Signing a major contract renewal → Rumors of release after 9 months +"Worst Player"Did Hwang Hee-chan turn his back on the coach who persuaded him to stay...Compliment your competitors with the "Really Big Rise""

Sep 21, 2024

Wolverhampton striker Hwang Hee-chan's situation is not good. Manager Gary O'Neill also praised Hwang Hee-chan's position rival. Hwang Hee-chan has recently had a difficult time with his team, Wolverhampton. Public criticism has even appeared in the local media. England's Molineux News, which delivers the Wolverhampton news, said on the 19th (Korea time) 'O'Neill faced problems as Hwang Hee-chan suffered. It was honestly a terrible look against Brighton. You can't play in this form. 'Without controversy, Hwang Hee-chan is one of Wolverhampton's worst players this season,' the report said. REUTERS Yonhap News

Wolverhampton striker Hwang Hee-chan is in a bad situation. Manager Gary O'Neill also praised Hwang Hee-chan's position rival.

Hwang Hee-chan has recently had a difficult time with his team, Wolverhampton. Public criticism has even appeared in the local media.

Britain's Molineux News, which delivers the Wolverhampton news, reported on the 19th (Korea time) 'O'Neill said Hwang Hee-chan faced problems while struggling'

Hwang Hee-chan started in the third round of the 2024-2025 English League Cup at Amex Stadium in Brighton, England, on the 19th, but he was silent without scoring and failed to prevent his team's 2-3 defeat.

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.

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.

Global sports media The Athletic said of Hwang Hee-chan's situation 'Hwang Hee-chan, who received attention from France's Marseille this summer, stayed in Wolverhampton but faced a difficult situation. It's not up to its best performance and it seems like a return to the starting line-up is a long way off. There are three months left before the winter transfer market opens. If he fails to regain his starting position by then, there will likely be new discussions about his future in January next year,' he said, warning that the club could even consider releasing him. Considering that Hwang Hee-chan signed a contract renewal in December 2023, the situation has turned upside down to the point that he even considered releasing it in just nine months.

In this situation, even an interview with O'Neill praising Hwang Hee-chan's competitor came out. The BBC reported O'Neill's press conference ahead of the league match against Aston Villa on the 21st.

Speaking at the press conference, O'Neill said of one of Hwang Hee-chan's position rivals, Gonzalo Guedes, "Gedes makes me believe that if he gives me a chance, he shows something. He showed that he is a player who will add quality. I started the season well, and I saw a really big upturn" he praised.

Unlike Hwang Hee-chan, Guedes scored in the previous match against Brighton and scored three goals in four games this season, so there is a possibility that Hwang Hee-chan will lose his position further due to Guedes' performance. It is also a part to consider how much O'Neill's remarks will affect the main competition.

Meanwhile, the part that Molineux News cited as a 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.

Things have 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.

O'Neill may also have to think about changing tactics. If the player who led Wolverhampton's rise last season is used as a scapegoat for tactics, the poor performance could be repeated. Wolverhampton has already been sluggish with four league games, one draw and three losses, reaching 18th place in the league. 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.

Wolverhampton is also shaking with strong criticism of Hwang Hee-chan. With his competitor receiving praise, Hwang Hee-chan has no way to leap back to the starting lineup other than a clear performance, so a quick rebound from the rest of the season is expected to be important.

digh1229@sportschosun.com