Na Sang-ho, “Coach resigned, we have responsibility… We have to do our best to make sure this doesn’t happen again”

Na Sang-ho opened his mouth about the resignation of manager Ahn Ik-soo.

FC Seoul drew 2-2 with Ulsan Hyundai in the 28th round of the ‘Hana 1 Q K League 1 2023’ held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium at 7:00 pm on the 27th. As a result, Seoul ranked 5th with 10 wins, 10 draws and 8 losses (40 points), while Ulsan maintained first place with 19 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses (61 points).

There were some changes to the starting list. Na Sang-ho, the team’s ace, was named to the replacement list. Before the match, acting manager Kim Jin-kyu said, “I put it on the bench with the thought of using it in the second half. I’m thinking about when to use it. Both of us are going through a difficult time. idea,” he explained.

Early in the first half, Seoul pushed hard. Under the system of acting manager Kim Jin-gyu, Seoul entered the game with a ‘venom’. He scored an early goal. In the 10th minute of the first half, Park Soo-il’s cross from the right side was cleared by Kim Min-hyeok, but Ki Sung-yueng hit the second ball right away. The ball hit the defense and went sideways, and Ilyuchenko scored the opening goal as he finished.

Seoul changed players at the start of the second half. Willian, Na Sang-ho, and Han Seung-gyu were put in, and Ilyuchenko, Kim Jin-ya, and Im Sang-hyeop were removed. Willian mainly played on the left side and harassed Ulsan’s defensive line. As Ulsan advanced to a high position, it constantly dug into the back space created.

However, Ulsan’s counterattack was not easy. In the 19th and 25th minutes of the second half, Ju Min-gyu scored multiple goals, and the game turned over in an instant. It was Willian who saved Seoul in a crisis situation. In the second half of the extra time, Willian broke through the dribble alone on the left side to peel off three defenders and the shot he hit shook the net. In the end, Seoul drew with Ulsan 2-2 thanks to Willian’s golden theater goal.

After the match, I met Na Sang-ho in the Mixed Zone. I asked questions about the manager change and personal performances, and I was able to hear the answers. First, Na Sang-ho said, “First of all, the situation came when the coach changed, but I thought the players were also responsible, so this time, the players should unite and make sure they don’t go through this again. I couldn’t win, so I think I prepared a little bit with the belief that I could win,” he explained the mindset of preparing for the game.

Na Sang-ho also had no idea about director Ahn Ik-soo’s departure. Na Sang-ho also recalled that time, “I didn’t know. The director came in and said that first, so now I feel a little bit.”

With the change of director, Na Sang-ho has no choice but to feel a greater sense of responsibility. This is because Na Sang-ho is the top scorer on the team with 11 goals this season. But his recent scoring silence is lengthening. After scoring a goal against Suwon FC in July, Na Sang-ho has not scored a goal for over a month.

However, Na Sang-ho thought of the team first. He said, “I’m stressed out, but now I have to bring results again, and it’s also important not to concede a goal by defending together, so my first priority now is for the team to remain in the top split and raise the rankings more than my personal greed. It seems to be the second,” he said.스포츠토토

The director changed, but he must have had a hard time.

First of all, there was a situation where the manager changed, but I thought that the players were also responsible, so this time, the players should come together and not go through this again. Of course, it was like that when coach Ahn Ik-soo was with us, but since we’ve never beaten Ulsan, I think we prepared a little more with the belief that we can win.

What responsibility did you feel?

The coach has tactics and strategies, but I was a little disappointed with the players’ determination and fighting ability, so the coach took responsibility for the results, but I think we also have responsibility within it.

What story did you tell the players?

First of all, the coach resigned and even though we didn’t say anything, the players seemed to know a little bit. We tried to change our rankings or the atmosphere after that, and I think we prepared a lot with the thought that if we win through today’s game, we can go up even further.

Did the players know in advance before coach Ahn Ik-soo’s press conference?

I didn’t know. Just the director came in and spoke in that direction first, so I felt a little bit at that time.

Before the game, acting coach Kim Jin-kyu said, “10 Kim Jin-kyu will play.” He emphasized fighting spirit and mental strength.

Today, in the first half as well as in the second half, the players actually jumped a lot differently than usual and tried to fight a lot in a combative way. I think that we tried to digest and show what the acting head coach Kim Jin-kyu is talking about.

The Final A fight is fierce.

I think bringing the results of the game comes first. If the players continue to fight in the stadium like today, I think we can bring the atmosphere and the results to the match with other teams.

The scoring silence is long. Aren’t you stressed out?

I’m stressed, but now I have to bring results again, and it’s also important not to concede a goal by defending together, so it’s my first priority now that the team stay in the top split and raise the rankings more than my personal greed. It seems.

Gwangju, the professional debut team, beat Suwon 4-0 to move up to third place. How is it?

A team called Gwangju is showing the game well this year with the true color of Gwangju, and it has shown it well until now. The ranking is very high. It makes me proud to see FC Seoul rise in the rankings and behind the scenes, my hometown team Gwangju continues with good results. However, in order to go to a higher place within the team where I am currently located, I think I need to do better on the pitch.

We have a face-to-face match against Gwangju.

I know that he stayed in Sangam, but that could be an opportunity to change the ranking again. I think we need to prepare well for next week’s super match so that we can continue to rise.

Dream of advancing to Europe

Now that good players are out and Korean players are doing well overseas, I am also stimulated by that. I want to do well from now on, so if there is another good opportunity in the winter, I want to try it once.