Jesse Lingard (32) and Ki Sung-yueng (35, Seoul), who recognized each other from the UK, exchanged words of blessing.
FC Seoul held a press conference at GS Champions Park in Guri, Gyeonggi Province at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Ki Sung-yueng and Jesse Lingard, along with Kim Ki-dong, 52, attended the event.
Seoul, which started the 2024 season by working with head coach Kim Ki-dong, has achieved its first advance to the Final A in five years since the 2019 season. At the beginning of the season, he was a little anxious because he rarely won the home game, but as time passed, his performance improved and the results also followed, steadily accumulating points.
Seoul received great attention by recruiting Jesse Lingard, who played for Manchester United in the Premier League in the past, and Lingard quickly gained a great response from fans, showing not only high-quality performance but sincerity and leadership.
Seoul, which reached the final round for the first time in five years, aimed to win the remaining games, but lost 0-1 in the 34th round away match of Gangwon FC on the 20th. Since then, it has won the away match against Suwon FC on the 26th and is ranked fourth in the league with 53 points (15 wins, 8 draws and 12 losses).
Seoul to face the Pohang Steelers on Nov. 2. Ahead of the game, Lingard and Ki Sung-yueng had time to talk about each other.
When asked about Ki, Lingard said, “I played with Ki several times (when I was in the Premier League). I scored two goals against Manchester United. I was a young player back then.”
Lingard joined the Manchester United youth team back in 2000. Slowly growing up, he signed a professional contract with Manchester United in 2011 and has since experienced loan spells with Leicester City, Birmingham City and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Lingard made his Premier League debut in the 2014-2015 season under Louis van Gaal. Manchester United called in Swansea at the time. Ki Sung-yueng, who was a Swansea member, scored his debut goal in the match.
Ki formed the mid field with then great player Jonjo Shelby. Swansea, which had a formation of 4-2-3-1, led the way by Ki’s first goal in the 28th minute of the first half.
At that time, Gilfi Sigurdsson received the ball that Nathan Dyer dropped with his head from the right side and pushed it to Ki Sung-yueng, who approached the front of the penalty area, and Ki Sung-yueng connected it with an accurate left-footed shot to shake Manchester United’s net.
Wayne Rooney scored in the eighth minute of the second half to bring the game to square one, but Sigurdsson’s additional goal in the 28th minute of the second half caused Manchester United to lose 1-2. Since then, Lingard and Ki Sung-yueng have faced off on the English stage.
Lingard said, “I already felt in England that Sung-yong is a technical and responsible player. We met again in Seoul, and he helped me a lot in the early days of joining the team. He approached me first even when I was awkward. He tried to bring out leadership that I didn’t have.” 스포츠토토
“I also gave him a chance to talk to the players in the locker room separately after the game,” he said, adding that Ki Sung-yueng played a big role in discovering his leadership.
Ki faithfully played enough to play the longest amount of time in his team in the early days of the season, but was found to have swelling of his Achilles tendon and was absent from the 17th round. Ki returned to the ground through replacement at the match against Suwon FC.
“It must have been difficult due to the injury,” Lingard said. “Still, I always tried to be with the team and give strength. There are three games left. After returning from the last game, I could see how big Ki Sung-yueng’s presence is in the locker room. I felt it was very helpful to have a player other than me who can make a heavy voice.”