[On-site Interview] "First time with Son Heung-min and the national team," Jeong Seung-won's excitement explodes... In his first meeting with Moreno, he laughed, saying, "Bench? I naturally dislike it."

*This content was translated by AI.

For Jung Seung-won (FC Seoul), who has worn the Taeguk mark for the first time in a while, being called up to the Lee Beon (CEO) team is special. Not only is he returning to competition, but it is also his first time living and playing on the same team as key players of Korean football such as Son Heung-min (LAFC), Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid), and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich).

The South Korean men's national football team, led by interim coach Roberto Moreno of Spain, gathered at Cheonan Korea Football Park in Chungcheongnam-do on the 21st and began their first training session.

About three months after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, national team players gathered together once again. It was also the first time the entire squad has synchronized under Coach Moreno.

On this day, Jung Seung-won also appeared at Korea Football Park with a bright expression.

This season, Jung Seung-won's performance in K League 1 has been dazzling. Playing for Seoul, he recorded eight goals and six assists, playing a key role in the team's offense. In particular, he is showcasing peak form, having won the K League 1 Player of the Month award for July and August Yeon Dal-a (수상).

Recognized for such performance, Moreno's first squad also proudly included his name.

Jung Seung-won said, "I am very happy to have reached this glorious position," and added, "I feel I must prove that I deserve to be here. Even with such pressure, I will overcome it and show an even more impressive performance."

Jung Seung-won already has experience with the national team jersey. He was first selected for the East Asian Cup squad, which was primarily composed of players from the K League and J League last year, and played in two A-match games.

However, the atmosphere this time is different. A large number of key national team players who are active on the global stage, including Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, have joined. This is practically the first time that Jung Seung-won has lived with them as part of the Ham Kke (CEO) team.

He did not hide his anticipation for the first meeting with "Captain" Son Heung-min.

Jung Seung-won expressed his anticipation, saying, "I haven't met him yet, but I'm excited to finally have the chance to meet my older brother Heung-min. Although we haven't exchanged greetings yet, I look forward to having a pleasant conversation."

He added, "I have greeted Seung-young Woo (Augsburg) and Oh Se-hoon (Shimizu S-Pulse), but I haven't been able to greet many other players yet. I will make an effort to get closer to them," he smiled.

For Jung Seung-won, the experience of competing alongside and playing in sync with players who represent Korean football is itself a new challenge.

At the same time, a fierce competition to survive simultaneously has begun. The second line of the national team is filled with formidable resources such as Lee Kang-in, and Son Heung-min can also be utilized as a wide attacker.

However, Jung Seung-won has a clear weapon.

Excluding the central defensive midfielder position, he is a multi-player capable of playing various positions. He can operate across attack, midfield, and wide areas, and has consistently contributed both goals and assists this season, elevating his offensive capabilities to another level.

Jung Seung-won honestly said, "It is even more tense because I am playing with top-tier members such as the famous Heung-min Lee."

At the same time, he emphasized, "I am now thinking only of shaking off that tension and showing a good performance. I am paying more attention to this part."

He also expressed confidence in his own value as a player.

Jung Seung-won said, "I am capable of playing in multiple positions," and added, "With the exception of a central defender, I can be utilized sufficiently as a multi-resource player. I plan to convey this to Coach Moreno, who I believe will view me favorably."

He added, "I also believe my performance has improved as much as possible. I think I can play if I show an even better performance," he said emphatically.

In fact, Jung Seung-won actively displayed his confidence even during his first meeting with Coach Moreno.

Jung Seung-won conveyed the atmosphere of his first one-on-one meeting, stating, "The manager gave me a sheet with the schedule and explained it until Thursday. He said he hopes I will fulfill our agreed-upon commitments well."

Manager Moreno also showed interest in Jung Seung-won's strengths, asking whether he could demonstrate his goal-scoring and assist capabilities in the national team as he has shown in this season's K League.

Jung Seung-won said, "I showed sufficient confidence," and added, "I will also strive to fulfill my commitments."

In terms of daily life, Coach Moreno's instructions were clear.

Jung Seung-won explained, "The manager said he would like us to keep our promises on even the smallest things, such as meetings and meal times," adding that "we will make sure to uphold those commitments."

The serious conversation soon turned into laughter.

Manager Moreno jokingly asked Jung Seung-won if he minded sitting on the bench.

Jung Seung-won smiled and said, "I naturally told them no."

He further explained the situation at the time, saying, "Since it was taken as a joke, we managed to keep the atmosphere positive."

Even when asked about his first impressions of Manager Moreno, Jung Seung-won's signature wit shone through.

Jung Seung-won, also known as one of the K League's most handsome players, said, "I actually met the coach, and he is so handsome."

When asked, "Who is more handsome, Jung Seung-won or Manager Moreno?" he chose Manager Moreno without hesitation, drawing laughter.

Finally, Jung Seung-won said, "My goal is to quickly understand the manager's style and follow it well," adding, "If I do that, good opportunities will come," as he reaffirmed his determination.

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*This content was translated by AI.