"It will be entertaining even for soccer fans to watch the Suwon Samsung match"... "Lee Jeong-hyo Ball analysis complete," Gyeongnam FC head coach Bae Seong-jae expresses confidence [Changwon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Facing a strong championship contender with only one win this season, Bae Seong-jae, head coach of Gyeongnam FC, who has nowhere to retreat, conveyed his determination to fire the starting gun for a turnaround at home.

Gyeongnam and Suwon Samsung will clash in the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 8 match scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 18th at Changwon Football Center.

Gyeongnam, which started the season ambitiously under head coach Bae Seong-jae, has managed only one win, two draws, and three losses in six matches, remaining in 14th place in the league. For Gyeongnam, which urgently needs to escape the lower tier, this match against Suwon is a critical turning point that will determine the direction of the early season.

Gyeongnam has regrouped after a roughly two-week break following the Busan IPark match. Head coach Bae Seong-jae, who had more schedule flexibility than Suwon, stated after meeting with reporters before the match that ""players who needed physical rotation have recovered well. We spent time preparing exclusively for the Suwon match.""

However, the squad situation is not easy. Won Ki-jong suffered a hamstring rupture during training and is expected to be out for about four to five weeks, and Dan Lei is also not in normal condition. Head coach Bae Seong-jae stated that ""available resources are limited. We plan to deploy Chiki in the first half and, since Dan Lei is still building up his fitness, utilize him for about 30 to 40 minutes in the second half depending on the situation.""

Head coach Bae Seong-jae has meticulously analyzed Suwon's recent trends and tactics. He particularly drew inspiration from the match where Gimpo FC defeated Suwon 0-1. Bae Seong-jae announced that ""I saw Gimpo press the opponent with a three-striker formation, causing Suwon to be flustered. Gyeongnam has prepared in a slightly different way.""

Regarding Suwon's scoring patterns, he added that ""Suwon scores frequently in transition situations when they win the ball back."" and emphasized that ""the key is to slow down the opponent's speed. We have repeatedly trained to push the opponent to the flanks through pressing.""

Additionally, head coach Bae Seong-jae expressed confidence that today's match would offer tactical entertainment. He said, ""Coach Lee Jeong-hyo will play primarily with short passes, while Gyeongnam will approach in a different way. It will be an interesting match that sparks curiosity among soccer fans."" He also noted that ""there will likely be many scenes where we must cut off Suwon with tough fouls, and we have prepared meticulously for those aspects.""

A positive aspect is the growth of young players such as Son Ho-jun. Head coach Bae Seong-jae emphasized that ""Ho-jun has already scored two goals, and he was happy about it. Today's lineup, except for goalkeeper Lee Beom-soo, consists mostly of young players. Although they have little K League experience, we will break through head-on with their energy and organizational strength.""

Regarding Suwon's goalless record, he added that ""Suwon tends to leave gaps between their defense and midfield. I instructed the players to focus crosses and passes in those areas to create chances."" He further stated that ""if we control the opponent's speed and demonstrate the organizational strength Gyeongnam has prepared, there is sufficient potential for victory.""

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*This content was translated by AI.