Lee Junghyo said, "I want to surpass fans' expectations. That's my biggest rival" [Media Day On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Manager Lee Jung-hyo, who took the helm of Suwon Samsung in the K-League 2, said, "I don't think all 16 teams in the K-League 2 have to let their guard down," but added, "The biggest rival is that they want to exceed the expectations of the fans."

Coach Lee Jung-hyo answered the question of "the biggest rival among the K League 2 clubs" at a meeting with reporters ahead of Hana Bank's K League 2 2026 opening media day at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 25th.

Coach Lee Jung-hyo said, "I'm thinking about how to do better, how to entertain the eyes of Suwon fans for those who come to the stadium," and added, "I personally have to be satisfied with myself, so time flew by while preparing like that." Of course, I feel pressure," he added.

Coach Lee Jung-hyo said, "Because my expectations are higher than you think, I think I'm dealing with the players harshly to exceed my expectations. If that happens, I think there will be good results," he said, adding, "The players also saw that they were trying until this morning. And I can feel that it's getting better," he said.

Regarding some assessments that they will be competitive in the K League 1 beyond the "post-K League 2" by recently reinforcing their power, including Ko Seung-beom, Jung Ho-yeon, and Kim Joon-hong, "We still have a long way to go. I have nothing to say because I lost to the K League 1 team last time. I think it's a K-League 2 team because I'm still in K-League 2."

Coach Lee Jung-hyo said, "If there have been many situations in which players have done instinctively and with their senses, I think it will be a year to realize the principles of soccer. I hope you think that you play soccer like that, he said. "I think it would be good to come to the stadium and check whether it will work or not and whether it will be implemented. I will continue to try to implement it that way," he said.

Regarding the fact that he would "break the framework of Korean football" after receiving the Leader of the Year Award at the Korea Football Association Awards the previous day, he said, "There is a framework I am thinking about. He continues to be hard on himself to break the mold. I'm the only one who knows the frame of thought I have. I don't think I need to talk about it," he said.

Coach Lee Jung-hyo, who will make his managerial debut at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on the 28th, said, "There is not much time to think about the pressure. I don't even know how each day goes by. In fact, the opening game is only three days away, and the opening game time was also known today. I thought it was 2 p.m., but I was surprised to hear that it was 4:30 p.m., he said, adding, "The reaction after the opening match will be either I'm criticized by Suwon fans or praised."

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*This content was translated by AI.