"I trust and follow Director Hong Myung-bo 100%"...'Declaration of Support for Lee Kang-in' is drawing attention → Will Hong Myung-bo breakthrough
"I trust and follow Director Hong Myung-bo 100%"...'Declaration of Support for Lee Kang-in' is drawing attention → Will Hong Myung-bo breakthrough
Blog Article
Will the players' trust in the coaching staff be the driving force behind Hong Myung-bo's rescue from the initial crisis.
While the South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, took a breather with one win and one draw in its first A-match break, the Taegeuk Warriors are showing faith in the coaching staff, including head coach Hong.
Soccer fans, public opinion, and political circles are pointing out the controversy over preferential treatment in the process of appointing Hong, and the players seem to agree on the leadership and mercenary skills of the head coach while Hong was asked to attend the National Assembly on the 24th.
Hong Myung-bo was booed a lot as he drew 0-0 against Palestine in the first round of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 5th. As South Korea, ranked 23rd in FIFA, drew 96th with Palestine amid growing opposition to the appointment of coach Hong, it deserved to be booed and criticized.
Fortunately, Son Heung-min scored one goal and two assists in the second away match against Oman on the 10th, and strikers Hwang Hee-chan and Joo Min-kyu scored the first and second goals, respectively, to win 3-1 to promise their next voyage, including the third and fourth games.
What is noteworthy is that the Taegeuk Warriors are showing positive responses to Hong's leadership regardless of whether they are overseas or domestic. The soccer community also analyzes that the unacceptable result of the booing and draw that dominated the stadium in the match against Palestine served as an opportunity to unite the team.
Each of the players' comments is also a clue to Hong Myung-bo's voyage over the past two weeks.
In particular, the remarks of Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who is reticent and sometimes just passes the common coverage area (mix zone), are unusual.
After the home game against Palestine on the 5th, Lee Kang-in appeared in the mixed zone and said, "Our players have to trust the coach 100% and follow the coach," and said, "I believe that the coach will make us win and play good soccer, and we will follow 100%."
"In the future, I will try hard to produce good soccer and good results with the coaching staff with the coach," he said. There was an atmosphere among the reporters that Lee Kang-in seemed to be formal but was surprised by the expression of his faith in coach Hong. In particular, it was evaluated that Lee Kang-in gave strength to the coaching staff at a time when the coaching staff was most difficult due to the draw against Palestine.
During the away match in Oman, remarks by special players born by South Korea, including Hwang Hee-chan and Kim Min-jae, also drew attention.
Hwang Hee-chan scored 12 goals last season in the English Premier League, rising to the rank of A-list striker. Kim Min-jae is currently playing as a starting center back for Bayern Munich, one of Germany's most prestigious Lebaums.
First of all, Kim Min-jae delivered his strengths against Hong at a press conference before the away match in Oman. "I think I'm happy that I can do it now with the coach who did the best in Korea and has a long experience in the national team," he said. "I think it's good because the coach can give me feedback right away on the parts that he advises me and what I lack. I'm trying to do it on the field after thinking carefully about what the coach says."
Kim Min-jae mentioned the aspect that the two representing the Korean soccer center back sympathize with each other so much that it is said that Hong Myung-bo was there before Kim Min-jae.
Hwang Hee-chan said, "The coach ordered a lot of connecting plays with (Son) Heung-min and (Oh) Se-hoon, and (Lee) Kang-in and (Hwang) In-beom all together," adding, "He told me a lot of the parts that go back and connect while receiving the ball at the pocket position," indicating that doing as the bench ordered was linked to a good result. 메이저사이트
There is also a lot of trust from domestic players, with Joo Min-kyu, who was the top scorer in the K-League and shared a meal with Hong in Ulsan, saying, "I think all the good content and results will come out if we have time."
The reality is that players cannot openly oppose the coach, but giving a good evaluation to Hong or the coaching staff in specific terms is a positive sign ahead of the October 2nd consecutive game against the toughest opponents in the third qualifying round, including Jordan and Iraq.
It remains to be seen whether the unity of the team and the positive signals that emerged in the September A-match will be shown by the upgrade of the Hong Myung-bo team in the third and fourth rounds. There are still many harsh criticisms about Hong's mercenary skills, such as "Son Heung-min, please be a soccer player" and "Son Heung-min, a soccer player dependent on Europeans."