Director Lee Jung-hyo's remarks "Is the World Cup important? Renovation, it's much better to take this opportunity to rip it all open and fix it.'

Sep 28, 2024

 Director Lee Jung-hyo's remarks 'Is the World Cup important? Renovation, it's much better to take this opportunity to rip it all open and fix it.'
photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association
"It's much better to rip it all off and fix it."

This is what Gwangju FC coach Lee Jung-hyo said.

Gwangju FC will play an away game against Gimcheon Sangmu 'Hana Bank K League 1 2024' at Gimcheon Stadium on the 28th.

I'm desperate for a turnaround. Gwangju ranked seventh with 13 wins, 1 draw and 17 losses (40 points) in the previous 31 games. It crashed to the Final B stage. It is now a race for survival.

Gwangju is a 4-4-2 tactic. Lee Kun-hee and Choi Kyung-rok will appear as two-top players. Ahn Hyuk-joo, Lee Hee-kyun, Jung Ho-yeon and Asani are located at the waist. Kim Jin-ho, Kim Kyung-jae, and Ahn Young-kyu are located in the four-back. The goalkeeper's gloves are worn by Kim Kyung-min.

Coach Lee, who is about to face a showdown, said, `We need to decide to stay quickly so that we can focus on other places again. There are teams that follow. I think we need about four wins. It is important. This is not the time for us to care about another game. First of all, we have to focus on the K-League. We are not in a stable position. We have to win as many points as possible."

Gwangju has a tight schedule this season. He is playing not only the K-League but also the Asian Champions League elite (ACLE) stage.

"The national team is a problem, but the number of spectators has increased in the professional league, but the environment is lagging," he said. The decision is made by the upper class, and the settlement is made by the people below. It's so hard. That's the case with our society. Now, the Korea Football Association is also doing all the work up there, and the settlement is done down there. I'm a little sorry about that."

Coach Lee continued his determination on the current problem of the Korea Football Association. On the 24th, Chung Mong-kyu, president of the Korea Football Association, and others attended as witnesses to a question from the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.

He cut it for about three hours. There's a lot I want to say. Personal thoughts don't seem to matter without going to the World Cup. I think priorities should already be sorted out. What are we going to do in the World Cup like this. First, I think it is right to renew it and clearly point out what direction it will go in the future, and then work. Then we have to think about the World Cup. This is not the only time we are going to the World Cup. Shouldn't Korea also win the World Cup. There is no way that our country cannot win the World Cup. If you're going to win, I think you can renew it accurately this time and step out. Even if it's a slip of the tongue, it's forgotten again over time. I want you to set your direction before you forget it."

Then "Things happened. I think we need to knot this correctly and then start. If you manage it roughly and move on, it will happen again. What will the next World Cup do after the World Cup, it's always the same. For example, I would like to prepare with the goal of winning in 2026, 2030, 2034, 2038. If you are not ready, how will you play the World Cup again after 2026. It's much better to rip it all open and fix it at this time. Now that I've got a knife, I think I'll have to cut something," he added.

The director added words. He said "It's not about the World Cup going out. Anyway, what happened now. I think we need to start after we tie the knot to fix this.If you just roughly sort it out and move on, this will happen again.It happens again. That's right. After the World Cup, we're always the same about what we're going to do in the next World Cup.After the World Cup, we failed the preliminary round. Our team's goal is not to win I want to set a big goal and prepare with the goal of winning in 2026, 2023, 34 and 38.I'm not ready for that. After 2026, we're going to do our 3rd anniversary World Cup As time goes by, it's the same when it's forgotten.It's much better to rip it all open and fix it. Once you've put a knife on it, you'll have to see something, don't you think?"

 Director Lee Jung-hyo's remarks 'Is the World Cup important? Renovation, it's much better to take this opportunity to rip it all open and fix it.'
photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association
On the other hand, Kim Jeong-yong, managing director of Gimcheon, said, `There should be motivation for the players. I hope you play well. There are two games left in the regular league. I hope I can do my best and follow Ulsan enough. It was the same when he was promoted last year. I will keep up with you without falling down.'



epi17@sportschosun.com