Director Park Tae-ha, Who was Disappointed in his Pohang Debut, Said, “I Still saw Hope”
Coach Park Tae-ha of Pohang Steelers in K-League 1, a professional soccer team that had a disappointing debut, also gave a positive evaluation, saying, “I saw hope” despite the complete loss.
Pohang was defeated 0-2 by Jeonbuk in the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2023-2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonbuk on the 14th.
This game is the first official match of Korean professional soccer in 2024. 바카라사이트
It was also the Pohang debut game for ‘Pohang legend’ coach Park, who was appointed as the successor coach after coach Kim Ki-dong left for FC Seoul.
Coach Park left professional soccer at the end of the 2018 season, when he spent the 2018 season as head coach of China’s second division Yanbian, but returned to the field this time taking charge of Pohang.
Coach Park, who expressed his feelings at a press conference held the day before, saying, “half anticipation, half excitement,” could not smile during his return game.
Pohang, where many of the key players who led the team to last season’s league runner-up and Korea Football Association (FA) Cup victory, including Zeka (Shandong) and Ko Young-jun (Partizan), left the team, were unable to take the lead against Jeonbuk, which had steadily strengthened its strength.
According to AFC, Pohang’s ball possession rate was less than 40%.
They were slightly ahead in the number of shots fired, 16-14, but unlike Jeonbuk, they were unable to create threatening scenes.
Nevertheless, Coach Park evaluated the team’s performance in the second half as sufficiently positive at the post-game press conference.
Coach Park said, “The young players showed good performances for a brief moment in the second half,” and added, “I want to focus on a game focused on players running in the midfield, but my assessment is that that was the case in the second half.”
Coach Park, who said, “I saw hope,” said, “In the second half, the offense seemed to be active in its own way,” and “I think the performances of the new foreign players, Giorgi and Aspro, in particular, will be of great help to the team.” I looked back.
In order for Pohang to advance to the ACL quarterfinals, they must overcome the two-goal deficit in the second game held at home on the 20th.
Coach Park said, “I was determined to take a point from the away game, but the result is a bit disappointing,” but added, “If we score two goals, it is a score that can be easily overturned at home.
I will prepare well for the next home game and make sure to get a good result.” said.