'A long-awaited resurrection' finally bursts forth for Ju Min-gyu: "I felt a heavy psychological burden... I wanted to repay with a goal" [Anyang on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

At the center of Daejeon Hana Citizen, which finally escaped a nine-game winless slump and secured back-to-back victories, was striker Ju Min-gyu (36). After scoring the opening goal to lead his team to victory, Ju expressed gratitude toward the head coach and emphasized his sense of responsibility as a veteran.

On the 8th at 8 p.m., Daejeon secured a 2-1 away win against FC Anyang in Round 22 of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026, thanks to consecutive goals from Ju Min-gyu and Anton. With this victory, Daejeon extended its winning streak to two games, accumulating 26 points (6 wins, 8 draws, 8 losses) and laying a foundation for a chase into the mid-table standings.

Starting the match, Ju scored the opening goal in the 17th minute of the first half by rushing in and pushing the ball home after Rubikson's header from close range was saved by the goalkeeper. This was his third goal of the season, coming about a month after his previous goal against Bucheon FC 1995 on the 4th.

Ju Min-gyu, who has been one of K League's top strikers for years, scoring 15 goals and providing four assists in 35 matches last season while consistently netting 15 to 20 or more goals each year, had shown a somewhat disappointing pace this season with three goals and one assist in 21 matches. Having endured significant mental strain due to his poor form, the significance of this goal was particularly special for him.

In a post-match interview, Ju shared his thoughts: "Fans who had been waiting for a victory came out in large numbers despite it being an away game. I am happy that we were able to repay them with a win."

He expressed deep gratitude for playing alongside head coach Hwang Sun-hong, a former top striker during his playing days. Ju stated, "As a striker, if goals don't come, the psychological burden can only be immense. The coach understood this feeling very well and deliberately avoided putting pressure on me. In fact, that made me feel even more guilty." He added, "I played with the mindset that I must repay the coach with goals. I am not satisfied with today's goal alone and will strive to make greater contributions in the future."

When asked about the tactical unconventional role mentioned by head coach Hwang Sun-hong, Ju explained, "In the past, my main role as a striker was to hold up play in the front line and look for goals or attack the box. Back then, I had to endure and hold firm. Now, I drop deeper into a false nine role to support the midfielders and focus on linking plays." He continued, "Thanks to the opponent struggling with numerical battles in the midfield, we were able to manage the game much more smoothly."

He also opened up about the recent team slump and the psychological pressure he felt as a veteran. Ju said, "The atmosphere among the players has always been good, but it is true that I felt burdened because results weren't coming. Since we haven't experienced many long winless streaks, there was psychological pressure, especially when we couldn't win at home." However, he emphasized, "But the players believed that while results were not coming, there was no major problem with the team. As we overcome this crisis, I feel the team is becoming much stronger."

Regarding his efforts to comfort his teammates as a veteran, Ju said, "I didn't need to say anything explicitly; they are capable players. Rather than obsessing over how to overcome the crisis, I emphasized just playing comfortably." He added, "I felt we needed to overcome this together as a team rather than relying on solo plays, and I tried to bring us all together as one unit. There are many players with both excellent ability and attitude," expressing his trust in them.

Daejeon's next opponent is FC Seoul, which currently leads the table. Ju remarked, "Seoul is a strong team currently sitting at first place. But if we can secure a victory against such a strong team, our team confidence will double." He showed strong competitive spirit by adding, "I really want to beat Seoul and build momentum, aiming for four or even five consecutive wins."

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*This content was translated by AI.