“The coach’s passionate preparation every day was the same. He didn’t sleep, analyzed and made us aware of how to play against Suwon FC, but our players were very complacent. I think we need to wake up and be more eager.” Jung Ho-yeon, the core of Gwangju’s midfield, agreed with Lee’s unusual remarks and said that the team needs to play with more eagerness.
Gwangju FC lost 0-1 to Suwon FC in the 19th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 at Suwon Sports Complex at 7:30 p.m. on May 25. The loss was Gwangju’s second straight league defeat and kept them in sixth place with 22 points.
After the game, head coach Lee Jung-hyo said, “Gwangju fans came to the game and supported us, but I think the players just played on the field because they didn’t deserve it. I don’t have anything to say to the fans. We just played, and we played without meaning. We just played soccer. 먹튀검증 I felt a lot of things,” he said.
He went on to say. “I can see where we will finish. I think there is a lot of bubble in Gwangju. I am also very excited about the players. I think the club should know that it was a miracle that we finished third last year and went to the Asian Champions League. The players should know that. I’m sorry for the fans, but I think we need to put it down a little bit. Last year was a miracle. I don’t think Gwangju will finish third again. I have to get my act together,” he said.
Jung Ho-yeon responded, “I think you must be disappointed. We talked a lot about how we didn’t do the things we needed to do on the field. We talked a lot about how we didn’t do what we needed to do on the field, and I think we lacked a lot of things, not only tactically, but also the desperation that you don’t see on the field, which is to hit the ball and try to eat your opponent.”
Lee said that young players such as Um Ji Sung and Jeong Ho Yeon lost their sense of urgency and love for the team when transfer rumors surfaced. He also said that it was too much for the players to expect him to analyze and prepare for matches until 3 or 4 in the morning.
Jung Ho-yeon responded, “The coach’s passionate preparation every day was the same. He didn’t sleep and analyzed and made us aware of how to play Suwon FC, but our players were very complacent. I think we need to wake up and be more eager. We are lacking in the Final Third. We are still practicing on those areas that can make a difference, but I think we are lacking a lot and that’s why we can’t get the result,” he said, agreeing with the coach.
“When you play in a Gwangju FC jersey, you have to do your best. I don’t think age matters when you’re on the field. If you put on the jersey as a player on the field, you have to earn it. Age doesn’t make you a leader, but the more you know on the field, the more you can pass it on to your teammates and work together. We should be teaching each other more and working in synergy, but instead we were trying to do our own thing. Everyone should try to be a leader,” he said, adding that his love for Gwangju hasn’t faded.
Jung Ho-yeon thanked Lee Jung-hyo for his efforts and apologized to him at the end. He said, “It must have been hard for you. I think our players were not as prepared as the coach and coaches were. After 2022 and 2023, we have grown a lot, and the way we look at ourselves has changed a lot, and I think we were complacent. Every single thing has to be different. Little things make a big difference,” he said, vowing to rebound.