"No to 'Assistant,' Yes to 'Decisive Player'! Lee Kang-in, an unfamiliar yet welcome evolution... Shots per 90 minutes jump threefold from PSG days to '4.6'"

*This content was translated by AI.

"If Lee Kang-in was an 'assistant' during his Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) days, the current Lee Kang-in is closer to a 'decisive player' who scores goals himself. Having returned to Spain, Lee Kang-in is undergoing a complete transformation as a forward under coach Diego Simeone's tactics."

Lee Kang-in started in the 2026–2027 La Liga Round 2 home match against Villarreal at Real Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium on the 24th (Korean time).

Notably, Lee Kang-in played as a forward. In a 4-4-2 formation, he formed the top striker duo with Ademola Lookman and consistently unsettled the opposing defense with aggressive movements throughout the match.

Although he did not score in this game, Lee Kang-in recorded six shots—the most on his team—until being substituted for Pablo Barrios in the 21st minute of the second half, firmly establishing himself in fans' eyes. Starting with his first shot immediately after kickoff, he threatened Villarreal's goal with sharp left-footed strikes in the first half and relentless right-footed efforts (his non-dominant foot) in the second half.

This transformation is clearly reflected in the statistics. According to football analytics platform Squawka, Lee Kang-in averaged 1.6 shots per 90 minutes last season with PSG but has now recorded an impressive 4.6 shots per 90 minutes since the start of this season.

This shift was made possible by clear instructions from the bench. Lee Kang-in, who scored his first goal for Atletico and the match-winning goal in both the previous match against Malaga and the season opener, had previously stated during his visit to Korea earlier this month: "Coach Simeone clearly demanded aggressive play from the forward line," expressing confidence in his new role.

Lee Kang-in, evolving from a playmaker into a dangerous striker, will aim for his second goal of the season in the upcoming Round 3 away match against Sevilla at 4:30 AM on the 30th (Korean time).

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*This content was translated by AI.