‘No-show incident’ Ronaldo pledged to “be stronger”
Kim Tae-hwan (33, Ulsan), who is regarding to participate in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which will be the first and last, pledged to ‘development’.
At a press conference held at the Al Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar on the 18th (local time), Kim Tae-hwan said, “I’m doing my best to prepare every day.”
Kim Tae-hwan, who is participating in his first World Cup, is the oldest among the 26 members of the Korean national team.
In four years, when the 2026 World Cup will be held in North and Central America, he will be 37 years old, so it is difficult to guarantee participation.
Because of that, I have a different mind to prepare for this World Cup in Qatar, which may be the last.
Kim Tae-hwan confessed, “When I wake up in the morning, I always ask myself what I should do and how I should develop, and prepare for each day.”
He showed a humble attitude towards Moon-hwan Kim (Jeonbuk) and Jong-gyu Yoon (Seoul), who competed for the same position, as “younger brothers who are better than me”, but he does not want to miss the opportunity to participate.
Having lifted the trophy at Ulsan Hyundai in the K-League 1 pro football this year, he said, “I received good energy because I won the championship with my team, so I will work in Qatar with good thoughts and energy.”
He also expressed his determination to relieve the fans’ resentment in a confrontation with Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), who was angered by the ‘no show incident’.
Ronaldo, who visited Seoul as a member of Juventus (Italy) in 2019, did not play for a minute in a friendly match between the K-League selection team and Juventus, incurring resentment from domestic fans.
Kim Tae-hwan, who will face Ronaldo’s Portugal in the third match of the group stage, smiled and said, “If I play in the game, I will do my best.”
The day before, he watched the highlight video of the group stage opponents Portugal and Ghana once morest Nigeria and Switzerland, respectively.
We will have a team meeting now, but if the whole team prepares well, we will be able to play well enough.”
“Director Bento’s soccer is detailed and very systematic.
Both the coach and the players are preparing to do what we have done so far consistently and in the direction we want.”
/yunhap news
