Even if Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae are left out, is it still a secret? Moreno’s “confidentiality” principle… Also silent on the reason for Cho Gue-sung’s exclusion: Between player protection and fans’ right to know [Cheonan On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

If Son Heung-min (LAFC) or Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) were ever excluded from the national team in the future, would the reason remain unknown at that time as well? The cautious response from Robert Moreno, head coach of the South Korea national football team, has left yet another question mark.

On the 29th, Coach Moreno held a press conference at Cheonan Korea Football Park in Chungnam Province to announce the list of 26 players selected for the November A-matches.

South Korea will play two away friendly matches against Saudi Arabia on November 13 and Qatar on the 17th in Doha, Qatar. This is the final A-match schedule for this year.

One notable aspect of the list announced that day was the exclusion of Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland).

Cho has long served as a key striker for the South Korea national team. He has also demonstrated his presence in international tournaments. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he scored multiple goals against Ghana, and in the Round of 16 match against Saudi Arabia at the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, he scored a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time of the second half, saving South Korea from the brink of elimination.

He has also been performing well recently for his club. On the 25th, Cho opened the scoring against Lyngby in the Danish Superliga, leading Midtjylland to a 3-2 victory. It was his second league goal of the season and his fifth goal in official matches. Midtjylland also climbed to the top of the league standings with an unbeaten run of 12 games since the start of the season (8 wins, 4 draws).

Praise for Cho has continued locally in Denmark as well.

Danish football media outlet Tipsbladet highly praised Cho, who recorded two assists in a match against Brondby last September, calling him “absolutely brilliant.” Although he did not score, the outlet commended his high work rate and delicate skills that contributed to the team’s victory. At the time, the media stated that “Midtjylland’s attacking line shone” and evaluated that “Cho delivered one of his best performances of the season.”

Despite receiving such positive evaluations locally and even scoring four days before the squad announcement, Cho ultimately did not receive Coach Moreno’s selection.

However, Coach Moreno was reserved about the reason for not selecting Cho. He stated, “Cho had been excluded due to injury in the previous call-up,” adding, “Since he is not included in the current list, I do not think it is ideal to discuss why he was not selected. It is not positive either for the national team or for player Cho Gue-sung.”

He further emphasized, “We have a good grasp of and are analyzing Cho’s situation. We are all aware that he has been performing well for his club.”

Through his opening remarks, Coach Moreno stated, “The criteria for the squad will be based solely on performance, both today and in the future, taking into account condition, playing time at their respective clubs, and what each player adds to the team.”

Yet Cho has recently scored in the Danish league and received praise locally. There does not appear to be a significant issue regarding the “performance” criteria emphasized by Coach Moreno. Moreover, Cho is a player who has long held an important role in the national team. Therefore, questions inevitably remain surrounding this exclusion.

However, with Coach Moreno avoiding specific comments, it remains difficult to determine whether Cho has temporarily fallen behind in the competition for the national team’s top striker position, whether his physical condition, which was an issue during the previous call-up, is still having an impact, or whether the decision was based on tactical judgment.

Of course, Coach Moreno’s view that publicly evaluating a player excluded from the list could place a burden on that player is understandable. However, it is worth considering whether withholding specific explanations always helps in protecting players.

In particular, Coach Moreno also emphasized his principle of confidentiality regarding the “retirement uproar” and “discord rumors” that recently hit the national team.

Following the A-matches in September and October, speculation arose about a joint retirement from the national team by the trio of 1996-born players: Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom (Porto), and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke). The controversy intensified with suspicions regarding captain Son Heung-min’s leadership issues and discord among some players.

However, the specific facts were not clearly established. Amidst this, unverified claims and speculations circulated through social media and other channels. Some content spread as if it were fact despite a lack of clear evidence, and some football fans who accepted these as true poured harsh criticism on the players involved.

In this situation, Coach Moreno announced at this press conference that he had resolved internal issues within the squad. He selected Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan all for the upcoming matches.

However, he drew a line regarding the specific content of conversations or the factual details of the controversy. Coach Moreno’s principle of prioritizing player protection was clear.

Coach Moreno stated, “The line I absolutely do not cross is confidentiality and respect for the team,” adding, “I can speak about the philosophy and principles of team management, but I will not disclose private conversations exchanged between parties based on trust.”

There is no need to disclose all private conversations between the head coach and players. The national team manager also has a responsibility to maintain players’ trust and prevent unnecessary internal conflicts from expanding externally. This requires even greater caution, especially when dealing with sensitive issues that could affect an individual player’s reputation and future career.

However, it is necessary to consider the side effects as well. The recent national team controversy is a prime example. While specific facts remained unverified, various speculations spread, and some football fans accepted them as fact, criticizing the players.

If Coach Moreno had at least distinguished between verified facts and unverified claims in this press conference, it could have served as an opportunity to reduce unnecessary misunderstandings and quell criticism directed at the players.

The same applies to decisions regarding player selection. While selecting the national team is the exclusive authority of the coach, those choices are subject to fans’ interest and evaluation. In particular, it is natural for fans to be curious about the reasons when a player who has long held an important role in the national team, such as Cho Gue-sung, is excluded despite performing well for his club.

This time it was Cho Gue-sung. However, there is no guarantee that other key players like Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae will always be included in future national team lists. Anyone can be excluded due to injury, decline in performance, or tactical judgment. Questions remain as to whether Coach Moreno will continue to withhold specific explanations in such cases.

Coach Moreno also emphasized the importance of “communication” at this press conference. It is a principle he has advocated multiple times in previous interviews.

However, communication with football fans who support the national team, not just within the squad, also appears to be important. If fans can understand what criteria and direction guide the national team’s operations and how player selections are made, it could help reduce unnecessary misunderstandings.

Protecting players’ privacy and maintaining trust is an important task. In addition, explaining the background of important decisions within the scope that can be made public could also help alleviate fans’ curiosity and increase trust in the national team.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original