"Historic 7-game winning streak," yet Manager Lee Jung-hyo remains cool-headed: "K League 2 records are meaningless... Promotion is the only goal" [On-site in Seongnam]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Manager Lee Jung-hyo of Suwon Samsung maintained his composure even amid a 7-game winning streak, keeping his eyes fixed on direct promotion.

On the 25th at 2 p.m., in an away match against Seongnam FC at Seongnam General Sports Complex for Round 30 of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 season, Suwon won 2-0 thanks to a decisive header from captain Kang Hyun-mok in the 26th minute of the first half and an own goal near the end of the second half.

Including the 7th-game winning streak, Suwon has gone unbeaten in 12 consecutive matches (9 wins, 3 draws), firmly holding the top spot alone with a record of 19 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses (62 points). Meanwhile, second-place Suwon FC lost 0-1 at the same time, widening the gap between the two teams to 8 points.

Manager Lee Jung-hyo attended the post-match press conference and said, "The players prepared well, so expectations were high, but they executed tactics on the field brilliantly beyond those expectations." He added, "I am particularly satisfied that we finished the match without conceding a goal. Our transition response after losing possession was excellent, and we performed brilliantly in both attack and defense. It was a match where we could have won comfortably. I want to praise the players highly."

Despite achieving the club's longest winning streak of 7 games, Manager Lee remained resolute. He stated, "I want to clearly tell the fans," adding, "Our only goal is promotion to K League 1. Winning streaks or unbeaten records set in K League 2 are meaningless."

He also did not forget to express gratitude to the fans who filled the Seongnam away section. Manager Lee said, "Many fans always come to the stadium. I am sincerely grateful," adding, "There will definitely be a good result. The league is almost over now."

Manager Lee cited mobility and the speed of transitions between attack and defense as the most satisfying aspects of the match. He evaluated, "As I mentioned, our transitions were very fast, and our reaction speed was one step ahead of the opponent's. Thanks to that difference, we were able to secure the victory."

However, even with the championship magic number reduced to 5, Manager Lee showed no signs of excitement. He said, "I will not be on the bench for the next match against Daegu due to accumulated yellow cards," adding, "The players must remain steady and demonstrate higher concentration. Head coach Ma Cheol-jun will lead the team well. I hope the players run one step further even for the head coach's sake and prepare thoroughly for the next match."

He expressed his stance regarding the situation where he received a yellow card in the 28th minute of the first half. Manager Lee revealed, "Suwon wants to play matches with a fast tempo, but I strongly expressed dissatisfaction that the flow and tempo of the game kept getting interrupted."

He continued, "If I were to explain in detail, it would seem endless. We only need to coach the team well, but I got momentarily excited because I was worried that external factors might disrupt the flow and narrow our chances. However, our team will not be greatly shaken by such variables and will push forward in the direction we have prepared."

He pointed to the culture within the squad as the secret behind the team's rapidly solidifying stability since the second half of the season. Manager Lee said, "It is the power of team culture. If players show even a slight complacency or lazy attitude, we do not let it pass," adding, "In particular, players like Hong Jung-ho and Ko Seung-beom firmly hold things together and take care of each other." He expressed his gratitude.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original