All-time Supernova of interest in EPL, the real career's biggest crisis defeat needs to be defeated in the third division to remain

Apr 12, 2025

Courtesy of the Korea Football Association

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After leaving for Europe, the most important game for Bae Jun-ho is here.

Stoke City will play the 42nd round of the English Championship (second division) in the 2024-2025 season against Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, England, at 11 p.m. on the 12th (Korea time). Stoke is in 20th place with 44 points and Cardiff are in 22nd place with 42 points.

Stoke was so disappointed with the result of the last round. He scored the first goal in the 29th minute of the second half against Luton Town, ranked 23rd in the league, but he had to settle for one point as he lost a point in extra time in the second half. If they had won, they could have reached 17th place in the league with 46 points, and it was a painful result because they did not win against a relegation team at home.

Stoke, who failed to catch an opponent he must beat, eventually faced a relegation crisis. The Championship will be relegated to League One (third tier) in England from 22nd to 24th place. Cardiff are currently 22nd, the most motivated of the relegation teams. This is because only one step up can get out of the relegation crisis.

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Is it because of that motivation. Cardiff have one win and three draws in their last four league games. A team that was more used to losing has transformed into a team that did not lose. It is showing how desperately the relegation team, which is on the edge of the cliff, is fighting at the end of the season.

If Stoke loses to Cardiff and 21st-ranked Derby County win over Portsmouth on the same day, Stoke will be 22nd and drop to the relegation zone. It's a relief that there are four league games left after the match against Cardiff, so it's not a good thing to fall into the relegation zone with four games left.

The upcoming schedule is tough, so we must never lose this game. Stoke should also meet Leeds United and Sheffield United, who are competing for first place at the end of the league. Stoke's win over Leeds and Sheffield is hard to picture, so you have to make sure you break the team that can win.

In the end, Bae Jun-ho has to do it. The ace of Stoke is Bae Jun-ho in name and reality. When Bae Joon-ho scored an attack point and did not, Stoke's winning rate is severely different.

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For Bae Joon-ho's career, the performance award is important. It is a waste of skills for a player like Bae Joon-ho to play in the third division. If Stoke falls into the third division, Bae Jun-ho is likely to seek a transfer, but Stoke has the right to decide on the transfer. If Stoke says he won't sell Bae Joon-ho for promotion after relegation, he will have to play in the third division next season.

Bae Joon-ho received attention from English Premier League (EPL) clubs for his good performance at Stoke, which remained in the relegation zone last season. He also tried to recruit Bae Joon-ho from Feyenoord, where Hwang In-beom plays. Since Bae Joon-ho has shown more advanced performance this season, the best scenario is to move to bigger water after leading Stoke to stay. The result against Cardiff is very important to draw a solid sketch of the scenario.