Reporter Park Jae-ho = Gyeongnam FC coach Seol Gi-hyeon (44) hit the ‘base of drainage’.
The ‘Hana One Q K2 League 2023 Opening Media Day’ to announce the start of the 2023 season was held at The-K Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Managers and captains from 13 clubs attended.
Coach Seol, who we met before the event, said in an interview, “I’m very nervous as the new season approaches. We’re always trying to get good results as we always had a bad atmosphere in the beginning.”
Promotion is not an easy challenge for coach Seol in his fourth year. Gyeongnam has reached the promotion playoffs in all but the 2021 season since the appointment of coach Seol, but has not been able to go higher. Coach Seol, who seized another opportunity by signing a one-year contract renewal ahead of this season, is determined to achieve promotion without fail.
Coach Seol said, “It is not easy to entrust a manager with poor grades for four years. I am grateful that the new owner gave me another chance. I think it is time to show results as a manager.” He continued, “I gained a lot of experience by leading the team for three years. Compared to the first season, there were only three or four players left. In terms of the composition of the players, I got closer to the football I wanted to play, and the squad was the best of the four years.”
After taking office, Seol showed strong confidence in the players, confident that the current team is the best. He said, “Our players’ skills are very good. They are at the level of a top-tier team. Last season, there were differences among players, but this year, the level has improved and leveled off. There are no holes even if they do not stand out.” 스포츠토토
He continued, “I pursue soccer that combines offense and defense. Soccer is a team play, and the composition is good in terms of unity. I also have a lot of faith in the players.”
Gyeongnam will play the opening game against Bucheon FC 1995 at 1:30 pm on the 1st of next month. With 1 win and 3 losses last season, attention is focused on whether coach Seol will win the opening match.
Coach Seol said, “It was difficult for teams that have strong defense and play hard. We are facing Bucheon in the opening match. It is very important as it is a home opening match. I think I will give it. It won’t be easy, but I will play soccer that can win.”