“Look at performance, not name value”: New manager Moreno reveals his ‘player selection philosophy’… Reasons behind the first-time call-ups of Kim Min-soo and others [On-site Q&A]

*This content was translated by AI.

Roberto Moreno (49), the newly appointed interim head coach of the South Korean national football team, has revealed the background behind his selection of the first squad roster.

Manager Moreno held a press conference on the afternoon of the 14th at Cheonan Korea Football Park in South Chungcheong Province to announce the national team roster for the nine to October A-matches (six consecutive games) and to commemorate his appointment.

Senior coach Eduardo Docompo, coaches Jaume Magriña and Victor Bravo de Soto, physical coach Javier Chocarro, goalkeeper coach Nico Bosch, coach Cho Yong-hyung, and physical coach Lee Jae-hong were all present.

Manager Moreno, who set foot on Korean soil the previous day via Incheon International Airport, began his press conference by saying, "I am grateful to the Korea Football Association for trusting and entrusting me, and also to the people and fans of the Republic of Korea for warmly welcoming us."

He added, "Being able to lead the South Korean national team in our first match is a great honor. We will strive to show our sincerity and work with an honest attitude to do our best so that all football fans in South Korea can feel joy."

Three out of the 30th members selected for the first cohort of "Moreno" were surprising picks. While key European-based players such as Son Heung-min (LAFC), Lee Kang-in (Atletico), and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) boarded as expected, Kim Geon-hee (Incheon), Park Tae-jun (Kim Cheon (SVP)), and Kim Min-su (Rangers) enjoyed the joy of being selected for the first time.

Gu Seong-yun, Jung Seung-won, and Choi Jun of FC Seoul, the top-ranked team in K League 1, were selected again after a long time. In contrast, Lee Seung-woo (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), who had drawn attention, was excluded.

Manager Moreno stated, "We have judged and decided which players are best suited to adapt to the football we aim to play."

He added, "We have one clear standard: selection for the national team is based not on reputation but on 'performance.' We hope all Korean players understand that they are under continuous observation. It will be what each player demonstrates on the field right now—not their name or past achievements—that determines whether they earn the opportunity to wear the national jersey."

Coach Moreno's team will face Ecuador at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 24th in their debut match, followed by a game against Uruguay at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 28th. They will then take on Venezuela at the Ulsan Munsu Stadium on October 2 and Uzbekistan at the Yongin Mir Stadium on the 6th.

The Spanish-born coach Moreno was appointed as the interim head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, following a historic first-ever public recruitment process after the position became vacant due to the team's failure to advance from the group stage at the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. With an impressive resume including roles as head coach of FC Barcelona and senior coach of the Spanish national team, he becomes the first Spanish manager in South Korean football history and will lead the team through six A-matches until November. His tenure may be extended to include next year's Saudi Arabia Asian Cup depending on future performance evaluations.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Korea Football Association for trusting and entrusting me and the coaching staff. I also want to convey my thanks to the people of the Republic of Korea and football fans who welcomed us warmly. Being able to lead the South Korean national team in our first match is a great honor. We will strive to show our sincerity, work with an honest attitude, and do our best so that all football fans in the Republic of Korea can feel joy.

Basically, selecting the national team is a highly complex process. There are many excellent players who are fully qualified for the national team, yet many of them could not join this time. What we considered most important was football-based criteria. First, we began by analyzing a database of approximately 1,700 Korean players. We filtered the players based on various data points and, using this data, defined the match model and playing style that best suit Korean football, as well as the characteristics and profiles of Korean players, to proceed with the selection.

Ultimately, we discussed with the coaching staff and determined which players are best suited to adapt to the kind of football we aim to play. We have one clear criterion: joining the national team is not about reputation but about "performance." I hope all Korean players understand that they remain under continuous observation. It will be what a player demonstrates on the field right now—not their name or past achievements—that determines whether they earn the opportunity to wear the national jersey.

Furthermore, one of the most important aspects is a desire for well-balanced players who excel in both offense and defense. Above all, when making eye contact with the players, it must be possible to sense their yearning and passion to play as national team members. That is the type of player we are looking for.

What is your explanation of the game model you are planning, and is it feasible to implement within a short mobilization period?

▶ Given that the time available to us is not long, it is very difficult to perfectly implement a specific game model in the national team. Even club teams require considerable time and training to perfect a single game model, but the national team lacks sufficient time for training and preparation, making it even more challenging. Therefore, based on my experience, the most important thing in the national team is to select players who can already naturally execute the plays required by the coach.

