2024-04-27 05:42:00
Apologies for not holding Olympic finals for the first time in 40 years
“All responsibility falls on me as director.”
Highlight problems with the age-group national team system
“The director’s longevity depends on the Asian Games
“The national team in each age group should follow a four-year cycle.”
Coach Hwang Seon-hong of the Korean U-23 men’s national soccer team, who failed to achieve his goal of qualifying for the Olympic finals for the 10th consecutive time, lowers his head as he prepares for an interview following returning to the terminal of Incheon International Airport. 1 on 27. Yunhap news
“The responsibility for the results lies entirely with the director. “I hope the players will be more encouraged than criticized.”
Hwang Seon-hong, coach of the national U-23 football team, which failed to qualify for the men’s football final in the 10th consecutive Olympics in Korea, bowed his head to the people as he felt full of responsibility.
After entering the country with the players at Incheon International Airport on the 27th, Coach Hwang met with reporters and said: “I am sorry and sorry to everyone who supported me until late in the day”, and added: “I think the responsibility for this result lies entirely with the coach. “I feel fully responsible,” he said.
On the 26th, the Korean U-23 national team drew 2-2 following 120 minutes of overtime in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup once morest Indonesia , led by coach Shin Tae-yong, before losing. 10-11 on penalties, but they failed to advance to the semi-finals.
This tournament also serves as a qualifier for the Paris Olympics, with teams ranked 1st through 3rd receiving a direct ticket, and the 4th place team traveling to Paris via continental qualifiers once morest Guinea in Africa.
However, with Korea being eliminated in the quarterfinals, they were unable to advance to the final for the first time in 40 years since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and their streak of consecutive appearances ended. finished in 9th place.
Coach Hwang, who apologized to the fans, also stressed the need for changes in the national team management system for each age group.
Coach Hwang said: “The national team for each age group must appear every four years. “If the fate of the head coach is determined by the performance in the Asian Games, we will only focus on the Asian Games and will not be able to prepare for the Olympics,” he said, adding: “With this structure, it will be difficult to completely dominate the opponent in the Asian region.
After failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics, Coach Hwang’s contract with the Korea Football Federation ended at the end of this month and he returned to the field.
The following is a Q&A with director Hwang Seon-hong.
– How do you feel following finishing the competition?
“I’m sorry to everyone who supported me until late today. The responsibility for the outcome of the quarter-final elimination lies entirely with me as a coach, and I fully feel that responsibility. Our players must continue to grow a lot in the future. “I hope they will give me more encouragement than criticism, because I did my best in difficult times.”
-What was the biggest weakness of this competition?
“This may seem like an excuse, but the operational structure and the system of national age teams need to be changed. What I felt following leading the team for regarding two years is that if the current system is maintained, the gap with other countries will widen further. “We must listen to the voices on the ground and work together to find a solution. »
– If we were to analyze the factors that led to the loss once morest Indonesia, which were evaluated as a figure below.
“There was a problem with the central defense, so we had to change from a four-man defense to a three-man defense. This decision was made because a three-way line-up was the best option given current resources. However, that doesn’t mean we have to play defense only. We tried to put pressure on the midfield, but it wasn’t easy. It was entirely my decision, but there was a mistake. However, we tried to take a different approach in the second half but this was not possible due to various variables such as injuries and sending off.
– What if the national age group team explained the problems in the system?
“There has to be a long-term plan. I don’t think the current system is correct. The national team for each age group must present itself every four years. If a coach’s lifespan depends on his performance in the Asian Games, he has no choice but to focus only on the Asian Games and immediately prepare for the Olympics. Maybe it’s an excuse, but there are only a few months left to prepare for the Olympics. “With this structure, it is difficult for us to completely dominate our opponents in Asia, so we need to change the system. »
– Did having a brief stint as national team coach have a negative impact?
“You might think so, but personally I don’t think it had a big impact. I am responsible for the results. “My heart is very heavy and I can’t help but feel sorry. »
– The big foreign players were not selected.
“I personally visited the club and was promised a call-up, but the teams refused to call players as the battle for the ranking intensified at the end of the season. Some point out that a central defender has been selected as a replacement player, but no player in the country can currently be selected as a central defender. We therefore decided that it was wise to move the existing players to central defense and strengthen the midfielders.
– You are also on the list of candidates for the command position of Team A. What are your future plans?
“That’s not a question I can decide. First of all, I’m very tired. “I want to rest a little.”
– The reason why striker Lee Young-jun was used as a substitute in the match once morest Indonesia?
“Decisions related to player participation are not easy to make. Even for a single player, decisions are made following all-night discussions, and those decisions must be respected. Youngjun Lee suffered a sports hernia following the second match of the group stage. Such symptoms occur when you run too much. As Lee Young-jun has little playing time in K-League 1, another injury may occur if he plays more than 60 minutes in a match. Youngjun Lee’s maximum playing time is around 65 minutes. In such a situation, you have to decide when it is best to play, and I decided that it would be better to play in the second half. “There is no other reason.”
– There is also a rumor that you had a meeting with the head coach of the national team A in Qatar with officials of the Football Association.
“It doesn’t make sense. I’m not that cowardly. I’m just doing the best I can at what I’m doing now. I’m not doing things like thinking regarding the next thing and working behind the scenes. “It doesn’t make sense. is clear.”
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