Lee Min-sung, head coach of Daejeon Hana Citizen, explained the background of striker Yoo Kang-hyun’s selection. It was at a meeting with reporters ahead of the home game of the 21st round of the Hana One Q K League 1 2023 against Suwon at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 9th. On this day, Yoo Kang-hyun was on the starting list about two months after the match against Pohang on May 13. Coach Lee said, “I was thinking I was in good condition, but I came in person and said, ‘Give me a chance, I’m in great shape.’ “I thought it was right for players with such desperation to play, so I started,” he smiled.
There was a reason for the desperation to visit the coach’s office and ask for a chance to play. Yoo Kang-hyun joined Daejeon this year after becoming the top scorer in the K League 2 last year for Asan, South Chungcheong Province. The uniform number was also assigned 10 times, which was highly anticipated. However, before the match, he had no offensive points in 12 games. While Tiago, who joined Daejeon together after competing for the top scorer last year, quickly took the starting position, Yoo Kang-hyun’s presence gradually decreased.
In particular, before the match against Suwon, he played only four games as a substitute in six games, and the total time to play was only 53 minutes. With a new foreign striker set to join Thiago’s performance, if he could not achieve a turnaround like this, his position would have been further reduced. Recently, I was confident that I was in good condition. This was the reason why he visited the director’s office with a big heart and encouraged, saying, “If I have a little more time, I think I can show you a better performance.”
Yoo Kang-hyun, who came to the starting line in about two months, went around the front line without any money. In particular, in the 17th 오래된토토사이트 minute of the first half, Seo Young-jae’s cross from the left side was accurately connected with a header to help Kim In-kyun score the first goal. It was the first offensive point of the season in 13 games. At the same time, he even aimed for a goal. However, all three shots went to nothing, with the shot slightly off the post in the second half and swallowing disappointment. He was then replaced by rival Thiago in the 16th minute of the second half and finished the game. There was no goal, but it was meaningful to accumulate the first attack point of the season.
Yoo Kang-hyun, who met with reporters after the game, smiled lightly, saying, “I think the frustration has been resolved to some extent.” It was true that he had a lot of trouble in that he had no goals even though he was the top scorer in the K League 2, because he set the stage for a rebound through his first assist, even if it was not a goal on the day.
Yoo Kang-hyun said, “I wanted to repay you with better performance because you gave me a chance to start after a long time. “I’m disappointed, but I’m glad that it helped the team score,” he said adding, “I’ve always been grateful that the coach has tried to give me a chance somehow.” Thankfully, he gave me a chance to start today, so I think I played without hesitation,” he said.
He said he felt anxious at the beginning of the season. However, he is focusing on recovering his sense of goal by putting the team first. He said, “In fact, I don’t feel that K League 1 and K League 2 are ‘very different’. “I think there will be good results if I play harder and continue to try to help the team when you give me the opportunity,” he said adding, “It is true that I was a little anxious in the beginning.” But other players are doing so well. The fans are also cheering for us a lot. “I’m trying a lot to put down my anxiety and find my sense of last year,” he explained.
Above all, it is good to break the flow that has not had any attack points. This is because it was a clear opportunity to regain confidence on its own. Thiago’s performance and the news of the joining of a new foreign striker can also help him not to be swayed by himself. Yoo Kang-hyun is also studying more about how to work better with foreign players rather than worrying about losing the main competition. Coach Lee Min-sung is also considering changes in attack tactics such as two-top and three-top in the future.
“Tiago is doing so well,” Yoo Kang-hyun said. I feel very sorry because I feel like I’m only giving the burden to Tiago. I’m working harder because I want to relieve that burden. I think the new foreign striker’s style will suit me well. Anyway, no matter who plays, it is important to help the team. “It’s important to do my part well when I go to the game,” he said.
“I started as a starter for the first time in a long time. Still, I have personally tried to maintain my body well. I gained confidence in that it was my first attack point. There is also confidence that he can play a role in other areas even if it is not a goal. Now, I’m focusing more on helping the team in other areas. “I believe that once the score starts to explode, it will continue to explode in the future,” he stressed. It’s the confidence of a former top scorer.