FC Seoul coach Kim Ki-dong said he will beat the Pohang Steelers to gain a clear advantage in the competition to advance to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL).
Seoul held a media day at GS Champions Park in Guri-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 30th ahead of the two consecutive home games in the final round of the “Hana Bank K League 1 2024.”
With Kim Ki-dong, Ki Sung-yueng, and Lingard in attendance, Kim said, “I think I set the date well. We lost to Pohang in the early days of the season and saw a downward spiral. It was a difficult time, but things have changed a lot. The players who scored when they were given four goals are not in Pohang right now. On the other hand, we have Yazan and Lingard. “I think it is a different situation from then,” Kim said. “I will definitely win the match against Pohang because I will achieve my first goal only when I win.” I think Pohang will also focus on the next match (Korea Cup final) on November 30, rather than this match. I will do my best to prepare.”
Seoul, which has stayed in the Final B (sub-split) for the past four seasons, has consistently performed well since head coach Kim Ki-dong took office this year and reached the Final A in five seasons.
Fans are paying more attention to the game. Seoul, which achieved the highest number of spectators at 434,426 in 16 home games this season, will set a new record for the largest number of spectators at a single K-League season after the paid-performance tally is tallied at 65,574 in the remaining two home games. It is opening an era of 500,000 spectators.
The upcoming two consecutive home games are both big matches. Seoul will face the Pohang Steelers on March 2 and Ulsan HD on March 10. Pohang has been competing with Seoul for the top spot throughout this season, while Ulsan is aiming at its third consecutive win in the K League 1. Seoul should bring the best results in the two consecutive home games to advance to the AFC Champions League.
Pohang is an especially important opponent. As Seoul continues the ACL competition with 53 points and Pohang with 52 points, the team should secure three points from the upcoming showdown.
The following is Kim Ki-dong’s interview
-What does Ki’s return mean.
It was a difficult season. When the team was losing ground, Choi moved to the center and moved back and forth on the sides. The match against Suwon was pushed back a lot in the second half, but Ki Sung-yueng played a role in bringing light weight, which allowed him to solidify and gain psychological stability. There are only a few more games left, but I think it will be of great help to the team. Personally, I wish I could have come earlier.
-How is your relationship with Lingard. 안전놀이터
Lingard is a superstar. When we first met in Kagoshima, and came back to Korea after training, we rode a private jet there and were asked at the airport where the FC Seoul Gate was. Environmentally, it is a very bad situation. Nonetheless, we have adapted well and become Koreans. Now, we seem to be Koreans in leading the players. As he gives us responsibility, he tries to show better performances than Korean players seem to have helped the team a lot.
-500,000 home spectators are set to attend this season.
Standing in Sangam itself gives me pride. You said 500,000 but if you did well in the beginning, I think you could have exceeded 600,000. Since then, your performance has not been good, so it has not been continued. I feel sorry for the fans. I think this game is a game where 95 percent of the players will advance to the ACL. If a lot of people come, I think they will have more power than that. I think the match against Ulsan will be a game that can break the jinx for the first time in years.