|
[이데일리 스타in 이석무 기자] “Football is not all about ransom”
Ulsan Hyundai, the Asian champion, finally participates in the International Football Federation (FIFA) Club World Cup. Ulsan will play their first match against the Champions League Champions League champion Tigres UANL (Mexico) at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on the 4th at 11 pm (hereinafter KST).
Head coach Hong Myung-bo said at an online press conference held on the afternoon of the 3rd before the Tigres match, “we are all ready and hope that the players will show their performance as much as possible.” “Tigres is a team with excellent individual ability, but we also prepared well.” Emphasized.
According to Transfermark, which deals with the transfer, the total market value of the Ulsan squad is 19.08 million euros (about 25.6 billion won), while the total market value of the Tigres squad is 59.4 million euros (70.7 billion won), more than three times that of Ulsan. If you compare the players’ ransom, they won’t be your opponent.
However, coach Hong emphasized that the high ransom does not necessarily mean winning the soccer game. “Soccer is a team sport, and there are various variables such as the condition of the day.”
He added, “We respect Tigres enough, but we are a team that came out as a representative of Asia.” He added, “Because it is a team that represents Korea among them, we expect to be able to show a good look of Korean football.”
Goalkeeper Jo Hyun-woo, who appeared at the press conference together, also shouted, “The ransom is not very important,” and “there will be good results as 11 and 11 soccer players are played.”
The following is a brief interview with director Hong Myung-bo and Jo Hyun-woo.
-How do you feel about the first game?
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) I think I’ve adjusted my condition well for about 4 days after coming to Qatar. I think players will also come to such big competitions and make a good scene in their football life. It was not a long preparation period, but I did my best within the time given. Now that the preparations are over, I hope the players will make the most of their performance in the game tomorrow.
△(Cho Hyun-woo) I am very honored to participate in such a big competition. We are well-prepared and there may be some shortcomings, but we will do our best to show the performance of Ulsan Hyundai tomorrow. I will play as much as I can and without regrets.
-Do you know anything about Tigres? How did you prepare for this game?
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) I have a good understanding of Tigres. Tigres has finished analyzing power until the latest game. It is a very strong team, and each player has excellent individual abilities. I know some Tigres players have returned from recent injuries to form a better squad. I don’t know to what extent we can stop Tigres’ attack tomorrow, but we made good preparations too. Tomorrow our players will do their best.
-What do you know about the Tigres attack?
△(Cho Hyun-woo) Manager emphasized a lot about the defensive organizational skills ahead of this game. We can prevent any team from coming. I will also block any ball flying. No worries, but soccer always has a lot of variables, and I will do my best so that our players can play without burden as they compete with a great team called Tigres.
-How well do you know Mexican football? If you know anything other than Tigres, please let me know.
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) When I was a player, I played a lot with the Mexican team. Mexico is a country with a strong passion for soccer and a country that is also very good at soccer. We always played a lot of difficult games when we met the Mexican team. There are also many famous teams in Mexico as well as Tigres. I also remember going to the CONCACAF club championship when I was a player in the United States. If you look at the abilities of many players, I think Mexico is a great country as a very soccer powerhouse.
(Cho Hyun-woo) I remember a lot when I played against Mexico. It is a country that prefers very fast soccer and forward pressure. That’s why the defenders felt a lot of pressure. However, there are many players in Ulsan who can bother opponents enough. Tomorrow, I look forward to it too, and I hope that the fans can enjoy the game and watch the game.
-In domestic and international reports, there is a lot of talk about the difference in total ransom between Ulsan and Tigres. It is said that there is a difference of about 56 billion won. From the manager’s point of view, I would like to show that’there is not all ransom money in the soccer world’, but I am determined.
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) The ransom value represents the athlete’s standard value. It is a reality in the football world that good players receive high ransom prices, but high ransom prices do not necessarily win soccer games. Football is a team sport, and there are many variables that can change the game, whether it is the day’s condition or relativity. Of course, we have enough respect for the ransom of the Tigres players and in that respect. However, tomorrow we are a team representing Asia, and among them, since we are a team representing Korea, we expect that we will be able to show a good look of Korean football.
△(Cho Hyun-woo) I think the ransom is not important. Soccer is played by 11 to 11 players. That’s why you don’t know who will win. Ulsan also prepared well for Ulsan-like performance. I think there will be good results.
-It will be a test stage for new organizational skills. I am curious to see how much organizational power or power you have.
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) I trained for about 20 days. In a way, it’s not enough time and it’s time you can’t fully prepare. However, the players worked hard for 20 days, and during that period they raised both the physical aspect and the performance aspect, and fortunately, there were no injured players in it. So, tomorrow’s economy is expected to be 100% out of current power. As I said before, we don’t have many opportunities to participate in the Club World Cup, so I hope our players will have a really fun and happy game. It will also be played in a good stadium where the 2022 Qatar World Cup will be held tomorrow. Winning and losing is important as much, but we will try to make the game enjoyable by putting away the burden as much as possible tomorrow.
-Unfortunately lost against Mexico in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Do you think it’s an opportunity for revenge?
△(Cho Hyun-woo) It was a pity to lose the 2018 World Cup, but it has already passed. We were well prepared for tomorrow’s game with a great manager and coaching staff. First, I will only think about one game tomorrow.
-Can we reveal the game lineup tomorrow? I am curious about which player to place.
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) I prepared my best as a squad now. You have completed your training today, but you can wake up tomorrow morning and have other variables. I will go then and judge the situation as a whole and announce the lineup tomorrow. I am sorry for not being able to tell you in advance today.
-Qatar has a different climate than Korea. How is it?
△(Cho Hyun-woo) The weather was nice when I came to Qatar, and we prepared well. I don’t know what the outcome will be tomorrow, but I think I can have a good game tomorrow.
-What are the strengths of Ulsan? Who do you think is the strongest player in Tigres?
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) Ulsan’s strength is the confidence that it has recently won. Of course, the other participating teams will be similar, but since we became champions in the ACL just a month ago, it is important to continue that confidence. Also, although the players cannot compete perfectly now, I still think that the motivation of new players is good. There are many good players in Tigress. I think it is important how to block the combination play of those players well.
-What did you find out about Tigres’ attack?
△(Cho Hyun-woo) It is a team that tries a lot of quick pressure in front. Since Tigres’ attacking team is strong, we also trained a lot of organizational skills to respond to him. There are also many good players in Tigres, but there are also many of us. I’m going to play a game that bothers my opponent a lot. Please look forward to it.
-The coach has been coaching both the Olympics and the World Cup. It is also the first time that I have played the Club World Cup as a club representative. The feeling or determination ahead of the first game.
△(Director Hong Myung-bo) The Club World Cup is a very prestigious competition that participates as a club. Personally, I think it is a great honor to be able to participate in this competition. Of course, this is not what I have achieved, but because of the achievements of Ulsan and former director Kim Do-hoon. So, I am sorry for participating. Personally, it is an honor to participate in the Club World Cup and compete against good clubs around the world.