Lee Seung-mo (26, FC Seoul) played his first game of this season only in the match against Incheon United on May 11. Right before the opening of this season, Lee had been rehabbing due to injury.
Lee returned to the ground through steady rehabilitation and has become the core of Seoul’s midfielder team. Lee has scored three goals in 19 K-League matches this season. Since his debut as a professional player in the 2017 season, Lee has achieved the most goals in a single season. As a defensive midfielder, Lee boasts strong capacity and stable defense, and sharp mid-range shooting to display decisive power.
Lee Seung-mo is also a player who knows Kim Ki-dong better than anyone else in Seoul. Lee grew up in the Pohang Steelers youth team and made his professional debut in 2017. Lee grew up steeply under the guidance of Kim. Lee reunited with Kim this season. And he is making progress one step further. Here is what Lee said before the match between Seoul and Daejeon Hana Citizen on Sept. 14.
Q. The A-match break in September was a time for Seoul to take a leap forward. How did you spend your two-week break.
I had a good rest for two days. Since then, I have had a really intense training session. The coach, the coaching staff and the players all know how important the remaining games are. For now, I want to move on to the Final A goal. Maybe because it was an important time, I felt that the training was more intense than before.
Q. Coach Kim Ki-dong’s “training is very intensive.” The players say it is “tough.” You know Kim better than anyone else in Seoul. We’ve been together since Pohang. How strong is Kim.
I know him very well (laughs). I’ve been with him since I was 20. To be honest, it’s not like I’m going to die. I moved from Pohang to Seoul and it was very hard for me. I was surprised because the training was so intense. At first, it was so hard. I missed Kim Ki-dong’s training then.
Q. Don’t you know it’s hard because you’re used to Kim Ki-dong’s training.
That’s understandable. I’m used to the training sessions that a coach brings to Seoul. A coach is a person who leads not only the team but also the individual growth of the players, so I have to trust him and work hard.
Q. He has established himself as the core of Seoul’s mid-range team. He has recorded the most goals in a season since his debut as a professional in 2017. In particular, he seems to have improved his shooting ability from mid-range.
I’m flattered. I took a long break. I was out of team strength for about six to seven months. I felt sorry for my teammates. But my body didn’t come up as I thought. It was really hard to feel that I was not feeling well. When I play in a game, I can’t breathe. To thank Kim Ki-dong, he trusted me and kept giving me opportunities.
You know it’s not good for you. How can I sit down when the coach trusts me and gives me such a chance? Every moment, I tried to improve my physical condition by saying, “Let’s die and live.” I am always grateful to the coach. I have to repay him more. I have to do better.
Q: Seoul was also in bad shape until the middle of this season. The team had consecutive losses at home, which dampened the mood. There was a common opinion in the soccer community that “Kim Ki-dong’s soccer will not be played in Seoul until the next season.” However, Seoul started to rebound after passing the summer transfer market. Not only the Final A but also the possibility of winning the championship started to be mentioned. What do you think is the reason.
I had a different idea. I know Kim Ki-dong well. When I was out of the game due to an injury in the early days of the season, my performance was getting better and better. I was definitely drawing an upward curve. I thought to myself, ‘It will definitely be different from now in the second half of the year.’ I told my teammates. ‘Let’s trust the coach and keep working hard,’ he said. It was always the same in Pohang. When the team was led by the coach in each game, the team produced better-than-expected performance and results.
Q: You used to play various positions in Pohang. I used to play as a striker. Now, I am playing in my position and have established myself as the core of the Seoul midfield.
I’m happy. However, soccer is a team sport. I have to play my part in any position if a team needs me. I wasn’t used to playing as a striker in Pohang, but I was grateful. The most important thing for a player is to play. I was grateful that he played somehow. 안전놀이터
Q. I am also agonizing over the defensive midfielder position that Lee Seung-mo plays in the national team. This means that it is a very difficult position. What is the most difficult part to play in this position as the core of Seoul.
I don’t know. Is there an easy position in modern soccer? I think the position you play in is the hardest and most difficult. In modern soccer, every player has to play a lot. It is essential to move between balls and balls with active activity. If you show a little tiredness in any position, the opponent will quickly recognize and target you. In modern soccer, all positions are important. I think we are in an era where we can survive only when we have strong physical strength and both ball and water capabilities.