"Try to stop me if you can," Director Lee Jeong-hyo declares... Resolved to directly confront Suwon Samsung's prolonged goalless slump [Changwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

After a five-game winning streak to start the season, Suwon Samsung, suddenly trapped in a goalless slump, aims to turn the tide in an away match.

Suwon and Gyeongnam FC will face off in the 8th round of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 at Changwon Football Center at 2 p.m. on the 18th.

Before the match, Director Lee Jeong-hyo met with reporters and stated "After the last game, I had many discussions with the analysis team and coaching staff", adding "that the players are well aware of the direction Suwon aims to take. It is a process of continuing to create the kind of football we want to play, rather than focusing on external perceptions".

This season, while Suwon has recorded the league's fewest goals conceded with just two in seven matches thanks to a solid defense, their immediate priority is to address the lack of scoring, as they remain the only top-tier team with single-digit goals. Director Lee Jeong-hyo emphasized "Ultimately, football is a sport where you must score goals. We are contemplating how to find openings in a defensive team that sits deep", and "'we must be stubborn enough to say, 'Try to stop me if you can,' and stick to Suwon's unique style', he believes such determination is necessary".

Gyeongnam, having not played in the previous round, spent two weeks regrouping. In contrast, Suwon suffered a 0-1 home defeat to Gimpo FC last week, marking their second consecutive goalless match since the 6th-round draw against Cheongju FC (0-0).

This is not a concern unique to Suwon. Even world-class strong teams often struggle to break down opponents who deploy compact, deep defenses. Director Lee Jeong-hyo firmly stated "Defending is easy, but breaking through is difficult. However, if we can overcome this process, both the players and the team will grow significantly".

Continuing, Director Lee Jeong-hyo analyzed "Looking at the stats from the Gimpo match, the opponent committed 20 fouls, while Suwon committed only nine", noting "from a defensive perspective, more fouls are inevitable. Each team has its own style of play, and the opponent's physical approach is a challenge Suwon must overcome".

Regarding the lack of scoring, he clarified that it is not solely the responsibility of the attacking line. Director Lee Jeong-hyo explained "The record of two goals conceded in seven matches is because the forwards have contributed so much to the defense. Conversely, when attacking, the entire team must work together to create goals", and "we are continuously refining our attacking timing through training".

He also reported on a loss of strength. Winger Fesin was excluded from the lineup due to an internal thigh injury sustained before the Gimpo match. Director Lee Jeong-hyo announced "He is expected to return around May or June".

Instead, he expressed confidence in including young players such as Kim Do-yoon, Kim Sung-ju, and Mo Gyeong-bin in the lineup, stating "This is not merely for development purposes; we have confirmed through training that they possess the skill and readiness to start as regulars".

On the league's unpredictable landscape, he added "The early standings are unfolding in the opposite direction of expectations. Teams we considered dark horses are at the bottom, making it feel like a muddy battle so far".

Today, Suwon will deploy Bruno Silva, Kim Ji-hyun, and Hayes as a front three, with Kim Do-yeon, Park Hyun-bin, and Jung Ho-yeon in midfield. Lee Jun-jae, Hong Jeong-ho, Ko Jong-hyun, and Kim Min-woo will form the back four, while Kim Jun-hong will be in goal.

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*This content was translated by AI.