Severe 'E-land Home Fears' Plague Gimpo FC: Manager Ko Jung-woon, "Ultimately a Difference in Finishing Touch; Apologies to Fans"... For Remaining Matches, "Considering Domestic Player Lineup" [On-site in Gimpo]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Ko Jung-woon (60), manager of Gimpo FC, expressed regret over the defeat to Seoul E-Land.

Gimpo suffered a narrow 0-1 home loss to Seoul E-Land in their Round 28 match of the 'Hana Bank K League 2' 2026 season on the 9th at 4:30 p.m. at Gimpo Solter Football Stadium, conceding the decisive goal to Euller.

Following this defeat, Gimpo remained in seventh place in the league standings with 35 points (8 wins, 11 draws, 7 losses). Gimpo, which had aimed for a turnaround in front of its home fans, ultimately failed to break through Seoul E-Land's defense and could not snap the chain of four consecutive home losses against Seoul E-Land, swallowing deep regret. On the other hand, Seoul E-Land, which secured the victory, continued their fierce battle for second place with 51 points.

Gimpo held on through the first half without conceding a goal, relying on a strict 'defend first, counterattack later' strategy and impressive saves by goalkeeper Son Jung-hyun. However, their defensive wall crumbled in the 21st minute of the second half when they conceded a wonder goal to Euller. After falling behind, Gimpo pushed up their LINE and launched an all-out offensive until the final minutes in search of an equalizer, but ultimately failed to score.

After the match, Manager Ko Jung-woon offered his overall assessment: "E-Land is an aggressive team, so we spent a lot of time on defense. In particular, our fullbacks performed well against crosses and shots coming from Euller's side." He then bowed his head, saying, "We also had chances, but ultimately failed to score due to a difference in finishing ability. We should have extended our winning streak, and I am sorry to the fans."

He applauded the players' fighting spirit for not giving up until the end even after conceding. Manager Ko Jung-woon stated, "We talked about motivation before the match, and I want to praise the fact that the players did not buckle and refused to give up until the very end."

However, he hinted at changes regarding the use of foreign players in the remaining six matches. He said, "Dizau's condition is not 100%, and his activity level has decreased significantly. We need to consider whether to play the remaining six matches with only domestic players or mix in foreign players. For the next match, we are also considering a lineup composed of domestic players."

He also discussed the realistic limitations regarding changes to offensive tactics. Manager Ko Jung-woon explained, "Changing formations is not easy in the current situation. We need to change the player composition, but it is not easy for young players to step up either. It is disappointing that we create chances but fail to score many goals." He added, "As creating something with the remaining resources is the manager's role, we will prepare well for the time left."

When asked whether the lack of finishing ability in the attack was a psychological factor caused by recent club issues, he drew a line, stating it was a matter of "individual ability."

He expressed gratitude toward goalkeeper Son Jung-hyun, who put on a display of saves. Manager Ko Jung-woon said, "Son Jung-hyun's condition is not 100%; he is in such a state that he cannot even kick the ball properly. With two goalkeepers suffering from long-term injuries, I am grateful just for what Son Jung-hyun has been able to do."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original