Coach Jeong Jeong-yong: "Kim Ye-geon is the first substitute attacker; he will judge the timing well" [Incheon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Jeong Jeong-yong, head coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, ahead of the match against Incheon United, stated, "Today, (Kim) Ye-geon is the first in the substitute attacker rotation," and announced that Kim would enter the game sooner than in previous matches.

Speaking to reporters on the 18th ahead of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 18 match against Incheon at Incheon Football Stadium, Coach Jeong said, "With Lee Seung-woo also unavailable, Ye-geon is the first choice among attackers for substitution. As for when that timing will come, we will have to see."

Kim Ye-geon, who signed a semi-professional contract with the club this year, made his professional debut as a substitute in the match against Gangwon FC on the 4th, and then scored his first professional goal in the match against Ulsan HD on the 11th, quickly rising to become one of K League's top stars. Kim entered the game in the 40th minute of the second half against Gangwon and came on in the 20th minute of the second half for the Ulsan match.

Especially with Lee Seung-woo suspended due to accumulated yellow cards and other attacking resources also unavailable, Kim Ye-geon is highly likely to be the first attacker substituted into the game today. Besides Kim, the attackers on the bench are Giti and Han Seok-jin, born in 2007.

Coach Jeong said, "When you get this much spotlight, there will certainly be parts where opponents attack more aggressively. I told (Kim Ye-geon) he must overcome that, and I expect him to do well today as well."

Regarding Kim Tae-hyun and Kim Young-bin, who were left out of the starting lineup today, Jeong explained they are sidelined due to hamstring and knee injuries, respectively. They will be replaced by Kim Ha-jun and Jo Wi-je. Coach Jeong added, "The opponent is on a losing streak, so their focus will likely be sharper. However, this is also a very important match for us, and we must seek revenge for our first defeat."

In response, Yoon Jeong-hwan, head coach of Incheon, said, "Although we are on a losing streak, I don't think our performance level has dropped. We prepared to fill in some gaps and did so well with good morale. The key is making decisions. We discussed many things about crosses and ideas in the final third."

Coach Yoon added, "Our performance hasn't been bad. The biggest issue since the break has been the lack of goals. In the last match, we had many effective shots, but they either went straight to the goalkeeper or the crosses were inaccurate. If we don't correct these issues, it might be difficult. But if those things align well, there shouldn't be a major problem in scoring."

Continuing, Coach Yoon said, "When you start being chased, you get anxious, and when you're anxious, you can't execute as planned. I think psychological factors will play an even bigger role. Ultimately, atmosphere is crucial. It's the players who do the work, so we have no choice but to trust and wait."

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*This content was translated by AI.