FC Anyang captain Lee Chang-yong will enjoy the joy of his team’s victory until this year. After recovering from injury he suffered during the season, he is committed to sweating profusely to challenge himself to win the K League 1 title next season.
Lee Chang-yong attended the “2024 BE.iCON AWARD” held at the Anyang Art Center Suri Hall on Sunday. Best Eleven, a Korean soccer media outlet, held the event for the first time last year and selected FC Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho as the icon who led the Korean soccer community this year.
In response, Lee Chang-yong participated in the event with Anyang coach Yoo Byung-hoon to communicate with fans, looked back on this year when he won the championship, and expressed his determination to play in the first division in the future.
Lee Chang-yong, who met with reporters before the main event, said, “Maybe if the team had finished second or third and headed to the playoffs, they would have returned from injury and prepared for the game. I feel relaxed as I secured the championship, and I am taking longer time to rehabilitate so that my injury does not overlap. Currently, I am still rehabilitating.”
■ The following is an interview with Lee Changyong
- I wonder if the taste of the first place is still there
Until this year, I intend to take the idea of being the first place. - Finished the season in first place. What did you like the most about the offseason
The season ended the fastest. Of course, even if I finish last, I feel better because I finish first if I finish the fastest. Personally, I liked it because I had more time to prepare after surgery on the injured area.
- You have to play in the top division next year. What kind of mindset do you want to have with your players
This year, we tried to be challengers. We were afraid that we might be condescending during the season, so we tried to be in a lower position. I think next year, however, we will naturally become challengers. We want to become the “zombies” that the director wants. I hope everyone will follow the spirit of “zombies.”
- It’s Anyang that is going to be promoted. It will be a challenge in the first division, but the teams they are facing have changed. How do you feel
I think the first one will be tough. I think the second one will go well. I can’t prepare for both. First, I achieved my dream of promotion in the second part. There are times when I win the first part, and there are times when I lose, but I think it will be important to enjoy the promotion itself first. Then I think the game will be more comfortable. - He has played in the first division of Gangwon FC, Ulsan HD, and Seongnam FC in the past. Now, the position that went up through promotion, which game is most impressive
I want to go to Ulsan Munsu World Cup Stadium. On the day of the award ceremony last month, Ulsan fans still cheered and liked it. I think fans will welcome it a lot.
- You must have watched the playoff during the break
Watching the first game, I felt that the second-division teams were okay, but the second-division report clearly felt that there was a gap with the first part. I thought it would not be easy to go up from the second division without direct promotion. I was fortunate that it was us and me.
- There were many failures before Anyang achieved promotion. Looking back, there were many difficulties in the process
I was shocked when I finished the season in sixth place last year. So while preparing for this season, I tried to improve a lot. It was not necessarily an improvement for promotion, but the coach played the biggest role. The help was really great. - As a captain, do you have any memorable locker room talk this year
I don’t remember what I said. I just said, “Let’s implement the soccer that the coach wants even if we fail.” It doesn’t seem to have been implemented properly. I’m sorry, but the result came out as a result. 메이저사이트
- Is there anything you want to enjoy during the rest of your vacation
Personally, it was a process of getting injured, operating, hospitalized, and rehabilitating during the season. My wife who is raising children made a lot of sacrifices. So I want to travel with her. I want to thank my wife for sacrificing for me, not traveling for me.