"Even a stray dog takes 50% of the food when it's in its own home." Manager Gimhae-un vows a decisive home victory against Suwon [Seongnam on-site report]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Manager Gimhae-un of SeongnamFC vowed to restore his team's pride and turn the atmosphere around at home, facing off against the league leader who is riding a strong upward momentum.

Seongnam and Suwon will face each other in Round 30 of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 season, scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 25th at Seongnam Comprehensive Sports Complex.

Seongnam has recorded 7 wins, 10 draws, and 10 losses (31 points) in 27 matches, remaining in 11th place in the league standings. The gap with HwaseongFC, which sits in 6th place—the cutoff for promotion playoff qualification—with 44 points from 28 matches, has widened to 13 points. Even if they win all five remaining games, their chances of making the playoffs are realistically slim.

Moreover, the team is struggling with a record of 1 draw and 3 losses in its last four matches, making a turnaround urgent.

Meeting with reporters before the match, Manager Gimhae-un responded calmly to news of additional injuries, stating, "Two more players have been ruled out for the season," while adding, "However, there are players preparing from behind. They are just as good as any other player. We will work hard to do what Seongnam needs to do."

He instilled a sense of pride in his squad ahead of hosting the league leader, Suwon. Manager Kim said, "Suwon Samsung is in first place, but honestly, my pride is a bit hurt," and continued, "If you exclude their foreign players, Suwon consists of young players born in 2000 or later. Their defensive line is made up of players born between 2004 and 2006. What reason do we have to be unable to beat them? As professional players, they must overcome such situations and prevail," urging the team to strive harder.

Regarding the recent increase in goals conceded, he viewed it as part of a process to improve the team's fundamental character. Manager Kim stated, "If we wanted to play defensive football, we could simply drop back and defend. But I have no desire to do that at all," adding, "We must change the team's identity toward an attacking style if we are to have hope for next year. If we just keep playing defensively as we have been, what future will there be? This is a work in progress. It is not about blaming the players; given differences in club environments such as budget, fans need to be patient. We must look ahead to next year to generate hope," raising his voice to emphasize the point.

He also revealed a tailored strategy to contain Suwon's formidable attacking power. Manager Kim explained, "We must build a solid mid-block in midfield and defend firmly before launching counterattacks and working through our build-up play." He added, "Suwon's early-game attacking line is strong, so we must survive the first half scoreless to have a chance to decide the match in the second half. The opposing central defenders are tall, but we do not fall behind them in aerial duels. We have focused our preparation on how to score from set-piece situations."

Finally, he expressed a strong desire for a home victory. Manager Kim emphasized, "There is a saying that even a stray dog takes 50% of the food when it's at its own home. No matter which strong team comes, this is our home ground. The players must absolutely have that level of confidence. My mind remains unchanged."

On this day, Seongnam will field Lee Jun-sang and Jeon Min-gyu up front against Suwon, with Yoo Ju-ahn, Freitas, Ryu Jun-sun, Jung Seung-yong, and Kim Ji-hyuk placed in midfield. Lee Sang-min, Benicio, and Yoo Sun will handle defense, while goalkeeper Lee Gwang-yeon will wear the gloves.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original