Bucheon coach Lee Young-min ahead of Jeju match: "We must win to relieve the fans' pent-up frustrations" [Bucheon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Ahead of the "homeground relocation derby" against Jeju SK, Bucheon FC coach Lee Young-min said, "This is a match that carries our team's history," and added, "I believe the fans will only be able to release the frustrations they hold in their hearts if we win."

Coach Lee Young-min met with reporters ahead of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 12 home match against Jeju, scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 5th at Bucheon Stadium. He emphasized, "This is a match that fans consider important, and the players are always aware of that. Since we lost the away match against Robin in the first round, we must play a good game at home."

The ill-fated history between the two teams began when the SK football team, originally based in Bucheon, relocated to Jeju. Bucheon fans, whose team had disappeared, established a civic club centered around supporter groups. Consequently, the matchup between the two teams naturally became entangled as a "homeground relocation derby."

Coach Lee Young-min stated, "The players are all aware of the importance of today's match, so there is no need for further explanation. Since the players are always aware, we must trust them." He added, "On the other hand, unnecessary actions such as excessive excitement are also not needed. We have made sure they are aware of this point only."

The coach said, "I want to use Vasini and Gabriel, and considering the importance of the match, I would prefer to use them from the first half, but they have not yet fully recovered from their injuries." He expressed hope that "if the players who are physically fit perform well in the first half, they will be able to show good performances in the second half."

He continued, "Jeju has many players with strong attacking skills and good individual techniques. If we give up too much space, it could be dangerous, so I think the first half will be played cautiously." He added, "Since we must win, if we show the appearance of challengers, we will be able to deliver a better match and better results."

In response, Jeju coach Sergio Costa said, "I feel no pressure at all. Today's match is just a football match. I do not think it is a war. I respect the Bucheon team very much, but today is just a football match."

He further stated, "I want to perform well in every match and become a balanced team with quality. We cannot analyze based solely on results. We must also analyze the performance." He added, "We need to see why the results came out that way and understand why the results are not following."

Regarding the situation of failing to score in two consecutive recent matches, coach Sergio Costa said, "Continuously improving the finishing part in training is the solution." He emphasized, "We are doing well in reaching the final third. This is not just a problem for Gittis but a problem for the entire team. I believe we can gain confidence in an instant and keep scoring goals."

On this day, Bucheon will deploy a 3-5-2 formation with Han Ji-ho and Gallego as the striking duo, and Kim Dong-hyun, Kim Sang-jun, and Kim Jong-woo in the midfield. An Tae-hyun and Shin Jae-won will take on the wingback roles, while Patrick, Baek Dong-gyu, and Lee Jae-won will form the three-back line, and Kim Hyung-keun will guard the goal.

Jeju will counter with a 4-3-3 formation centered on Negueba, with Park Chang-jun and Kwon Chang-hoon on the flanks. Nam Tae-hee, Jang Min-gyu, and Oh Jae-hyeok will be in the midfield, while Kim Roon-seong, Tobias, Kim Jae-woo, and Im Chang-woo will line up in the defensive line. Kim Dong-jun will wear the goalkeeper gloves. Depending on Nam Tae-hee's position, the formation may shift between 4-4-2.

Promoted team Bucheon sits in 10th place with 13 points (3 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses), while Jeju is in 11th place with 12 points (3 wins, 3 draws, 5 losses). In their first matchup on April 4 at Jeju World Cup Stadium, Jeju won 1-0.

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*This content was translated by AI.