'A staggering 10-point lead in sole possession' yet "still a crisis"... Coach Kim Ki-dong: "Must overcome every match" [Anyang on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Although leading by 10 points over second place, there is no room for complacency. FC Seoul head coach Kim Ki-dong continues to emphasize that every match is a crisis, keeping the reins tight.

Seoul will face Anyang at 7:30 p.m. on the 22nd at Anyang Stadium in the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 24 match.

Currently, after playing 23 matches, Seoul sits atop the table with 14 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses (47 points). They have built a dominant lead by opening a double-digit gap over second-place Ulsan (23 matches, 37 points).

In a pre-match interview, Coach Kim Ki-dong stated, "Even when we were five points behind second place before the World Cup break, we received praise for our performance. Even when we stumbled with two draws and one loss, leaving us seven points behind, people still called it a crisis. Although we now lead by 10 points, every single match is effectively a crisis. The key lies in how well we navigate each game and maintain momentum."

Seoul secured a dramatic 4-2 comeback victory against Daejeon Hana Citizen, erasing the disappointment of consecutive 0-0 draws with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and gaining upward momentum.

The matchup between Seoul and Anyang is particularly intense due to historical background. After Seoul's predecessor club relocated from Anyang in 2004, Anyang football fans launched a campaign to establish a civic club, leading to the founding of FC Anyang in 2013. Given the conflicting historical interpretations surrounding the relocation, this match carries significant pride with three points at stake. Both encounters this season (the 1-1, the 0-0) and last season's record (one win, one draw, one loss) were closely contested.

Ahead of this fierce contest, Coach Kim remarked, "There is no unimportant match. Not only the Anyang game but also the Daejeon match and the upcoming Pohang match are all crucial." He added, "Since this is a match tied to fans' pride, both coaches and players will pay extra attention and engage with great fighting spirit."

Continuing, he highlighted the difficulty of the Anyang away trip: "Anyang players always maintain high energy and focus at home. We must exploit their weaknesses while capitalizing on our strengths." He noted, "In this fierce midfield battle, when the opening goal is scored in the early stages will be the decisive factor today."

For today's match, Seoul deployed Cleimala and Andersson as strikers, with Moon Sun-min, Baeveets, Lee Seung-mo, and Jung Seung-won positioned in the second line. Kim Jin-su, Ross, Yazan, and Park Soo-il formed a back four, while Gu Seong-yun guarded the goal.

Regarding the starting lineup, Coach Kim explained, "Rather than introducing Song Min-kyu and Moon Sun-min together in the second half after Song scored to regain confidence, we opted to start Moon Sun-min first to balance offense and defense. Given that our resources for substitutions are limited, I hope (Song) Min-kyu also performs well today if he comes on as a substitute."

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*This content was translated by AI.