"I couldn't play in the World Cup, so it's amazing." Coach Jeong Kyung-ho praises his student Lee Ki-hyeok: "Let's achieve our goal of reaching the Asian Games" [Sangam Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Jeong Kyung-ho (46), head coach of Kangwon FC, expressed pride and affection for his student Lee Ki-hyeok (26).

Kangwon will play an away match against FC Seoul at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on the 12th as part of the "Hana Bank K League 1 2026" Round 17.

Kangwon, currently on a six-game unbeaten streak (four wins and two draws), sits in third place with 27 points (seven wins, six draws, three losses). Seoul, on a three-game winning streak, leads the table with 35 points (11 wins, two draws, three losses).

Before the match, Coach Jeong Kyung-ho said, "Just like in our previous game against Daejeon Hana Citizen, we prepared well to execute and realize the processes we had planned on the field. Seoul is also a strong team with many excellent players, but if we show the process as we prepared, even an away game should yield a good result," expressing confidence.

The standout player of the day was undoubtedly Kangwon's defensive cornerstone, Lee Ki-hyeok. Recently selected unexpectedly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America men's national team, Lee started all three group stage matches, proving his value.

Coach Jeong Kyung-ho expressed pride in the student he personally nurtured. He said, "It was truly amazing. I remember struggling to play in the 2006 Germany World Cup but ultimately failing to do so. For Lee to have made it onto the national team's final bus and started all three consecutive matches means his future is far brighter than mine."

Marking the World Cup as a turning point, Lee Ki-hyeok has achieved not only skill development but also inner growth. Coach Jeong Kyung-ho noted, "Lee used to have somewhat negative tendencies, but now he has completely transformed in a positive direction and grown significantly."

In fact, the goals they discussed while sharing meals during last winter's break are gradually becoming reality. After stepping onto the World Cup stage, Lee has also been named as a wildcard for the upcoming Asian Games national team.

Coach Jeong Kyung-ho stated, "The player himself is satisfied, but I believe there is no growth in moments of satisfaction. The desperate desire to reach the World Cup and the current mindset of taking Asian Games participation for granted are completely different. I hope he regains his original intention once more."

Recently leading a three-game winning streak, Coach Jeong Kyung-ho emphasized that they should not be overly concerned with standings at this moment. He said, "I told the players not to chase results first. What matters is focusing on the process; chasing results can make games fall apart." He added, "In the K League, losing momentum can quickly lead to difficulties, so it's important to continue growing and maintain a positive identity."

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*This content was translated by AI.