Lee Yu-il, Head Coach of Nae-hyang Women's Football Team: "Existence of Joint Support Group? Not a Matter for Us to Consider... We Will Focus Solely on the Match" [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Yu-il, leading Nae-hyang Women's Football Team, approached the press conference with a cool demeanor, creating a solemn atmosphere ahead of the semi-final match against Suwon FC Women.

At an official press conference held on the morning of the 19th at Suwon Sports Complex, one day before the AFC Women's Champions League (AWCL) semi-final single-match showdown against Suwon FC Women, head coach Lee Yu-il stated, "We have prepared well for tomorrow's match."

Captain Kim Kyung-yeong, who then took the microphone, also maintained composure, saying, "We will do our best," and adding, "As captain and as a forward, I will do my utmost for the team's championship."

Head coach Lee Yu-il, who returned to the country on the 17th after training in Beijing, China, accompanied by a delegation of 39 players, emphasized his resolve to focus solely on victory on the pitch, having undergone a thorough preparation process.

Prior to the question-and-answer session, the AFC had also announced in advance, "Please ask questions related to the match as much as possible."

Nae-hyang had already defeated Suwon FC Women 3-0 in the group stage. Head coach Lee Yu-il calmly remarked, "All four teams that advanced to the semi-finals are capable of winning the championship. Just because we faced each other in the group stage does not mean one team is stronger than the other. We will do our best to achieve good results in the semi-finals."

In this match, the Nae-hyang delegation will take to the pitch with an unexpected support force behind them. On the afternoon of the 20th at 7 p.m., a joint support group of approximately 3,000 people, formed through private initiative with support from the Ministry of Unification, will attend the semi-final match at Suwon Sports Complex. Seated directly opposite the main stands, they plan to cheer for both the home team and the Nae-hyang players, regardless of the match outcome.

Head coach Lee Yu-il kept a strict distance from issues outside the match. When asked about the existence of the joint support group, he drew a line by saying, "I don't know if such questions will arise in the future," and then added, "We came solely to play the match. We will focus only on the game. The support group issue does not seem to be something the coach or players should worry about. We will focus only on the match."

As the atmosphere suggested more questions outside the match, head coach Lee Yu-il was seen holding back, telling an AFC official, "I will accept only one more question."

Even when asked about the team's atmosphere, captain Kim Kyung-yeong left only a brief response: "We will give our all to repay the trust of our parents and siblings."

Ahead of this tournament, after some commotion regarding accommodation arrangements, the Nae-hyang delegation was able to use the existing Hotel A in Suwon exclusively. Although they were initially scheduled to share accommodation with the home team, Suwon FC Women, the home team moved to a different hotel to ensure separation of routes, allowing the Nae-hyang players to enter the stadium with the conditions to prepare for the decisive match in a relatively comfortable and highly focused environment for the remainder of the tournament.

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*This content was translated by AI.