Jeonbuk Hyundai has wrapped up an eventful season. It was a season of crisis, and the final victory was a reflection.
Jeonbuk defeated Bangkok United 3-1 in the final Group F match of the 2023-2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Jeonju World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The win keeps Jeonbuk in second place and advances to the round of 16.랭크카지노
Advancing to the round of 16 was a welcome relief for Jeonbuk. Jeonbuk has had an up-and-down season. They fell to the bottom of the standings early in the season, and in May, head coach Kim Sang-sik resigned, blaming the team’s poor performance. In June, the club hired Dan Petrescu to turn things around, but it wasn’t easy. The departure of national team striker Cho Kyu-sung was a major blow to the front line. Lee Dong-joon, an ambitious recruit this season, was also plagued by frequent injuries and had to rely on veterans like Grama, Han Kyowon, and Moon Sun-min.
In the end, they had to accept the result of being irrelevant after 10 years. They finished fourth in the league and were runners-up in the FA Cup, losing to Pohang Steelers. It was the worst season for Jeonbuk, as not one of their players made it to the best 11 of the season. It was the first time since 2007 that a Jeonbuk player was not included in the K League 1 best 11.
That’s why the win was so important. It was a game that could give the fans one last victory of the year, and one that could leave them with a maze of questions. A draw would still put them in the round of 16, but given the circumstances, they needed to get a win. Luckily, they delivered. After conceding a goal in the third minute of the first half, Moon Sun-min equalized in the 42nd minute and Lee Dong-joon scored back-to-back goals in the 30th and 31st minutes of the second half to turn the game around. Despite conceding a goal to Rungrath Pumchantuk in the last minute of the second half, they managed to hold on for the win.
After the game, Jeonbuk took a moment to reflect on the season. Lee Dong-joon, who attended the press conference as Suhun, said, “It was an unsatisfying season for the players and fans alike. It wasn’t like Jeonbuk. It’s only been six months since the coach came in, and we have no excuses next year. Next season, we have to do better and be more like Jeonbuk.” “Personally, it was a zero-point season,” he said, adding, “I will grind my teeth and prepare for next year.”
“This year, I and the team scored 45 points,” said Moon Sun-min, who had one goal and one assist in the win. “We didn’t have double-digit offensive points in the league. I’m reflecting on myself, and I will prepare well in the preseason so that I can do better next year.” “The players are also meeting a lot, and I will definitely come with complementary points,” he said.
Petrescu added: “It was a difficult year for me as I took over in the middle of the year, especially adapting to a new country and league. Both me and Jeonbuk need to improve,” he said, promising to do better next year.
Petrescu also revealed specific improvements. “There are three things. First, the players and the coach will interact more because they know each other better. Second, we need a really good preseason, and I heard that many players missed the preseason this year. The third is to bring in players who can help the team. I want to make the right choices and bring in good players to improve Jeonbuk,” he added.