Not invited to the EPL promotion celebration, Yang Min-hyeok remains 'excluded from the lineup for 12 consecutive matches'... Will 'Min-hyeok' still be part of Coventry's EPL journey?

*This content was translated by AI.

Coventry City, led by manager Frank Lampard (48), is set to return to the English Premier League (EPL) for the first time in 25 years. Yet, on this celebratory day, Yang Min-hyeok (20) was nowhere to be seen.

On the 18th (Korean time), Coventry drew 1-1 against Blackburn Rovers in the 43rd round of the 2025~2026 English Championship (second division) at Ewood Park in Blackburn, England.

With 86 points (25 wins, 11 draws, 7 losses), Coventry secured promotion by extending their lead over second-place Millwall (76 points) to 10 points with three matches remaining. This marks Coventry's return to the dream EPL stage for the first time since their relegation to the second division in 2001, a span of 25 years.

Coventry experienced ups and downs, dropping as far as the fourth division (League Two) during the 2017~2018 season, but achieved successive promotions from the following season onward, eventually settling in the Championship.

Notably, manager Lampard, who joined the club in November 2024 when the team was in the relegation zone, played a crucial role. Having guided the team to the promotion play-offs last season and demonstrating their potential, Lampard maintained a stable squad from the start of this season, securing early promotion.

Coventry, who only needed a draw to secure promotion, faced a crisis after conceding an early goal in the 9th minute of the second half. However, they equalized in the 39th minute of the second half through a header by Bobby Thomas, securing the single point needed for promotion.

After the match, manager Lampard expressed his emotions, stating, "It's a promotion after 25 years. It's an unbelievable moment that's hard to put into words", adding, "This is why we play football".

Meanwhile, Yang Min-hyeok, who moved on loan to Coventry from Tottenham during the winter transfer window, did not take the field on this day. Although he featured as a substitute in some matches shortly after joining, he has been effectively classified as outside the team's plans after being excluded from the matchday squad for 12 consecutive matches, with his last appearance coming in just one minute against Oxford in February.

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*This content was translated by AI.