"Honestly... I didn't even know today's game time." Suwon manager Lee Jeong-hyo makes a surprise confession ahead of the Suwon derby [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Suwon derby has materialized after three years. Suwon Samsung manager Lee Jeong-hyo is enjoying the heated atmosphere ahead of the match.

Suwon will face SuwonFC in an away match of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 10 at Suwon Sports Complex at 7 p.m. on May 3.

Suwon secured a dramatic victory against Busan in their previous match, fueling their bid for the top spot. Currently sitting second in the league with 7 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss for 22 points, they are in strong contention.

This season, Suwon has conceded only four goals in nine league matches, showcasing a rock-solid defense. In particular, the center-back line anchored by Hong Jeong-ho is at a level surpassing K League 2 standards. However, with 13 goals scored, they rank in the middle tier among the 17th teams in K League 2.

However, there is still no room for complacency in the promotion race. Seoul E-Land defeated Gimpo FC to reach 19 points from 10 matches, closing the gap to just three points behind Suwon. Also formidable are Hwaseong FC (15 points), Daegu FC, and today's opponent, SuwonFC (both at 14 points).

On the same day, the sole league leader Busan IPark defeated last-place Gimhae FC 2008 1-0, improving to 8 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in 10 matches with 25 points, extending their lead over Suwon to three points.

Suwon fans, hoping for a derby victory, held street parades and cheering events ahead of the match. In a pre-game interview, manager Lee Jeong-hyo said, "The atmosphere was incredible from the moment I arrived at the stadium. Even on the bus, the energy was very high."

Preparing for the SuwonFC match, manager Lee Jeong-hyo stated, "I told the players that a single step can make a big difference. Suwon is always a team we must beat. We emphasized that we don't need many goals—just one is enough. We also corrected areas needing improvement, such as our defense."

During his time at Gwangju FC, manager Lee Jeong-hyo had criticized the poor condition of SuwonFC's away team locker room. Regarding the newly renovated facility, Lee Jeong-hyo smiled and said, "It feels like it's partly mine. It seems SuwonFC put in a lot of effort. Other managers will surely appreciate it. I hope other clubs continue to make changes like this."

In particular, rookie Kim Do-yeon, born in 2006, boosted his momentum by scoring his professional debut goal from a penalty kick in the previous match. Manager Lee Jeong-hyo smiled and said, "Kim Do-yeon gets scolded every day at training. Yesterday, he was scolded by Hong Jeong-ho. It wasn't a harsh reprimand, but Hong gave precise feedback. In fact, I was grateful to Hong Jeong-ho."

He also revealed that he has been extremely busy lately. Manager Lee Jeong-hyo said, "Honestly, when did I find out today's game is at 7 p.m.? I only learned it from Lee Geon-hee and Kang Hyun-mok. I really didn't know. I thought it was a 2 p.m. match." He added, "Unlike when I was in Gwangju, these days I only go between home and the club house. I live without even noticing the time passing."

For the SuwonFC match, Suwon will deploy Illyuchenko and Heise as strikers, with Kim Do-yeon, Jung Ho-yeon, Go Seung-beom, and Kang Hyun-mok in midfield. Kim Min-woo, Go Jong-hyun, Hong Jeong-ho, and Lee Geon-hee will form the back four, while goalkeeper Kim Jun-hong will wear the gloves.

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*This content was translated by AI.