“If we can go to the big stage, we’ll go.”
Ahead of the match against Suwon FC, Daegu FC made some changes. Flanker Hwang Jae-won was named to the A squad for the first time. Interim head coach Kim Do-hoon has included Hwang in his roster for the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup in June against Singapore and 카지노사이트 China.
“I’m not the only one who’s anxious, I think all Daegu fans are anxious,” said Daegu FC coach Park Chang-hyun on Monday at Suwon Sports Complex ahead of their 2024 Hana Bank K League 1 Round 15 match against Suwon FC, before laughing and saying, “(Hwang) should be a big player. If he can go to the big stage, he should go. For the sake of Korea, for the sake of soccer,” he said, adding that his first selection was inevitable.
Coincidentally, Hwang and fellow striker Ko Jae-hyun were not called up to the A team this time around. Last year, the duo were also not selected for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Hwang Jae-won received military service benefits for his gold medal, while Go was left in tears.
Park said, “(Go) Jae-hyun should taste frustration and success. He’s still young. I think he will be given a chance (to make the A team). (Hwang) Jae-won is winning, but there might be a wall. If he goes to the A team, it will be tougher than he thinks. I want to support him and give him courage.”
Regarding Ko Jae-hyun in particular, he said, “He did well last year. He has high expectations. He scored 21 goals in two years. His form is improving. There was a downturn, but he is slowly proving it,” he said, explaining why he threw his starting card.
Daegu had lost the previous match against Gangwon FC. Park said, “There is no direction. We came here to win, to win, and we disappointed many fans. We will win with desperation,” Park said, predicting a tight match.