Only the second half of Lee Kang-in's run "Lack of rhythm" Point out...Enrique, 'Attendant LEE' Isn't it 1 option now? Bench resource reduction → starting competition signal ignition

Sep 02, 2024

Lee Kang-in's starting position is in jeopardy. Coach Luis Enrique expressed dissatisfaction with the times Lee Kang-in played.

Lee Kang-in played as a substitute in the third round of the French Ligue 1 match against Lille in the 2024-2025 season at Stade Pierre Morois in Lille, France on the 2nd (Korea time). Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won 3-1 against Lille.

Lee Kang-in was not named in the game selection. Lee Kang-in, who was in charge of PSG's first score along with the opening start, started the game on the bench for two consecutive games following the previous match against Montpellier.

It was in the 29th minute of the second half that Enrique called Lee Kang-in. Without Bradley Barcola and Usman Dembele, Lee Kang-in and Randal Colomuani were put in. It was difficult to say that it was a decision made with high expectations because PSG was leading 2-0 in the middle of the second half.

However, Lee Kang-in flashed even in a short time. In the 44th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in drilled three reel defenders with dribbling breakthrough at the half line. After that, he created an opportunity by accurately stabbing a pass to Desire Due near the box. It was an opportunity to raise help, but Due's shot headed into the air and unfortunately failed to score an attack point. PSG, which lost one goal after Lee Kang-in, beat Lille 3-1 with Colomuani's goal just before the end.

Coach Enrique did not hide his regret for the second half, the time when Lee Kang-in was put in after the game. In his post-match speech, he said, `I could feel many things in the second half. There was a lack of rhythm in the second half. We were close to a draw, but we won," he said, expressing regret. He pointed out the situation in which he almost allowed an equalizer after losing a point to Edon Zegrova in the second half, but Lee Kang-in, who was put on the field at that point and kept his position, could not avoid responsibility.

Moreover, considering that Lee Kang-in's situation has been gradually deteriorating since the opening, it cannot be positive that PSG has been shaken since Lee Kang-in was introduced. Lee Kang-in was outstanding in the opening match against Le Havre, where he started and scored and was listed on the French media's selected team, but immediately lost his position against Montpellier. In the match against Montpellier, he scored in a short period of time and performed better than expected, but the starting opportunity did not return in the match against Lille.

For Enrique, considering that his performance was better in the first half when Lee Kang-in was not present, he is likely to maintain the starting list for the last game and this game for quite a long time. If that happens, for Lee Kang-in, it is not easy to guarantee whether he will be able to leap back to starting this season.

Meanwhile, this was not the first time Enrique talked about Lee Kang-in. Enrique left one point after Lee Kang-in's opening game performance.

At that time, Lee Kang-in played in the opening game and scored the first goal at an early point. In the third minute of the first half, PSG launched a counterattack by stealing the ball through strong pressure from the half-line, and the ball through Asensio and Hamus continued to Lee Kang-in, who was rushing from the right side. Lee Kang-in grabbed the ball and entered the box, beat the defense slightly, and aimed at the corner of the net with a sensational left-footed shot, and the lightly kicked ball penetrated the defense and goalkeeper and shook the Le Havre net as it was. It was a shot that even had a deflection, so the goalkeeper was sucked into the net without even reacting, and PSG took the lead. After that, PSG finished with a 4-1 victory.

Lee Kang-in was recognized for his performance with a high rating in the game. It was the highest rating except for João Neves, who came in as a substitute with a 7.9 rating in the soccer statistics media Footmob and recorded two assists. Sofa Score also recognized Lee Kang-in's outstanding performance by giving him a 7.7 rating. The French media also gave him a high rating on his performance. France's Foot Mercato and Le Parisien both gave Lee Kang-in a 6.5-point rating, the highest rating among the starters except for Vitinha, who received seven points.

However, Enrique pointed out the team's situation after Lee Kang-in scored. At the post-match press conference "It wasn't easy at all"We started calmly. And very quickly, Lee Kang-in's goal was scored. But it has let us loose too much. So we suffered a little bit. There were more chances in the second half, and we were able to finish the game. But it was difficult"He stressed that Lee Kang-in's score was so fast that the entire team's performance was relaxed."

It may be a coincidence, but Enrique's dissatisfaction interview about the moment related to Lee Kang-in continues along with Lee Kang-in's exclusion from starting. In order to overcome the crisis that Lee Kang-in, who was considered Enrique's favorite, has been pushed back to replacement resources this season, a clear turn of the atmosphere seems to be needed.

digh1229@sportschosun.com