Let's lift the restrictions on foreign players in four different colors Shin Tae-yong, who is trying to become the top Asian player, and Park Tae-ha is a sensitive issue...Expectations for Kim Ki-dong's EPL Lingard, and Jung Kyung-ho's dual operation
Sep 04, 2025
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In the K-League, Ulsan HD, Gangwon FC, and FC Seoul will play in ACLE (elite) and Pohang Steelers will play in ACL 2, the second division. Ulsan won the K League 1 championship last year, Gangwon ranked second, and Seoul ranked fourth. Gimcheon Sangmu, who came in third place 'military team', is not eligible to participate in the ACL. Pohang won the Korea Cup. The ACLE League stage of the K-League begins on the 16th. ACL2 will end on the 18th.
The media day of the four K-League teams participating in the ACL to challenge for the top of Asia was held at the Korea Football Center in Sinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 4th. Shin Tae-yong (Ulsan), Jung Kyung-ho (Gangwon), Kim Ki-dong (Seoul), and Park Tae-ha (Pohang) gathered in one place. It was a difficult journey that had to be carried out in parallel with K League 1, so the coaches were cautious.
Coach Shin, who was pushed to the edge of the K-League, said "Our team is not doing well in the league, but in ALC, we will try to appease last year's disappointment and aim for better performance. I want to try ACL with old memories" he said.
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Seoul will return to the ACL stage for the first time in five years. Coach Kim said "I'm returning to the ACL that the club, players, and fans desperately wanted. I'm also happy as a director. As a representative of the K League, he participates and has a great sense of responsibility. There will be difficulties in parallel with the league, but I will try to achieve the best results by uniting with the players." Coach Park, who experienced ACLE last season, stressed that he will try to perform well even though he is ACL2 based on his failures because he played last year.
It is not easy to play both the K-League and the ACL. Coach Shin said, `Our team won three consecutive league games until last year, but now the performance is not good. You have to focus on the league for the top split. From experience, I think that if you make a part of the ACL, the league stage can pass. You have to focus on the league until you go to the top split."
Coach Chung also said "As you can see from the K-League rankings, the difference in points is tight. There are five games left until the final. Basically, the league comes first. It is right to perform well in the ACL, but the league is the most important at the moment. There is also an ACL game within five games. I'm going to try to do it as if I was dualizing the Korea Cup game and the league. It seems that the dualization has been done well with the resources within the team. That way, I'm going to go over the league and ACL schedule", he explained.
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The first round of the ACLE League Stage will open at 7 p.m. on the 16th with a match between Gangwon and Shanghai Shenhua (China). At 7 p.m. on the same day, Seoul will play an away game against Japan. The next day, at 7 p.m. on the 17th, Ulsan will meet Chengdu Longcheng (China) at home. Pohang will face Thailand at 9:15 p.m. on the 18th.
The A-match break is a watershed moment. Coach Shin, who was a great firefighter in Ulsan but lost three consecutive games after one win, said "It's been a month since he took over as coach. Don't you think I should wear my own color now. I didn't understand the atmosphere or situation of the team, but I think we need to figure it out during the A-match break and talk a lot"If you step down this time, there may be no chance in the league. I have been training in Sokcho since yesterday afternoon. I feel that this period is important."
Seoul is also hardly on the rise. Director Kim said, `I don't think it's good or bad. It is true that it does not meet expectations. It is true that there are ups and downs in performance during this season. Rather than making something through training, I will prepare while taking psychological stability", he explained.
ACL has become a different stage. There is no foreign quota limit, and Saudi Arabia as well as Southeast Asian club teams are eager to attack the amount of foreigners.
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On the other hand, coach Shin said, `The mercenary quota should be released. That way, it is meaningful to go to the ACL. Johor also has 11 Spanish players. The Saudis also have players for the ACL"Personally, you can play in the K-League with a limit of four or five players, but clubs who go out to the ACL have to lift the limit." Clubs with good finances can bring in good players. If I leave the ACL, I think I will have to lift the mercenary restrictions. I think we need to talk about this strongly and make it."
ACL is a spring and autumn festival in the K-League, while it is a spring and autumn festival in the K-League. The coaches agreed on the need for change, but pointed out that various facilities such as the ground environment and stadium should be equipped.
There were also questions about the ACL goal and questions about the expected players. Manager Kim said, `I want to pass the preliminary round of the group league. It is a match against Gangwon-do ahead of the first game. I asked director Chung Kyung-ho to push the schedule forward just one day. I want you to communicate with the club and be considerate"After smiling "Lingard is the most anticipated. Played for England and in the EPL. It's my first time at ACL, but I'm preparing a lot," he replied.
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Coach Chung said, `The primary goal is to win for the first time. There are many young players. Even in the ACL, you can get a better atmosphere than we think. Domestic players are also motivated, but foreign players are motivated. If you do well, you can get a good stage and a good salary, so I hope Gabriel will show a good performance."
Coach Park said, `The realistic goal is to survive until the end of next year's ACL. The expected player is Kim In-sung. I keep trying to give him time to play. I'm also trying to put pressure on them. I'm looking forward to it."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
