[On-site Interview] Team K League Coach Jeong Jeong-yong: "Referencing the Manchester City vs. Inter Milan match, we will not back down"

*This content was translated by AI.

Jeong Jeong-yong, who is now in charge of Team K League, promised to deliver strong performances even against top-tier clubs.

At a press conference held on the 4th at Bucheon Stadium for the first match of the '2026 Coupang Play Series' against Manchester City (England), Coach Jeong Jeong-yong said, "First, as a coach, I am grateful to Coupang Play and the Korea Professional Football League officials for giving us the opportunity to play against world-class teams," conveying his determination and goals.

Lee Nal (CEO), along with Ulsan's ace Lee Dong-gyeong and Incheon's 'long-serving foreign investor' Mugo-sa, attended the press conference.

Coach Jeong Jeong-yong promised, "Although our players have league matches and this event game is held during the week, we will do our best for K League and its fans to deliver a great match."

Team K League will face the English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 5th.

This year, too, the top players representing K League have gathered. In attack, Mugo-sa (Incheon), Yago (Ulsan), Gallego (Bucheon), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan), and Lee Seung-woo (Jeonbuk) are included in the roster. Midfielders include Mateus (Anyang), Ki Sung-yueng (Pohang), Kim Dae-won (Gangwon), Kim Bong-soo (Daejeon), Kim Ju-chan, Park Tae-jun (both from Gimcheon), Moon Min-seo, and Ha Seung-woon (both from Gwangju).

In defense, 'North American members' Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon) and Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon) are joined by Kwon Kyung-won (Anyang), Kim Roon-seong (Jeju), An Taehyun (Bucheon), Yazan (Seoul), Eo Jeong-won (Pohang), Juan Ibiza (Incheon). Goalkeepers Gu Seong-yun (Seoul) and Song Beom-geun (Jeonbuk) have been selected. Additionally, 'Coupang Play Young Player' Son Jung-beom (Seoul), chosen by fan vote, has joined the squad.

Coach Jeong Jeong-yong said, "Domestic players have mostly served in the military. Meeting Lee Dong-gyeong again is meaningful." He added, "The best players have been selected for Team K League. We will strive to bring joy to fans with even better performances."

Among them, Coach Jeong expressed high expectations for leading Mugo-sa. He said, "There were no foreign players in Gimcheon. It can be considered almost entirely Korean native players. If the opportunity arises, I would like to meet and work with him as a player or coach at another team."

The coach also revealed a behind-the-scenes story about Lee Dong-gyeong. He said, "When I met Dong-gyeong, I gave him a gift. It was an MVP commemorative plaque I received from fans while I was in Gimcheon, and it turned out to be Dong-gyeong's. I kept it for a year before handing it over."

He then joked, "If it had been made of gold, I wouldn't have given it to him."

Earlier, Manchester City played a pre-season match against 'Serie A champion' Inter Milan on the 1st. Coach Jeong said, "We focused on the matches against Manchester City and Inter Milan."

Regarding Team K League's tactics, he explained, "The players have just finished weekend matches. We will allow them to play freely from a basic formation while maintaining their energy levels."

He continued, "I believe the opponent will defend strongly. Even though it is a pre-season match, they have built up good physical condition. Rather than retreating when facing young players, we need strong pressure."

He added, "I had planned tactics with Gangwon coach Jeong Kyung-ho, but I am wavering after hearing the players' opinions. I am also swayed by what the two players (Mugo-sa and Lee Dong-gyeong) said. Since there are players they want to play with, I will reconsider." He concluded, "We must also bring results."

On this day, Mugo-sa, who was selected for Team K League for the first time, expressed his expectations, saying, "I get to play with great players." As for Lee Dong-gyeong, he named 'legend' Ki Sung-yueng and Seoul's top prospect Son Jung-beom as players he would like to play alongside.

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*This content was translated by AI.