation where we can press forward, but like in the Yokohama F. Marinos match, we had chances to score but couldn't score, so it all comes down to whether we can score the first goal. I think they are an opponent we need to get three points from, and I want to win in order to move up the table."