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'Only Rip Man' Cho Kyu-sung (Mit Willan) is one step closer to 'Perfect Resurrection'.
Cho Kyu-sung started in the first round of the Europa League phase of the 2025-2026 season against Sturm Graz (Austria) at Henning MCH Arena in Denmark on the 25th (Korea time). It was his first start in 486 days. The last time Cho Kyu-sung was included in the starting lineup was against Silkeborg (3-3 draw) in the final 32nd round of the Danish Super Liga in the 2023-2024 season at his home turf on May 27 last year.
Cho Kyu-sung, who played as an offensive midfielder rather than a front-line striker, made a fierce move as soon as the starting whistle went off. A sharp play led to Mitwillan's attack. In the 40th minute of the first half, he blew a decisive header, but it was regrettable that he was blocked by the opposing ball keeper's super save. Cho Kyu-sung spent 60 minutes on the ground before being replaced by Aral Simshir in the 15th minute of the second half, creating one opportunity, one effective shot, and one dribble success. Especially noticeable was the competition for the ball in the air. I made it four times in five attempts. It was a figure that indicated that his physical condition was returning to normal condition.
Cho Kyu-sung returned from a long tunnel and is finally flapping his wings of resurrection. Cho Kyu-sung underwent a meniscus cartilage plate resection of his right knee after the end of the 2023-2024 season in May last year. It was a choice to make my body 100%. It is a relatively simple operation, and if normal, recovery was possible before the preseason. But I was held back by bad luck. The surgical site was infected and complications were suffered. Although committed to treatment, recovery was slow. He lost as much as 12 kilograms. I couldn't sleep because of the pain. In the end, he blew the 2024-2025 season.
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There was no giving up. Cho Kyu-sung shaved his eyebrows as well as his hair. It was a will to revive. Cho Kyu-sung finally got the reward of his bleeding training. He entered as a substitute on the 17th of last month and played a minute, making his first return game in 15 months. He gradually increased his playing time and even scored a goal. On the 18th, he played 32 minutes as a substitute in the match against Olborg at the Danish Cup, and scored a return shot. In the league game against Vibor, which was the previous game, he was replaced at the start of the second half and shook the net at the end of the game.
Following the scoring shot, he will return to the starting lineup as we knew Cho Kyu-sung if he plays full time now. Cho Kyu-sung's perfect revival is also good news for Hong Myung-bo. One of the concerns of the Korean national team is the front line. In the last U.S. away game, Son Heung-min (LAFC) showed good performance as a one-top player, but alternative resources such as Oh Hyun-kyu (Henk), Oh Se-hoon (Machida), Joo Min-kyu (Daejeon) and Lee Ho-jae (Pohang) are still full. Cho Kyu-sung's return, who has scored two goals at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, can be a great boost to the national team. In particular, Cho Kyu-sung, who has strength and height, as well as penetration and connection, and strong pressure ability, is an optimized striker for 3-4-2-1, which has recently emerged as Hong Myung-bo's Plan A.
Meathwhelan, meanwhile, won 2-0. On this day, Lee Han-beom started alongside Cho Kyu-sung and played full-time as a central defender to lead his team's scoreless victory.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
