Heo Yul, who returned as a striker, talked about his experience as a center back and the international stage.
Gwangju FC, which played the third round of the 2024-2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League phase at Yongin Mir Stadium on Sunday, won 3-1 over Johordaruljim. Gwangju had the only three consecutive wins in the East Asian region to rank No. 1 overall (nine points).
Gwangju had a home game in Yongin, not Gwangju. The first round match against Yokohama F. Marinos was held at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium, where AFC Supervisor pointed out the grass conditions and ordered the team to search for an alternative stadium. Due to their own circumstances, it was difficult to use nearby stadiums for the match against Johor, and after consultation with local governments, Yongin Mir Stadium was selected as an alternative venue. The stadium traveled 260 kilometers alone, making it difficult to call it a home stadium.
Still, it helped the players play well. Despite the rain throughout the game, the stadium did not become muddy due to the good drainage facilities. It also suited Gwangju soccer, which prefers to go up step by step from the back with a short pass. Asani, who scored multiple goals and was selected as a player of the game, was also satisfied, saying, “The grass condition was so good that my team members enjoyed it.”
Heo Yul was also satisfied with the state of the grass. After the game, he met reporters in the mixed zone (joint coverage area) and said, “It was hard to play the game because of Yongin’s long road, and it rained a lot, but I’m happy to win.” “I think having a good grass is definitely more advantageous than having a long journey. Obviously, the tempo and the flow of the game has accelerated. If the grass is not good, it feels like the ball is splashing and cutting off, but here the ball is moving smoothly and the game is moving fast.”
Heo Yul was deployed at the beginning of the second half and played for 45 minutes as a striker. He owned the ball from the front based on his physical and disciplined basics that were not behind Johor, and in the 43rd minute of the second half, he put his head on a cross from the right side to induce an opponent’s own goal and seal the victory.
After going through major changes this season, he returned to his original position. Heo Yul changed his position to the central defender after the Gwangju center back suffered a tight injury at the beginning of the season. Manager Lee Jung-hyo was able to make a bold choice because of his tall stature and good knowledge of the strikers’ psychology. Recently, when the defense has stabilized, he has been playing as a striker again, and Lee also said Heo Yul will play more than 90 percent as a striker in the future.
Heo Yul said his experience as a center back helped him as a striker. “Considering the point of blocking the opponent from the defense standpoint, I thought that I could be bolder when I returned as a striker. That helped me greatly by being more challenging and threatening to the opponent,” he said.
Regarding the overall performance, he said, “It’s a shame that the score wasn’t recorded, but I enjoyed the goal with the fans. The score was good in the play we prepared, and it was a play that I’m looking forward to the next game,” adding, “I didn’t feel too much pressure because I was confident in physicality. There are some parts that the opponent didn’t show as much as he prepared, and I think we prepared well.”
Currently, Gwangju ranks first in the ALC with three consecutive wins. The international stage itself is both nerve-racking and motivating. As players felt that Gwangju soccer is working against Japanese powerhouses Yokohama and Kawasaki Frontale, their overall performance has also entered an upward phase.
Heo Yul also admitted this. “Players’ dream is to play overseas. Many players aim to play overseas. It gives a lot of motivation to individuals, teams and leaders. Having won three consecutive games there, I gained confidence to prepare for the next game,” Heo said. “Visel Kobe is the top team in the league, and it’s hard to see Gwangju because we already beat two Japanese teams. We will also analyze Visel Kobe well. I’m very excited about the game itself, and I will have fun.” 스포츠토토
At the end of the interview, some people asked if he watches overseas leagues recently. Heo Yul said that he refers to the English Premier League (PL) as if he were a striker, and among them, Elling Holan. Then, what about a defender? Heo Yul chose Kim Min-jae of the German Bundesliga instead of a PL.
“The defender refers to Kim Min-jae a lot. With the appointment of Bang Sang Kongpani, the tactical area has been strengthened. In particular, I felt that the defense was really fast and strong. I’ve paid a lot of attention to that.”