We clearly defined the roles for each position during the selection process. To implement a game model best suited for the national team, we specifically determined what role each player at every position should fulfill in both offensive and defensive situations, and we focused on finding players who possess those capabilities and characteristics.

The model we intend to utilize is the 4-4-2 formation. After analyzing the K League over the past two years, we found that this system was the most frequently used by K League teams and remains the most effectively utilized today, which led us to select it. During the training camp period, our task is to clearly explain to the players why they were selected, inform each of their strengths and areas requiring improvement, and provide detailed corrections and adjustments so that we can implement the style of football we desire.

What are the plans for Son Heung-min's utilization and the strengths of newly selected Kim Geon-hee and Park Tae-ui?

I prefer to first convey my decision directly to the players before they take the field and communicate with them personally, rather than making public announcements immediately. However, as everyone knows, Son Heung-min is a versatile player capable of playing multiple positions, and I have decided to start him based on my assessment that he can perform in three different positions. The two players just mentioned (Kim Geon-hee and Park Tae-jun) currently have very clearly defined roles within their respective clubs. They were selected for the national team because they have demonstrated outstanding performance in those specific positions with their clubs.

What were the regrets identified after the North America World Cup and what aspects will be highlighted moving forward?

▶ Fundamentally, I respect the work of fellow managers. One of my principles is that issues requiring improvement or mistakes are discussed within the team, not externally. Of course, I have thoroughly analyzed those games and examined them closely with the aim of understanding the players. However, out of respect for the former manager, I believe it is inappropriate to publicly evaluate or comment on what was lacking and what needs to be improved.

The players selected this time were chosen based on a thorough analysis of their last 10 games, relying entirely on their current performance and roles within the team.

-What are the insights and improvement plans regarding the internal atmosphere and mental health issues of the former Ji Jeok-doen (CEO) team?

We have clearly received relevant information and gained a comprehensive understanding of the situation. What matters most is treating past events as learning opportunities to move forward. One thing is clear: when we lose, multiple issues come to the forefront, whereas victory naturally alleviates many problems. Therefore, our mission is to ensure that players are properly prepared and supported in the best possible environment and conditions so they can deliver their peak performance.

I would like to share a personal anecdote about overcoming difficult moments. Last week, my 10-year-old son injured his ankle cartilage while playing soccer and was unable to play for a month. This was a very disappointing and hard time for the child. The words I said to him then are exactly the spirit I want to convey to Woo Ri (CEO) team players. From the day my son got injured, every night before falling asleep, he told me, "If you fall, just get up again." I also encouraged him by saying, "If you fall, you must stand up again. There is no need to think about a month from now; we should focus on the current situation right now and take one step forward." I want to convey this message to our players: as Korean soccer fans wait with hope, let us all stand up together and move forward one step at a time.

Why were Kim Min-su and Jung Seung-won selected, and why was Lee Seung-woo excluded from the roster?

▶ I can only speak about the players who were selected. If we were to discuss each of the countless players who were not chosen, it would never end. As in my previous answer, I believe that what needs to be conveyed to a player should first be discussed face-to-face with them directly rather than in a public setting. The players selected this time were chosen based on a detailed analysis of their recent 10 games, focusing on their performance and role within their current teams.

What is your stance on the past rumor from the Sochi, Russia era regarding the 'drafting of ChatGPT as a player'?

▶ First, I want to state clearly that this is entirely fake news. Although the club and players have confirmed it is completely untrue, only the negative aspects have spread, which is regrettable. What is certain is that I actively utilize technology in soccer. It was thanks to technology that I entered the soccer world. A mere 10-minute investigation would reveal that this claim is a malicious lie completely out of context. My personal website also provides detailed explanations of all processes at the time and the background behind how these lies were fabricated.

Fighting fake news today is extremely difficult. Ultimately, the important point is that good results follow when we do our jobs correctly. In my experience, it is very difficult to win without properly creating game content. Ultimately, the correct answer to achieve good results is to play football correctly as we should. From the first gathering on the 21st, I will work with the players to clearly explain what each of them does well and what we expect from them.

I fully understand the intent of your question and what fans are curious about. However, on such a meaningful day as today, during my first press conference as the head coach of the South Korean national team, I do not wish to prolong this discussion. This issue is secondary in today's setting, and it is more appropriate now to focus on our team and player selection. If you would like to know more details, I will provide a separate explanation after the press conference concludes.

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*This content was translated by AI.