"A prime opportunity to leap for a direct promotion spot": SuwonFC Manager Park Gun-ha, "It is in our hands... We will definitely win" [Suwon on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

SuwonFC Manager Park Gun-ha vowed to firmly seize the opportunity for direct promotion that has arisen amid the struggles of rival teams.

SuwonFC and Ansan Greeners will face off in a Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 31 match at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 2 p.m. on the 1st.

Currently, SuwonFC is in third place in the league with a record of 15 wins, 9 draws, and 4 losses in 28 matches (54 points). The day before, second-place Seoul E-Land (29 matches, 54 points) suffered a 2-4 defeat to YonginFC, while sole leader Suwon Samsung (29 matches, 63 points) also failed to secure early promotion confirmation after settling for a 2-2 draw with DaeguFC.

It is an opportunity to grab the direct promotion ticket awarded to teams finishing in the top two positions. SuwonFC aims for three points with a victory against Ansan, who are stuck in 15th place with a record of 7 wins, 4 draws, and 18 losses (25 points).

In a pre-match interview, Manager Park Gun-ha stated, "The fact that our rivals failed to win means another opportunity has come for us," adding, "I told the players that since the opportunity is here, it now depends on us. I emphasized that we must prepare thoroughly to definitely seize the chance and take the lead."

Regarding the end-of-season standings battle, he revealed a determination to treat every match as a final. Manager Park said, "Because the race for position is so fierce, we are preparing for every game with the mindset of a championship final," and continued, "While confidence builds during a winning streak, mental lapses can appear. What matters more than an unbeaten run is ultimately victory. I urged the team to regain momentum through wins."

He also did not lower his guard against Ansan's sharp counterattacks. Manager Park explained, "Ansan has quick attacking resources such as their foreign players and Kim In-sung, giving them excellent counterattacking ability after defending," adding, "The key to the match will be how quickly we can control the opponent's counterattack when we push up aggressively to win. We also focused our preparation on how to break down Ansan's defensive setup."

However, the absence of a key defender is painful. Core center back Delan was ruled out for the season due to a calf injury, creating a gap in the defensive line. Manager Park said, "Injuries always occur as the season progresses, and changes in the defense are a concern in terms of organization," but expressed confidence by adding, "Lee Hyun-yong has returned to the starting lineup after a long time, and since he has prepared diligently, I believe the players stepping in will fulfill their roles."

He then noted regarding the stadium environment, "There was originally no rain forecast, but weather changes could be another variable for today's match."

On this day, SuwonFC will deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ha Jung-woo will start as the lone striker, with Jeong Seung-bae, Prezio, and Kim Jung-hwan placed in the second line. The midfield will be guarded by Koo Bon-cheol and Lee Jae-won. Seo Jae-min, Kim Ji-hoon, Lee Hyun-yong, and Jang Yeong-woo will form the back four. Yang Han-bin will guard the goal.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original