'3-0 victory in debut match' Coach Moreno: "I will identify areas for improvement... Caution needed in evaluation immediately after a decisive win" [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Roberto Moreno (Spain), the new head coach of the South Korea national football team, remained calm despite securing a victory in his debut match.

On the 24th at 8 p.m., South Korea defeated Ecuador 3-0 in a Hana Bank-invited national friendly match held at Suwon World Cup Stadium.

In a post-match press conference, Coach Moreno said, "It was a satisfying match. I am happy to gift a victory on this meaningful holiday spent with my family. We have only played one game so far, and we will prepare well for the next match as well."

Moreno's team scored all three goals in the second half, completely dismantling Ecuador. Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) scored the decisive goal with a curling shot from outside the box in the 9th minute of the second half. In the 13th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min (LAFC) sealed the victory with an exquisite right-footed direct free-kick goal. In the 41st minute of the second half, substitute Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD) added a third goal to complete the 3-0 triumph.

Regarding the areas they focused on during their short preparation period, Moreno first praised the opponent. Coach Moreno stated, "Ecuador is a very strong team. They are the team with the fewest expected goals conceded in the World Cup and are also a difficult opponent to face even in South American qualifiers."

However, the first half left some room for improvement in terms of rhythm. Although they deployed a 4-4-2 formation, players' movement paths overlapped until the middle of the first half, and passing timing was off, resulting in a 0-0 halftime score.

Regarding the first-half performance and discussions in the locker room during halftime, Coach Moreno explained, "We adjusted our pressing style and build-up play from the back. Ultimately, I believe it was the players' talent that made the difference."

On the scene where he led the team with passion while removing his jacket throughout the match, Moreno said, "The coach must keep the game plan in mind and be aware of the strategy. He must also define player positions and set defensive responses when possession is lost. Coaches in the stands are also continuously providing support."

Moreno also clarified the reasons for excluding players such as Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) and Hwang In-beom (FC Porto) from the squad. Coach Moreno stated, "Except for the goalkeeper, all players excluded from the squad were removed as a preventive measure based on medical staff recommendations. They experienced minor discomfort or muscle overload, and the medical team requested they refrain from playing recklessly. Since the health of the squad is paramount, we did not take any risks."

He continued, "Data provides information that cannot be seen on the field. Today, I directly confirmed the players' abilities. I believe the players can fully demonstrate their strengths within this tactical system, which is why I chose to use it. However, evaluations immediately after a 3-0 victory should be approached with caution. After winning, everyone tends to focus only on positive aspects. My role is to identify areas that did not go well and shortcomings, then explain them to the players."

Regarding conversations after Son Heung-min was substituted, Moreno said, "As I have mentioned before, we will maintain our principles. Conversations with the players are confidential. This is one of the most important aspects in how we operate the team," and declined further comment.

He added, "We conduct extensive set-piece training and utilize screens as well. However, since football is a team sport rather than an individual one, I am cautious about evaluating specific players individually."

When asked about areas for improvement and the level of organizational cohesion within the team, Moreno replied, "It is difficult to state clearly at this point. Immediately after a match, emotions play a significant role, so I do not make immediate evaluations. My job is to return to the hotel, review match footage again, and conduct detailed analysis. Through this process, I will be able to identify areas that did not go well." He further stated, "Conversely, even in defeated matches, there are things done well. Since we must evaluate properly by setting aside emotions, it is difficult to point out specific areas for improvement at this venue."

After securing a decisive victory against Ecuador, South Korea will face Uruguay on the 28th at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the second of four consecutive September A-match games.

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*This content was translated by AI.