"Honestly terrible look"+"Worst player in the team"...'0 goals 0 help in 6 games' Hwang Hee-chan, is the reason for the slump a rental colleague? "There's a position problem"

Sep 19, 2024

The British media's evaluation of Hwang Hee-chan is harsh. However, Hwang Hee-chan also has an excuse to excuse his disappointing slump.

Wolverhampton lost 2-3 in the third round of the 2024-2025 English League Cup at Amex Stadium in Brighton, England on the 19th (Korea time).

In Wolverhampton, candidates played instead of existing starting resources. Hwang Hee-chan, who was excluded from the last league game, was also named. Hwang Hee-chan was in an unstable position as he was excluded from all three previous official games.

Wolverhampton was dragged away with a run from the start of the game. In the 14th minute of the first half, Carlos Valieva dedicated a goal. Then in the 31st minute of the first half, Simone Adingra scored an additional goal, shaking Wolverhampton. Gonzalo Guedes scored a chasing goal in the 44th minute of the first half and finished the first half 1-2.

But Wolverhampton failed to chase to the end. In the 40th minute of the second half, Ferdinand Cardioglu shook the Wolverhampton net to seal the match. Hwang Hee-chan was replaced in the 26th minute of the second half and had already left the ground without even giving the team a score. For Wolverhampton, Tommy Doyle scored in second-half stoppage time, but the game was already in the air.

Hwang Hee-chan recorded his first shot in the fourth minute of the second half of the game, but he failed to add a shot after that and showed little threat in the attack. The pass was successful only 14 times, and there was no remarkable record except for the 6th restoration of public ownership.

Compared to last season's performance, Hwang Hee-chan's performance this season is even more regrettable. Hwang Hee-chan scored 12 goals and three assists in 29 league games last season, ranking first in the team in scoring. After the Asian Cup, the scoring pace in the second half fell and did not score more points, but it was clear that it was the core of the team's attack until the end of the season.

The atmosphere has changed this season. Hwang Hee-chan, who initially rejected the courtship of coach Marseille and Robert Dezerbi in the summer transfer market and chose to stay, immediately moved to the bench with two poor games at the beginning of the season. He also created a scoring opportunity with a sharp cross during the match against Arsenal, but this did not lead to an attacking point and the slump began. From the League Cup match against Burnley, which continued with little performance against Chelsea, manager Gary O'Neill made up the starting list excluding Hwang Hee-chan.

The British media also expressed regret over Hwang Hee-chan's performance. Britain's Molineux reported on the 19th that `O'Neill faced problems as Hwang Hee-chan suffered.'

Molineux reported 'Hwang Hee-chan really struggled against Brighton. He was O'Neill's favourite last season, but he had a tough start to the new season, and he looked frankly awful against Brighton. You can't play in this form. Without controversy, Hwang Hee-chan is one of Wolverhampton's worst players this season. I didn't see the same threat as last season at all.

The problem was the position. Molineux said 'Maybe it's a position issue. It is pointed out that Hwang Hee-chan is not effective and is not revealed when playing in a wide position recently. Hwang Hee-chan came into the box more often for Wolverhampton last season. But this season, we don't use that method much because we have Jorge Strand Larsen. Hwang Hee-chan said, 'I have to find my way again.'

In fact, Wolverhampton used Hwang Hee-chan, Matheus Cunha and Pedru Netu three-top last season, and there were many scenes where Hwang Hee-chan took the opportunity to score in the center or created an opportunity after the breakthrough.

However, the situation has changed this season with the addition of loanee Larsen. With Larsen, a typical one-top, in the center, Hwang Hee-chan, Jean-Lichner Velegard, or Mario Lemina and João Gómez, playing the role of classic wingers is increasing. In his changed tactics, Hwang Hee-chan has not been able to show a powerful appearance.

Wolverhampton also slumped to 18th place in the league, with one draw and three losses in four league games. It is time for O'Neill to consider a change in tactics. Reassembling the team around Hwang Hee-chan and Cunha, who played last season, may be the way to achieve both a rebound in performance and a revival of Hwang Hee-chan.

Hwang Hee-chan, who performed so well that he even made the nickname 'Korean Guy' last season, is silent. If Hwang Hee-chan survives, Wolverhampton is likely to be able to escape the relegation zone again.

digh1229@sportschosun.com