'Heartfelt Remarks' Suwon Samsung Manager Lee Jeong-hyo: "Please Stop Using Social Media, Cowardly Plays Keep Appearing... Focus Only on Soccer" [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

After drawing in the Suwon derby, Lee Jeong-hyo, manager of Suwon Samsung, delivered a sharply critical assessment of both the team's performance and attitude, using an unusually heated tone.

On the 15th, Suwon drew 2-2 against Suwon FC in a fiercely contested home match at Suwon World Cup Stadium as part of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 22. Despite goals from Peshin and an equalizer by Go Seung-beom from mid-range, the team faced a difficult battle, including conceding a second-half comeback and narrowly avoiding defeat after the opponent missed a penalty kick.

Entering the post-match press conference, Manager Lee Jeong-hyo initially held back his words before stating, "It's really tough. Very tough. It feels like we're having disappointing matches in every game." He continued, "You could say we were unlucky because we hit the goalpost, but that is also part of skill. We create good opportunities only to collapse on our own."

He added, "As professional players, they naturally need to work hard, and I know they understand that. But being a professional player isn't just about working hard; it's about playing well. There were too many basic mistakes. We will prepare better for the next match."

Furthermore, Manager Lee Jeong-hyo reflected on the game, saying, "We played as planned and performed well in some aspects, but there were too many basic mistakes. We made cowardly plays."

He continued, "Players should attempt things courageously and grow through experience. Instead of playing to grow, they avoided making mistakes out of fear of criticism, passing the buck like a bomb. While I cannot speak forcefully to the players, I wish they would stop using social media. I want them to focus solely on soccer."

Explaining further about the background of publicly criticizing a promising player for using social media, Lee Jeong-hyo said in a pre-match interview, "I told Kim Do-yeon not to use social media. He didn't keep his promise with me. He even took screenshots showing he agreed to quit, yet I found out he was still active." He added, "Such behavior shows he cares more about how others perceive his image than the team. That's why I felt compelled to criticize him."

He continued, "If we just let it slide, it would harm our team culture. Many players quietly prepare for matches, but when a player who receives opportunities behaves poorly, criticism becomes necessary. We spoke separately on the field, and I believe he now understands and will change."

Regarding the negative impact of social media on the team, Manager Lee Jeong-hyo emphasized, "The club producing videos or shorts for fans is something professional players should naturally do, and it's beneficial from a promotional standpoint. However, before and after matches, players seem to focus too much on how their performance might be perceived by fans or acquaintances. Instead of being distracted by other things, I hope they think about what they can do for their teammates. If they feel sorry toward fans and teammates, the only solution is to stop worrying about others' opinions and work harder to play better."

On the intense competition at the top of the standings, Manager Lee Jeong-hyo stated firmly, "We must reduce mistakes significantly. Players should attempt one-on-one breakthroughs. What I dislike most is playing halfway between passing and dribbling out of fear or lack of confidence. The number of matches is decreasing. There's no answer other than striving in every game."

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*This content was translated by AI.