Even the reporters were surprised by the love-struck confession from defender Choi Jun: "My secret to stamina is my girlfriend's love"... with nourishing meals ranging from grilled eel to chicken soup as the driving force [Sangam Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

FC Seoul defender Choi Jun (28) revealed that his girlfriend's presence has been a great source of strength.

Seoul drew 0-0 against FC Anyang in their home match at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 5th in the 12th round of the '2026 Hana Bank K League 1'.

With the added point, Seoul maintained its lead with 26 points (8 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses). The gap to second-place Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (21 points) is five points.

Starting as a right-sided defender, Choi Jun performed brilliantly on both offense and defense despite being at a numerical disadvantage following Yazan's dismissal in the 36th minute of the first half.

In the early part of the first half, he initiated the team's first shot with a precise cross, opening up the attack. In the second half, he directly penetrated deep into the penalty area and delivered a decisive pass to Krimala, demonstrating sharp involvement in the attack. Even under increased defensive pressure, he held off Anyang's attacks with his active workload.

Meeting Choi Jun in the joint interview area (mixed zone) after the match, he expressed both regret and confidence regarding the draw despite the numerical disadvantage.

Regarding Yazan's early dismissal in the first half, he said, "It's a variable that can happen during a soccer match," and added, "I have experienced this in the past, so I tried to handle it calmly." He further stated, "Although we were outnumbered, I believe we dominated the opponent in terms of performance and had more chances and possession."

When asked about the situation where he collided with Kim Kang, a 2007-born rookie from Anyang, leading to the opponent's dismissal, he gave a mature response. In the 35th minute of the second half, Kim Kang received a red card for an unsportsmanlike act of lowering both thumbs toward Seoul supporters after a physical struggle with Choi Jun.

Choi Jun said, "We were in a hurry due to time constraints, so friction occurred as we tried to play quickly." He added, "I didn't see his action myself, but from what I heard, he was provoking our fans. As a young player, I hope he learns from this incident and avoids such behavior in the future."

The Seoul defense, including Choi Jun, maintained defensive concentration despite being at a numerical disadvantage for a long period and ultimately ended the game scoreless. Choi Jun explained, "During halftime, Kim Jin-soo gave many words of advice to the players in the locker room to help them regain focus. I played the role of uniting the players, and thanks to everyone following the instructions of the coach and Jin-soo, we were able to maintain the broken balance and finish the match."

When asked about the secret to staying energetic amidst a tight schedule spanning weekends and weekdays, he pointed to "his girlfriend's love." He said, "My girlfriend and her parents take very good care of me. After matches, they always grill eel or prepare nourishing meals like chicken soup."

When the reporters expressed surprise at his mention of his girlfriend, he shyly smiled and said, "My girlfriend is fine. It's the power of my girlfriend."

He also showed no concern for rival teams like second-place Jeonbuk and third-place Ulsan HD, who are currently chasing Seoul. Choi Jun stated, "It is true that rival teams are in good form, and the players are aware of it. However, if we continue to win, the point gap will be maintained. While outsiders may think Seoul's momentum has slowed, the atmosphere within the team is completely different. Just as we played well with 10 players, everyone is full of confidence. The upcoming three consecutive away matches against Jeju, Gwangju, and Daejeon will not be easy, but we will prepare well and bring good results again."

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*This content was translated by AI.