What does Gwangju captain Ahn Young-gyu think about Lee Jung-hyo’s harsh comments?
Gwangju FC captain Ahn Young-kyu is trying to help coach Lee Jung-hyo stand by his words.
The Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 Final A media day was held at the Nine Tree Premier Locus Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on April 18. Head coaches and player representatives from Ulsan Hyundai, Pohang Steelers, Gwangju FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai, Daegu FC, and Incheon United, who finished in the top six in the regular round, were in attendance to share their determination for the final round.
Gwangju is one of the hottest teams in the K League 1 this season. Having just been promoted from the K League 2, they were considered a relegation candidate, but they went straight to Final A. It wasn’t a ‘pull-up’ either – they finished third with 54 points from 33 games and clinched a spot in Final A before the end of the regular round. They’re making waves. In the Final Round, they’re looking higher. They are four points behind the second-place Pohang Steelers.
Speaking to the media before the event, Ahn expressed his excitement at being able to attend the FinalA Media Day with such a strong showing after a season that was not expected before the start of the season. “Personally, it’s my first time at the Final A Media Day. It’s great to see our team get so much attention. It makes me feel like we’re going in the right direction. It feels like a mid-season reward for this season. At the beginning, I think everyone thought we were the first team to be relegated. It’s nice to feel like we’ve proven them wrong.”
“We’re not satisfied with just making it to Final A. Our goal is not to end here. Our goals don’t end here, they are ongoing. We don’t think ‘we’re satisfied’ or ‘it’s over’,” he said. “We’re going to give it our all in the five games of the Final Round. We’ll start with Ulsan on Saturday. We will prepare well so that we can bring a good mood from the start, and we will prepare to win.”토토사이트
When everyone was writing Gwangju off as a relegation candidate, the players believed they could do it. The rationale was trust in Lee. “The players believed in the coach. So did I. I thought our soccer would be good and that we could achieve our goals if we continued to pursue this direction. I think it was a result of trusting him without question and following his tactical instructions well,” he said.
Lee has been at the center of controversy several times this season, not only for his unique style of play but also for his tough interviews. At the media day, Lee was described as “loud and abrasive”. In response to a common question asking for “tips” on how to be a good coach to Lee Geun-ho, who is retiring as a player, Lee said, “I don’t want my interviews to be like mine”.
Many of Lee’s remarks included his personal beliefs about “good soccer. Ahn shared that he found Lee’s comments motivating.
When asked what it was like to be a captain or a player when Lee’s interviews became a hot topic, he laughed and said, “I felt that he spoke in his own way without judgment,” and then added, “He has confidence. I thought he would stick to what he said. From a player’s point of view, I thought I should follow him and show him that what he said was right.”
rockandrunbrewery.com