'No Excuses' Suwon Samsung Manager Lee Jung-hyo's Firm Statement: "Suwon Samsung Must Change Its Unique Mental Approach" [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Despite the dramatic victory, there is no satisfaction. Manager Lee Jung-hyo, who secured the precious three points, sharply pointed out the areas Suwon Samsung needs to improve, emphasizing the team's development over the joy of victory.

On the 25th, Suwon defeated Cheonan 3-2 in a home match at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 4:30 p.m. in the Hana Bank K-League 2 2026 Round 13, thanks to Paulinho's winning goal in stoppage time after a fierce back-and-forth battle. Breaking their recent streak of draws, Suwon recorded 26 points, closing the gap to just two points behind first-place Busan IPark and reigniting the race for the top spot.

In the post-match press conference, Manager Lee Jung-hyo said, "It seems what we prepared over the past two weeks came out in the first half. The players handled the game well," but added, "In the second half, it felt like they fell back into their chronic, Suwon-specific habits. I hope they focus on the process and grow. There are no excuses. It seems we won because of luck, but this is also the result of the players' efforts."

Suwon took the lead with an early goal by Song Ju-hoon and an additional goal by Ilyuchenko, but Cheonan equalized twice, leading to a tense 2-2 standoff. Especially after Ilyuchenko missed several decisive chances, he finally scored his first goal of the season, barely securing the victory.

Regarding Ilyuchenko, who scored his first goal of the season, Manager Lee Jung-hyo said, "I felt like I was going to cry. I thought, 'How hard must he have worked until now?' He is a player who truly worked hard over the past two weeks. It seems he clearly showed the Suwon players that if you stay true to the process, results will eventually come. We also look forward to Ilyuchenko's future performances," expressing his gratitude.

Continuing, regarding Paulinho, who scored the dramatic winning goal, he stated, "He is showing a willingness to shed his Brazilian-specific personal habits during training and blend into Suwon's team culture. He is continuously improving." He then added, "I want to praise all the players for the gradual team-wide changes."

Song Ju-hoon filled the void left by captain Hong Jeong-ho, who was absent to prevent injuries and protect players. Manager Lee Jung-hyo said, "Song Ju-hoon demonstrated the role of a leader well on the field despite difficult circumstances. I want to praise him." He also noted, "Although he did not play, Hong Jeong-ho entered the locker room to encourage the players. It seems Suwon is moving in a positive direction," highlighting the team's positive atmosphere.

However, Manager Lee Jung-hyo's characteristic cold criticism continued. He said, "Suwon is always fighting against boredom, but they managed to create many opportunities by overcoming it," while raising his voice, "Suwon's unique mental approach, where they get swept up in the stadium atmosphere, become impatient, and grow lax, must definitely change. Today, that part was significantly lacking. They must maintain consistency throughout the game on the field."

He also did not hide his disappointment regarding the proactive efforts of substituted players. Manager Lee Jung-hyo stated, "If there is more training volume, confidence will emerge on the field. Players may think they are working hard, but the lack of confidence when coming off the bench means insufficient training. I also believe this is partly my fault for making those substitutions."

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*This content was translated by AI.