The "retirement uproar" cannot simply be swept under the rug... Moreno speaks out for the first time in a month: What answer will he offer regarding the "conflict controversy" involving Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, and others?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The "retirement uproar" and "discord rumors" that shook the South Korean national football team. What answer will national team manager Roberto Moreno, who is appearing on an official stage for the first time in about a month, provide?

Manager Moreno will announce the list of Taeguk Warriors to participate in the November A-matches at 2 p.m. on the 29th at Cheonan Korea Football Park in Chungnam Province.

The national team will play two away friendly matches against Saudi Arabia on the 13th and Qatar on the 17th of next month in Doha, Qatar. This is the final A-match schedule for this year.

Interest in this roster announcement is hotter than ever. This is due to the retirement uproar and discord rumors among national team players that arose during the September-October A-match period.

At the time, South Korea played four friendly matches against Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan, recording two wins, one draw, and one loss. They started off well with a victory over Ecuador but lost to Uruguay and managed only a draw against Venezuela, which was considered an inferior opponent. It seemed they would conclude the A-match schedule with a win in the final match against Uzbekistan.

However, unexpected controversy erupted, and the joy of victory did not last long.

After the match against Uzbekistan ended, rumors of a joint national team retirement emerged surrounding the three same-age players born in 1996: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom (Porto), and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke). The controversy intensified with suspicions added that there was discord between Son Heung-min (LAFC), who has worn the captain's armband for nine years, and some players.

The core of the controversy was internal conflict within the national team. Claims were made that Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, Hwang Hee-chan, and others harbored dissatisfaction with Son Heung-min's leadership, expanding beyond simple retirement rumors to concerns about the atmosphere and cohesion of the squad.

Of course, it has not been clearly confirmed whether there was actually conflict among the players. It is known that Hwang In-beom conveyed to reporters on the scene at the time that he had no intention of retiring from the national team. However, subsequently, key players such as Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan did not issue separate official statements regarding the controversy. This is why fans' questions remain.

Ultimately, it is not clearly known what actually happened between the players, how severe the conflict was if there was one, or whether the controversy has been resolved at present.

That is why this roster announcement is even more important. It is because it is an occasion where Manager Moreno will hold an official press conference after the controversy.

First and foremost, attention is focused on whether Son Heung-min, along with Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan, who were at the center of the "retirement controversy," will be included in the national team roster.

However, even if all of them are selected, it cannot be definitively said that this alone resolves all problems.

Son Heung-min is a core player who has served as the national team captain for a long period. Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan are also key resources representing South Korean football. The mere fact that discord rumors have been raised among them places a considerable burden on the national team.

Manager Moreno cannot be unaware of the importance of the situation. He needs to explain how he assessed the situation at the time, what conversations he had with the players, and what measures he took regarding the atmosphere of the national team.

In fact, it is known that Manager Moreno will announce this roster earlier than usual and then travel to Europe to directly check the physical condition and performance of overseas-based players. In this process, he is expected to meet and talk with Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, Hwang Hee-chan, and others.

There are also variables. Kim Min-jae has recently been dealing with injury issues at his club. He was substituted after playing only the first half in the UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal on the 22nd, and he was completely absent from the German Bundesliga match against Freiburg on the 26th. Kim Min-jae's physical condition may affect whether he is selected for this national team roster.

This November A-match is also important for Manager Moreno personally. This is because the outcome of the two friendly matches and future decisions by the Korea Football Association could change whether his contract is extended. With discussions even arising about the possibility of postponing the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in January next year, variables have emerged regarding Manager Moreno's position as well.

In these friendlies where his future is at stake, Manager Moreno is in a situation where he must pay attention not only to the match results but also to the internal atmosphere of the squad.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original