*This content was translated by AI.
Korea national team player Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) has not been able to complete full matches whenever he starts this season, prompting direct questions to head coach Diego Simeone.
Spanish outlet Marca reported on the 13th (Korean time) ahead of the La Liga Round 5 match against Real Sociedad in the 2026-2027 season, covering Simeone's press conference with Atletico Madrid.
At this event, questions were also raised regarding the reasons for Lee Kang-in being repeatedly substituted.
This season, Lee Kang-in has appeared in five official matches. In La Liga, he started three of four games, playing 230 minutes and recording one goal and one assist. According to football statistics site FootMob, his average rating is a solid 7.44.
Notably, in his debut match for Atletico against Malaga in the first round, he scored a crucial winning goal that led his team to victory.
However, in matches where he started, he has never yet stayed on the pitch until the final whistle.
Lee Kang-in came off the bench against Malaga and later played 66 minutes against Villarreal and 72 minutes against Sevilla. He was substituted after just 59 minutes in the match against Athletic Bilbao.
In the UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool (England) held on the 10th, he started again but was sent back to the bench after only 59 minutes. This means he failed to reach 60 minutes in two consecutive recent matches.
Consequently, curiosity about Lee Kang-in's repeated substitutions has also arisen locally in Spain. According to reports, a direct question was even asked at the press conference: "Why is Lee Kang-in always being substituted?"
Coach Simeone explained, "We substitute him because we believe he has given everything. Additionally, we feel that other teammates are in better condition during the final stages of the match."
He further clarified, "There is no special issue."
At the same time, he clearly expressed his expectations for Lee Kang-in.
Coach Simeone stated, "Lee Kang-in must continue to grow and develop because we need him," emphasizing that "the best scenario is for him to play the full match and deliver strong performances."
This indicates that substitutions are not due to excluding Lee Kang-in from the team or lacking trust in him. At the same time, it presents the challenge of reaching a stage where he can maintain his performance until the end of matches and take responsibility for playing full 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, Atletico will play an away match against Real Sociedad in La Liga Round 5 at Estadio Municipal de Anoeta in San Sebastian, Spain, at 4 a.m. on the 14th.
Atletico sits ninth in the league with two wins, one draw, and one loss (7 points), while Sociedad is in 11th place with two wins, one draw, and two losses (7 points).
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*This content was translated by AI.
