'Cheongju Cheongbuk defeats Seoul in comeback loss': Coach Kim Do-gyun delivers stinging critique, "Relegation? I even wondered if I should continue as coach" [Mokdong Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

After suffering a painful comeback loss, Kim Do-gyun (49), head coach of Seoul I-land, delivered a sharp rebuke to his players.

Seoul I-land lost 1-2 in a comeback defeat during their 15th-round home match against Cheongju Cheongbuk at Mokdong Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on the 7th in the 'Hana Bank K League 2 2026'.

Had Seoul I-land won today, they could have moved up to second place by overtaking Suwon Samsung (29 points). Instead, they remained in third place with 26 points (8 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses). Meanwhile, Cheongju Cheongbuk, who recorded their first-ever victory in just 15 league matches, climbed from 15th to 14th place with 13 points (1 win, 10 draws, 3 losses).

Seoul I-land took control of the match early thanks to Kim Hyun's spectacular scissors kick goal in the 33rd minute of the first half, but they squandered the lead due to a series of critical defensive errors in the second half. A collapse in defensive concentration, including a failure to control the ball inside the box and poor handling of long balls in the dying moments of the second half, directly led to the conceded goals. They conceded consecutive goals to Lee Jong-eon late in the second half and to Garcia in stoppage time, suffering a shocking 1-2 comeback loss.

Appearing at the post-match press conference with a grim expression, Coach Kim Do-gyun said, "I am deeply sorry to the fans. I was so disappointed that I didn't even know what to say." He added, "The result was so shocking that I even questioned whether I should continue as coach," expressing his regret over the stunning comeback defeat.

He then went on to harshly criticize the team's overall performance. Coach Kim Do-gyun stated, "It's not the fault of any single individual, but the fact that we are preparing and thinking about promotion is completely absurd given today's performance."

He pointed to the players' physical fatigue and the defense's lack of concentration as the causes of the defeat. Coach Kim Do-gyun said, "We saw physical issues with the players and various problems in the second half. I believe everyone, including the substituted defenders and myself, is at fault. We need to seriously reflect on this."

He continued, "We have had to tell the team to 'wake up' after several such matches this season, but it seems our actions haven't changed. I am truly sorry to the fans. Even I find it hard to make sense of today's game," expressing his frustration.

He also voiced deep concerns about physical issues ahead of the summer heat. Coach Kim Do-gyun emphasized, "Ultimately, when physical condition declines, so does concentration. In soccer, the difference between winning and losing is often just one extra step. If you can't take that step, you lose." He added, "If physical problems are already evident in today's weather, the situation in July and August will be even more serious. We must find solutions, whether by addressing physical conditioning during the break or by signing new players."

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*This content was translated by AI.