'Leading the race → 6G draw quagmire → Plunging to 6th place' Coach Cho Sung-hwan, who has lost significant weight: "I expected a crisis, but not that it would last this long..." [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

The concerns of a team captain whose squad, once on a winning pace, has suddenly fallen into severe slump are no small matter. Cho Sung-hwan, head coach of Busan IPark, openly shared what he recently experienced immediately after a match.

Under Coach Cho Sung-hwan, Busan will face Suwon FC in the 24th round of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 at 7:30 p.m. on the 30th at Suwon Sports Complex.

In the previous round, Busan had a golden opportunity to defeat tough opponent Daegu with an early goal in the 21st minute of the second half but conceded a heartbreaking goal during stoppage time, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

When he met reporters before the match, Cho Sung-hwan, head coach of Busan, appeared significantly thinner. Coach Cho stated, "I lost weight due to health reasons and am now close to my playing days' weight," but also added, "Actually, after the Daegu FC match (1-1 draw) ended, I walked an enormous amount to calm my mind. That's why I think I lost even more weight overnight. I had to relieve stress quickly by any means and prepare for the next game."

Busan, traveling away from home, desperately needs a victory. While leading the table and building momentum through the mid-season, they fell into a four-game losing streak starting with the Seongnam FC match on July 18, followed by two consecutive draws, plunging into a deep slump with six games without a win (two draws, four losses) in their recent six matches. Currently sitting at sixth place with 22 matches played (11 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses; 38 points), they have dropped significantly in the standings.

Regarding the process of stabilizing the recent streak of draws and the team's subdued atmosphere, Coach Cho said, "I expected a crisis to come at least once while we were performing well in the first half, but it seems to be lasting longer than anticipated," adding, "The players are aware, but there are parts I failed to stop. Handling this is also part of a coach's ability. All members of the club must work together. We must approach this with the mindset that this is our last chance while opportunities remain."

Today, Busan will deploy Kim Min-hyuk and Christian at the front line, with Son Hwi and Gabriel on both wings. Park Hye-seong and Xavier will play in midfield, while Jo Dong-jae, Kim Hee-seung, Jang Ho-ik, and Ahn Hyun-beom will form a back four. Goalkeeper Gu Sang-min will guard the goal.

Suwon FC is no easy opponent. Since losing 2-3 to Gyeongnam FC in May, they have gone nine consecutive games without defeat (five wins, four draws), climbing to fourth place with 40 points from 21 matches (11 wins, 7 draws, 3 losses). Their offensive power is fierce, ranking second in the league with 43 goals. Foreign striker Freizo, who has recorded 12 goals and seven assists, and Ha Jung-woo, who has scored eight goals, pose a significant threat.

However, this season's head-to-head memory is favorable. Busan secured a 2-1 victory in their first meeting of the season against Suwon FC in April. Coach Cho emphasized, "The result of the Daegu match was disappointing, but our performance improved. We must maintain this until the end," and added, "Early goals conceded can make matches difficult. In such situations, scoring multiple goals is necessary. Players must approach with confidence and play aggressively."

Furthermore, Coach Cho remarked, "When I was head coach of Jeju, there were 15 consecutive games where we couldn't win. Last year, we also missed our target by losing about five or six matches," noting, "Every time brings different situations and unexpected events. However, if I keep talking at length, it will only sound like an excuse."

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*This content was translated by AI.