Ulsan HD manager Kim Pan-gon apologized for failing to break the winless streak on the Asian stage.
Ulsan lost 0-3 in the away game of the fourth round of the 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE) League Stage at 9 p.m. on the 5th (Korea Standard Time) in Johor Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Malaysia.
Ulsan has thus maintained its lowest position in the league stage with four losses in four games. In order to secure a ticket to the round of 16, which is given to the top eight out of the 12 teams, it is necessary to secure maximum points in the remaining games.
It was a game that left a deep lingering feeling that luck did not follow. Ulsan, which allowed a run early in the first half, put pressure on Johor by making a quick change. There were also several decisive chances, including Yoon Il-rok’s mid-range shot hitting the post.
However, in the 12th minute of the second half, Oscar Arrivas’ mid-range shot was deflected by a defender and floated high, and as it went into the goal, the willingness to chase was broken. Above all, it was even more regrettable because it was an unfortunate loss from the standpoint of Cho Hyun-woo and other defense teams. With Berthorn’s third goal in the 43rd minute of the second half, the game ended with Ulsan’s 3-0 defeat.
Kim Pan-gon, who attended the press conference after the match, said, “It’s too bad. We didn’t win any points and we are in a scoreless situation. It must have been a very difficult journey for the players. Above all, I want to apologize to the Ulsan fans.”
Asked if his tight schedule after the match against Gangwon FC (2-1 win) on the 1st has affected his physical stamina, he replied, “I think it has affected a little bit. It was the first time in five days since the match against Gangwon FC. The flight was only six hours, and I got on the bus for an hour and a half. However, I think everyone is in the same condition. Unfortunately, his performance did not come out.”
Regarding Kim Young-kwon’s injury in the middle of the first half and his loss in the second half, he said, “We lost today’s game. There is no excuse,” and that he has yet to score a goal in the tournament, he said, “I’m sorry for the lack of goals. It’s not that I didn’t have a chance at all. Still, I think we need to create more clear chances to get out of the scoreless game.” 메이저사이트
Ulsan is the only team among the 12 teams in the league that failed to secure points. Manager Kim Pan-gon responded by saying, “I also need to study a little more. During the K-League 1 and ACLE games, some of the schedules were tight, and there was also a variable called occurrence of injuries. ACLE seems to overcome these variables,” adding, “I will focus more on the next ACLE game than on disappointment. I will do my best to advance to the tournament again in the rest of the games.”