FC Seoul is going to the Asian stage for the first time in 5 years! We need to make Kim Ki-dong a better team

Apr 27, 2025

FC Seoul is going to the Asian stage for the first time in 5 years! We need to make Kim Ki-dong a better team



FC Seoul coach Kim Ki-dong expressed his feelings about confirming his entry into the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE).

Seoul has confirmed its return to the Asian stage for the first time in five years since the 2020 season. Gwangju, the same K-League club, lost 0-7 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) in the 2024-2025 season against Al Hilal on the 25th and secured a berth to the ACLE Playoff next season as the fourth-ranked team in the K-League in 2024. Gimcheon Sangmu, the third-ranked player, failed to advance to the ACL due to the nature of the military team, so the ticket was handed over to Seoul, the lower-ranked player.

The results of the ACL2 final between Lion City (Singapore) and Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) at Bisan Stadium in Singapore on the 18th of next month will determine whether they will advance to the playoffs and go straight to the finals. If Sharjah in the western district wins, it will go straight to the finals, and if Lion City in the same eastern district wins, it will compete with Lion City in the playoffs. The playoffs are expected to be held in August according to last season's schedule.




Coach Kim said in a pre-press interview with Pohang in the 10th round of the K League 1 away game at Pohang Steelyard at 2 p.m. on the 27th, `After five years of hard work, I got a little better last year. The team needs to keep getting better"I hope the club will also think about the supply and demand of players in June."."

Then "He says that in a raspy voice. If you're having a hard time playing the playoffs with Lion City, you shouldn't go out with ACLE. If you're scared of the team, you should say you're not ready to play in the ACL. I think I and our players need to build a better team (before the ACLE)."

FC Seoul is going to the Asian stage for the first time in 5 years! We need to make Kim Ki-dong a better team
No. 7 Seoul, which lost 1-2 to Gwangju in the last round and lost its unbeaten streak, aims to rebound the atmosphere with a victory. Coach Kim started Lingard, the captain who had been to England during the week over his grandfather's alleged sexual assault. Lingard will work with Cho Young-wook and Willian and Lucas in the offensive team. Lee Seung-mo and Hwang Do-yoon will protect the midfield, while Choi Joon-yazan, Kim Joo-sung and Kim Jin-soo will take charge of the four backs. Kang Hyun-moo wears goalkeeper gloves.




Coach Kim didn't show much about Lingard, who started against expectations, but he seems to have worried a lot about (grandfather). There must have been things I couldn't express. They say it's okay now. I don't know what he's like inside, but his expression is always bright. "I was worried about the time difference, but I talked about Son Heung-min." 'Son Heung-min came from Tottenham and played an A match in two days, your will is important' and he said he wanted to play in the game and would do his best. If I put it in in the second half and lose it again due to poor performance, wouldn't it be an issue again?"

Coach Kim said he hopes the striker's score will be scored in the game. "(Cho) Young-wook is only scoring one goal, and he should have scored five or six goals by now. The score is not coming out compared to the chance. In the chance situation, he said to focus more, and he trained in preparation for it. I think the team will gain strength only when the offense scores."

FC Seoul is going to the Asian stage for the first time in 5 years! We need to make Kim Ki-dong a better team
FC Seoul is going to the Asian stage for the first time in 5 years! We need to make Kim Ki-dong a better team
In response, Pohang coach Park Tae-ha started and appointed striker Giorgi for the first time in nearly a month. Giorgi sets up a two-top with Lee Ho-jae. The rest of the seats are the same as the last match against Jeju. Juningyo, Auberdan and Shin Kwang-hoon Baek Sung-dong will build a midfield team, while Kang Min-joon, Jeon Min-kwang, Han Hyun-seo and Lee Tae-seok will set up a four-back. Hwang In-jae protects the goal.

Coach Park, who said he used Giorgi as a side striker, said, `Giorgi is a good card to crack. There are also negative aspects, but positively, it has the advantage of shaking up the opponent's defense. If I mark Jorge, I think the opponent's defense will crack little by little." On Jorge, Kim said, `He has height and speed. It's a lot of ups and downs, but I hope it's a little bad today.'

Coach Park said of Seoul, "The squad is always the best. They say there are injuries, but that can come to any team. He said, "It's a power leak just because there are injuries in rich clubs, shouldn't we make excuses like this?" As for Lingard's unexpected starting lineup, he expected it to come out. (Coach Kim) must have thought other cards were not reliable."

When asked if he watched Gwangju's 0-7 loss to Al Hilal in the ACLE quarterfinals, coach Park said, `It's unfortunate. I thought there was no business in money. There is no choice but to make a difference because they face big league players. Organizational power is limited. There must have been a problem with jet lag. Nevertheless, it is a little disappointing as a K-League worker that he lost too many points." Coach Park said he deserves applause for reaching the quarterfinals of the ACLE.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.