On the 28th, after the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 10 match against Nagoya Grampus, Atsuki Ito reflected on the day's match, his thoughts on the first win this season in a home game with an audience of over 40,000, and his enthusiasm for future matches.

(What about the scene that led to the penalty kick?)
"We had the option of shooting, but I'm glad that it ultimately led to a goal. Even if we had shot, it would have been with our left foot, and I could see that (Maeda) Naoki was really demanding it, so although (winning the penalty) was Naoki's individual skill, I'm glad that we were able to bring that out."

(The first goal came from Atsuki Ito switching on the press.)
"Today, the trigger for the press was decided to be me and (Nakajima) Shoya, so I was conscious of pressing. I'm glad that it led to a goal. I always had a 'let's go' attitude, and I had decided to go for it even before I passed it, so I'm glad I was able to stay focused and aim without losing focus.

This season, we have been working hard on pressing, and usually it is the inside half who goes forward, but in today's game it was me. I think the momentum with which I approach the ball determines whether the players behind me will follow, so I wanted to carry that momentum."

(Was there any positive impact from the match against Gainare Tottori?)
"I was able to play with a good feeling, so I think I was consciously playing with a good feeling as well."

(Was it a good thing that the starting lineup didn't change much?)
"That's right. Moreover, the players who have been substituted are producing results, which I think is having a positive impact on the team. With players who were originally in the starting lineup, players who continue to play, players who were not in the starting lineup, and players who were not involved in the game all producing results, the competition has become fiercer, and I think a good synergistic effect is being created."

(The match started at the opponent's pace, but how did you plan to get into your own pace?)
"We started off well, moving forward at the opponent's pace, but we held on when we needed to, and we were able to score the first goal when we applied high pressure when the opposing goalkeeper had the ball, forcing him to make a mistake. If we had conceded a goal there, it would have been the same as all the previous games where things hadn't gone well. Continuing from last year, I believe that if we can hold on when we need to, we will definitely have our chances, and it's a matter of whether we can score then, so that was what I was conscious of."

(You previously said that you were "doing it while worrying," but how has that changed since sorting things out?)
"It reminded me of the times when I was doing well, when I played with all my might without hesitation and was able to concentrate only on my own play. I looked back at my play when I was doing well, and I was playing with confidence. If you play while unsure, your body won't move and it's not good for your mental health either, so I think that talking about this before the match worked out in a positive way."

(What do you mean by "rewatched footage"?)
"It was something like a compilation of my plays. It was like a compilation of my best scenes and my strengths and good points, and I looked at it and had a good image in mind when I went into the match."

(Do you feel that you have been entering the penalty area more often than in the past few games?)
"We felt we had made good progress, but there were also times when the opponents cleared the ball. So I think we need to take that to the next level and come up with some creative solutions."

(This was your third win at home, but it was the first time you won in a game with an audience of more than 40,000. What does it mean to win in a game with so many people attending?)
"We knew a lot of fans would come as Golden Week was just beginning, and we had just lost two games in a row in the league, so we had no choice but to win. I think it was great that we could share the victory with so many fans and supporters. The singing after the game was also great."

(How do you want to contribute to the team in the consecutive games during Golden Week?)
"We have a string of games against strong opponents, so if we win here and can continue to win the remaining two games, I think our standings will change significantly. Our next game is away against Kawasaki Frontale, but I think we are on a roll as a team, so I want to keep this momentum going and prepare well to win, and score goals in the league."

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