*This content was translated by AI.
Luis Enrique (56), head coach of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), why did he applaud Lee Kang-in (25).
PSG won 2-1 against Strasbourg in the 20th round of the "2025-2026 Season French League 1" at May Now Stadium in Strasbourg, France on the 2nd (Korea time). PSG, which won six consecutive league games, led the league with 48 points (15 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses), beating Lance (46 points) by two points.
Lee Kang-in, who injured his left thigh in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 against Flamengo (Brazil) on December 18 last year, made his first return to injury in about a month and a half. He was replaced in the 15th minute of the second half and played about 30 minutes until the end of the game.
Lee Kang-in showed his presence even though he played for the first time in a long time. In the 29th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in, who received a pass from a teammate near the arc circle, turned around and shot, but the goalkeeper caught it.
In the 36th minute of the second half, when the score was tied 1-1, he sprayed an exquisite pass that became the starting point of the winning goal. Lee Kang-in, who caught the ball on the right side, poked a forward pass to Warren Zaire Emery, who overtook the opponent and fell into the back space of the defense. Jair Emery then crossed and Nuno Mendes hit it with his forehead to shake the net. Lee Kang-in ran to Mendes lying on the ground, hugged and shared his joy.
According to "Foot Mob," which specializes in soccer statistics, Lee Kang-in recorded 36 ball touches, one shot and opportunity creation, 83% (20/24 times) pass success rate, and 100% (5/5) ground ball competition success rate. Footmob gave Lee Kang-in a mid-range rating of 7.2 within the team.
After the game, favorable reviews continued in Europe. Tribuna, who specializes in soccer, praised Lee Kang-in's offensive instincts as well as his defensive commitment. The media said, "Lee Kang-in has made tremendous defensive efforts to win an important ball. At that time, Enrique's enthusiastic response was also detected," he said.
In the 45th minute of the second half, when the opponent's striker broke through the left side of the PSG camp, Lee Kang-in persistently followed and took the ball away after the competition. Then, Enrique praised the scene where he was "clapping the seal."
The media said, "Lee Kang-in's dedication impressed director Enrique deeply. Coach Enrique's reaction shows that he is very grateful to Lee Kang-in. He also said that he was undoubtedly very impressed by Lee Kang-in's dedication.
"Enrique liked Lee Kang-in's spirit in the game very much. I also impressed the audience," he said.
Lee Kang-in also expressed his feelings about winning after the game. According to the PSG club, he said, "I knew even before the game that Strasbourg was a very demanding team. It was a team that always gave us a hard time. But I prepared well for this game," he said.
"There were difficult moments during the game, but there were also moments when we were overwhelmed. I'm happy to win the game as a result, and I have to continue to work hard (in the future)," he added.
Lee Kang-in, who returned from rehabilitation, said, "I am grateful to all the staff who helped me return to the ground as soon as possible after a long recovery period. I am also grateful to my colleagues who have always stood by me during this difficult time. "Injuries are not really easy," he said. "I'm really happy to return tonight and win."
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*This content was translated by AI.
