'Amazing' even Man City marveled at Korean goalkeeper's saves, 'scoreless heroics': Gu Seong-yun "The ball was too fast..." [Sangam Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

'It was impressive enough to make even Manchester City players marvel.' Team K-League goalkeeper Gu Seong-yun (32, FC Seoul), who delivered a series of stunning saves, shone brightest in the matchup against the prestigious English Premier League club with an all-time great performance.

Gu Seong-yun entered the field at the start of the second half during the first match of the 2026 Coupang Play Series against Man City on the 5th at Seoul World Cup Stadium. While Team K-League had been struggling after conceding three goals in the first half, they managed to keep a clean sheet against Man City in the second thanks to Gu Seong-yun's spectacular saves.

Notably, Gu Seong-yun barely blocked Saviño's left-footed curling shot just before the final whistle, stopping a total of eight shots over 45 minutes. Immediately after the match, even Manchester City goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli approached him, giving a thumbs-up and applauding his performance.

Team K-League head coach Jeong Jeong-yong praised Gu Seong-yun during the post-match press conference, saying, "I'm not sure if I should say this," but added, "Gu Seong-yun should have been on an even bigger stage."

In the mixed zone after the match, Gu Seong-yun told reporters, "I don't know how Man City officials who only saw the second half would view me," jokingly adding, "Personally, I feel it was a satisfying game."

He continued, "Although we only had one day to prepare together, both players and staff were ready with a determination to win. While the 1-3 defeat is disappointing, it was truly a happy and meaningful time to face Man City directly on the field."

On this day, Gu Seong-yun personally experienced the wall of shots that differed in speed and trajectory. He recalled, "When the first free-kick shot came flying, I was momentarily startled because the ball was much faster than expected. Unlike K-League balls, they were lighter and faster, making me realize I needed to react one beat quicker."

Regarding his impressions of watching Man City's star players' dazzling performance from the bench in the first half, he said, "I actually felt relieved that I didn't play in the first half. Even from the bench, the difference in passing tempo and shooting timing was on another level. Although it was still pre-season and their bodies might not be at 100%, seeing them display such overwhelming performance made me clearly feel the gap in class."

As FC Seoul's starting goalkeeper this season, leading the league in fewest goals conceded among top performers, Gu Seong-yun also spoke about his more relaxed mindset. He shared, "With experience accumulating, my attitude toward football has changed significantly. When I was younger, I approached football as something too difficult and rigid. Now, I try to enjoy playing on the field, and this positive mindset is reflecting in my good performances."

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*This content was translated by AI.