On the 6th, after the second leg of the AFC Champions League 2022 knockout stage final against Al Hilal, Shinzo Koroki spoke about his thoughts on the victory, his feelings for the fans and supporters, and his future goals.

How do you feel about winning the title?
"I never forgot about my loss in 2019, even after four years, and I've been waiting for this day. I'm glad I was able to get my revenge."

(There was a close shot in the first half, but what about that scene?)
"I wanted to score, but I think I made too much contact."

(Why did you choose to go right footed instead of left footed?)
"With my left foot, it would go up. The ball was high, but I couldn't head it, and with the outside of my right foot, I thought the only thing I could do was slam it down. If I'd missed the ball well, it would have gone down, but I made good contact with it and it went up."

(A sense of relief?)
"I feel relieved more than anything. We came back with the score at 1-1 away from home and I thought we absolutely had to win the championship. When I think about it like that, I feel relieved more than anything."

(Even though it was held at the same Saitama Stadium, the game unfolded completely differently from the 2019 final.)
"In 2019, nearly 60,000 fans and supporters came to the game, so it was partly for them, and also for my teammates who had a disappointing experience in 2019, Makino (Tomoaki) and Abe-chan (Yuki Abe), who were also there, so I wanted to get revenge for them as well. I'm really glad we won."

(Did the goal scene not reach the target?)
"It was out of reach. If I had touched it, it probably wouldn't have gone in. I guess half of the goal was mine. But I don't think it was an own goal."

(Does it feel like you've scored a goal?)
"No, it wasn't my goal, it was just a normal goal so I was happy."

What was the atmosphere in the stadium today?
"The fans and supporters really created a fantastic atmosphere. I've been playing for 10 years, so I think I'm used to that kind of atmosphere, but I'm sure there were many younger players who were playing in that kind of atmosphere for the first time, and I think it's nerve-wracking to Trial in a nearly full stadium, but that's Urawa Reds."

(When the bus came in, the fans and supporters were welcoming them with great support, but how were they looking at and talking from inside the bus?)
"Some people were taking videos, some just staring, some just saying 'Wow, that's amazing.' There were all kinds of different reactions, but it was a scene that would only have happened Urawa Reds."

(Today, we won the AFC Champions League, so maybe we have a chance to win the J1 League as well?)
"There are many records that each of us would like to set, but winning the ACL (AFC Champions League) twice will go down in the record books, and no team has ever won the J1 League in the same year as winning the ACL, so that's something I want to aim for."

(Has the importance of each changed between 2017, 2019, and this ACL?)
"I thought this was my last chance, so I'm very happy. In 2019, we fought tough battles from the group stage until we made it to the final, so I really wanted to win it back then. But this time is different. Personally, I didn't even compete in the group stage, but Makino scored a goal in the Emperor's Cup to qualify for the ACL, and players like (Nin) Kasper and (Junker), who were here last year, played well and led us to the final, as did (Manager) Ricardo (Rodriguez). For me, this was a final with the feelings of many people on my shoulders, so I think what we were carrying was different this time."

(I think their feelings were reflected in their hard work.)
"To be honest, I just wanted to win this time, even though it was an ugly Trial."

(How do you evaluate your performance in the two final Trial?)
"Even if we lose, it's not a waste of time, especially for younger players. But I thought it was my last chance given my age, and I couldn't allow myself to lose. In that sense, I think my attitude was different to 2017 and 2019."

(With that mindset you were able to achieve the ACL victory. What is your next goal?)
"The J1 League title. I think the Reds are the ones who hunger for it the most."

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[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]