"Suwon Samsung is a strong team aiming for the championship, and we are..." Cheonan manager Park Jin-seop's 'surprise' card prepared for the counterattack [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Suwon Samsung is a strong team aiming for the championship. We will face them with our organizational strength."

These were the words of Cheonan City FC manager Park Jin-seop.

Cheonan will play an away match against Suwon at 4:30 p.m. on the 25th at Suwon World Cup Stadium in the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 13.

Currently, Cheonan sits in 11th place in the league with 15 points from 11 matches (3 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses). Although the team is in the lower half of the table, the gap with the mid-to-upper tier is not large. The gap with Daegu FC and Suwon FC (both in 5th place with 21 points), who are on the playoff qualification line, is only 6 points. Moreover, Cheonan has played one fewer match than these teams, so the result of this match against Suwon could provide a springboard for a leap into the mid-to-upper tier.

In a meeting with reporters before the match, manager Park Jin-seop said about his mindset facing the strong team Suwon, "Although it is an away game, I hope the players do not get nervous but instead enjoy the atmosphere of Suwon World Cup Stadium, which attracts many spectators." He added, "These players do not have much experience in such big games. I instructed them to remain calm inside the stadium, communicate more with each other, and work through the game."

Cheonan struggled in the first four matches after the season opener, recording 3 draws and 1 loss, but since the victory against Jeonnam Dragons, they have recorded 3 wins and 2 draws, showing a formidable upward trend. They have gone on an unbeaten run of 7 matches (3 wins, 4 draws), the most in the club's history, causing a storm in the league.

Cheonan will deploy Toon-gara, Lee Ji-hoon, and Lee Sang-jun as a three-forward line, with Lee Dong-hyup, Heo Dong-min, Ramas, and Park Chang-woo in midfield. Kwon Yong-seung, Choi Gyu-baek, and Kim Sung-joo will form the back four, and Park Dae-han will be in goal.

Regarding this lineup, manager Park Jin-seop said, "We placed Heo Dong-min next to the technically superior Ramas." He added, "I expect these two players to play a good connecting role in the midfield, such as passing. Since Heo Dong-min is still young, I expect him to run energetically and inject fighting spirit, serving as a vital force for the team."

However, after recently losing 0-1 to Busan IPark and drawing 0-0 with Paju Frontiers, the team's momentum has dipped with two consecutive matches without a win (1 draw, 1 loss). In contrast, the opponent Suwon has regrouped after a two-week break.

Manager Park Jin-seop responded, "Although Suwon has not won in their last two matches, they are a strong team with good performance and championship aspirations, so they will be a difficult opponent." He continued, "Cheonan has prepared thoroughly for a week to unite as a team rather than individuals and face them organizationally. We aim to accumulate as many points as possible in the remaining three matches before the World Cup break to narrow the gap with mid-to-upper tier teams and enter the break on a high note."

Nevertheless, Cheonan has conceded only 10 goals in 11 matches, recording the second-lowest in the league. The key point of this match will be how Cheonan, known for its tight defense built on a solid back line, will counter Suwon's attack led by manager Lee Jeong-hyo, who aims to break through dense defenses.

Regarding tactics for the Suwon match, manager Park Jin-seop said, "We referenced the defensive strategies of other teams that faced Suwon. For Cheonan, following that direction will be the best option in defense." He added, "In attack, we tried to introduce some changes to the attacking line while not disrupting defensive balance, aiming for a different style. To manage stamina, we will bring on game changers Lee Jun-ho and Sarzani in the second half to find a breakthrough."

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*This content was translated by AI.