The striker rotation is inadequate. Head coach Kim Byung-soo’s worries seem to be deepening.
Suwon Samsung will face Daegu FC in the round of 16 of the 2023 Hana OneQ Korea Football Association (FA) Cup at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on April 24.
In a pre-match interview, head coach Kim 안전놀이터 Byung-soo said, “In the FA Cup, I could only use three substitutions. I plan to make changes after the 60th minute if the opponent’s pressure is loosened.”
Against Daegu, Kim Byung-soo made a change to his starting lineup. Suwon had played Ulsan Hyundai in a K League 1 match three days earlier. The main left defender Lee Ki-jae was left out of the roster. Son Ho-jun, a 2002-born prospect, took his place. Min Sang-ki will start after recovering from injury. Acosti and Jeon Jin-woo were named to the reserve list.
“Min Sang-ki was fine in practice, so we’ll have to trust him,” said Kim Byung-soo. “We decided that it’s difficult for Jeon Jin-woo and Acosti to play more than 30 minutes in the physical. We will manage the game according to the situation.”
On Son Ho-jun’s participation, he said, “It’s hard for him physically. I don’t have a choice,” he said, adding, “He’s not confident. It’s true that he’s unstable to play. I think it’s a growing process. He can be a great option for Suwon. You have to believe in him and support him. But if something happens, you have to be bold and make a substitution. We may not be good enough, but I hope we have the courage to be proactive.”
He believes that ball possession should be the first step. “Losing the ball quickly is a problem. We need to play with more initiative,” he emphasized.
Suwon has played four games under Kim Byung-soo. Their performance has been improving. Although they lost their last game against Ulsan Hyundai three days ago, they showed signs of rebounding with a solid performance. Coach Kim Byung-soo said, “It’s a new mindset from start to finish. Results don’t come easily in any organization. We shouldn’t overlook this aspect.”
The squad is not without its challenges. Foreign striker Mulich was ruled out of the match against Daegu due to a hamstring injury. Ahn Byung-jun, who scored against Ulsan, will also be rested for the game. Coach Kim Byung-soo said, “Ahn Byung-jun is the only frontline striker. He is very tired from the game two days ago. Acosti could be an alternative, but it’s hard for him to play more than 30 minutes. I think Myung Jun-jae is a good alternative. I hope he tries his best. We have to trust him.”
On the possibility of extra time and penalties, he said, “I don’t want to be negative. I don’t want to worry about it. If it goes to overtime or penalty kicks, it’s going to be really tough. I’m not going to worry about it in advance,” he laughed.