'First start in three months' rookie Kim Hyun-woo: Coach Kim Do-gyun's reason, "He is young, but we need a bold left-footed player" [Mokdong]

*This content was translated by AI.

Seoul E-Land rookie Kim Hyun-woo (20) is set to start for the first time in nearly three months. Coach Kim Do-gyun (49) is placing his hopes on Hyun-woo's boldness and his play on the flanks.

Seoul E-Land will host a home match against Cheongju FC at Mokdong Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on the 7th as part of the 15th round of the 'Hana Bank K League 2 2026'.

Seoul E-Land, on a two-game winning streak, sits third with 26 points (8 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses), while Cheongju FC, still without a win, is 15th with 10 points (10 draws, 3 losses).

On this day, Coach Kim Do-gyun made changes in no fewer than five positions compared to the previous match. Regarding this, Coach Kim Do-gyun explained that the selection was made considering both the battle for initiative in the first half and the timing of substitutions in the second half.

On the decision to start with Karius, he expressed his expectation: "Karius is not yet at 100% condition, but given his unique playmaking ability and excellent kicking power, I hope to leverage those strengths in the first half."

Regarding rookie Kim Hyun-woo, who has secured a starting opportunity after about three months, Coach Kim Do-gyun stated, "The left flank is constantly rotating, so there is no established starter. Kim Hyun-woo is young, but he has prepared very well so far and is a bold player." He added, "We needed a left-footed player who could aggressively penetrate from the flank when Karius is on the field in the first half, so we made this selection."

Cheongju FC has recorded 10 draws (and 3 losses) in their first 13 matches of the season, finding themselves in a stubborn draw swamp. When asked if the desperation of their opponent is a burden, Coach Kim Do-gyun said, "Facing such a team is a heavy burden. Not only I, but the players must also be thinking that we cannot become the first win for them," showing he is not letting his guard down.

Coach Kim Do-gyun analyzed Cheongju FC's weakness as occurring in the final moments of the second half, previewing the key to the match. "Cheongju is a team that scores in every match, but they tend to concede many goals in the late stages of the second half," he said, indicating his intention to focus their attack on this area.

Finally, when asked which team he supported in yesterday's match between the second-place rival Suwon Samsung and the fifth-place Hwaseong FC, Coach Kim Do-gyun smiled and said, "I supported both teams and hoped for a draw." He added, "Hwaseong has improved significantly, and the Suwon players played with great confidence."

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*This content was translated by AI.