Gamba Osaka midfielder Hideo Hashimoto is confident his side's 3-1 loss at the hands of FC Tokyo over the weekend will not have a negative impact on their attempt to wrap up the Asian Champions League crown against Adelaide United.
The two teams meet at Hindmarsh Stadium in the second leg of the final on Wednesday after Gamba claimed a 3-0 win over Aurelio Vidmar's team in Osaka last week.
But while Adelaide had the weekend off from A-League action, a weakened Gamba lost further ground in the race for the J.League title with defeat against the Tokyo side.
Hashimoto, though, dismissed the result as irrelevant and stressed Akira Nishino's team is confident of securing the continental title.
"The fact we lost at the weekend has no bearing on this match," said the Japan international. "It won't influence it at all.
"We have lost matches in the past and we have to move forward and think about Wednesday's match.
"We are very confident going into the game. We have won the first leg and there's a good possibility for us to win again."
Despite their handsome advantage, Hashimoto stressed the need for Gamba to dictate the rhythm of the game if they are to emulate compatriots Urawa Reds and become Japanese winners of the regional club championship.
"We have a high level of confidence and it's a game we are going to win," he said.
"It's very important for us to control the centre of the park, the defensive midfield position is the key and that's the responsibility of me and Tomokazu Myojin.
"If we can control the centre of the pitch then we can control the tempo of the game."
Adelaide United midfielder Diego, meanwhile, has not given up all hope that he and his team-mates can claw their way back into the game despite the J.League side's commanding first leg advantage.
"They are a very good side and they have very good players," he said. "We might have played a bit too defensively in Osaka but you never know; it`s 90 minutes and anything can happen.
"If we put the pressure on and take it to them for the whole 90 minutes we could do it.
"We still don't know what the plan going into the game is going to be but I'm sure we are going to throw bodies forward and keep it in their half and apply as much pressure as we can.
"It will be important to have balance, to be on top of them and keep applying pressure but we have to be careful because they have very good players and they can score at any time."
But while Adelaide had the weekend off from A-League action, a weakened Gamba lost further ground in the race for the J.League title with defeat against the Tokyo side.
Hashimoto, though, dismissed the result as irrelevant and stressed Akira Nishino's team is confident of securing the continental title.
"The fact we lost at the weekend has no bearing on this match," said the Japan international. "It won't influence it at all.
"We have lost matches in the past and we have to move forward and think about Wednesday's match.
"We are very confident going into the game. We have won the first leg and there's a good possibility for us to win again."
Despite their handsome advantage, Hashimoto stressed the need for Gamba to dictate the rhythm of the game if they are to emulate compatriots Urawa Reds and become Japanese winners of the regional club championship.
"We have a high level of confidence and it's a game we are going to win," he said.
"It's very important for us to control the centre of the park, the defensive midfield position is the key and that's the responsibility of me and Tomokazu Myojin.
"If we can control the centre of the pitch then we can control the tempo of the game."
Adelaide United midfielder Diego, meanwhile, has not given up all hope that he and his team-mates can claw their way back into the game despite the J.League side's commanding first leg advantage.
"They are a very good side and they have very good players," he said. "We might have played a bit too defensively in Osaka but you never know; it`s 90 minutes and anything can happen.
"If we put the pressure on and take it to them for the whole 90 minutes we could do it.
"We still don't know what the plan going into the game is going to be but I'm sure we are going to throw bodies forward and keep it in their half and apply as much pressure as we can.
"It will be important to have balance, to be on top of them and keep applying pressure but we have to be careful because they have very good players and they can score at any time."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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