K League 1 Opening D-4
K League 1 Opening D-4
Is it possible for Ulsan HD to try three times in a row?
Four days before the opening of the K-League 1 in the 2024 season, coaches and players of 12 teams gathered to reveal their determination and ambition for the new season to fans.
The Korea Professional Football Federation held a media day event for the opening of Hana Bank K League 2023 at The Plaza Hotel Seoul Grand Ballroom in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 26th.
This year's K-League 1 will kick off its long run with the official opening match between Ulsan HD, last season's champion, and Pohang Steelers, the winner of the Korea Football Association (FA) Cup, on March 1. The official ball for this season is the "Puss Ball River" by Adidas.
The 12 K League 1 teams, which will play the 33rd round of the regular league until October 6, will then be divided into the top 1st to 6th teams (Final A) and the 7th to 12th teams (Final B) to determine the winners and relegation teams, respectively.
The biggest concern in K League 1 this year is whether Ulsan will achieve its third consecutive loss and the main character of the "breakthrough" that will stop it.
While traditional powerhouse Jeonbuk Hyundai is one of the candidates to prevent Ulsan's bid for a third consecutive loss, Gwangju FC, the main character of last season's "third-place sensation," and FC Seoul, which recruited striker Jesse Lingard from the English Premier League (EPL) after taking the helm of former Pohang coach Kim Ki-dong.
Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo, the defending champion, said, "Even before we set our team's goal this year, many people set the goal of winning three consecutive K-League 1s," adding, "We still have shortcomings to achieve our goals, but we will prepare well."
Jeonbuk Hyundai coach Dan Petrescu, who was selected as a candidate to block Ulsan's "three-game losing streak" this season, said, "It's my first media day event as a coach," adding, "I send respect and good luck to all coaches."
He continued, "I have to have a better season than last year, and I will win at least one cup," signaling competition with Ulsan.
"I always wanted to sit in the center of the front row when I came to Media Day, but I really sat in the center this year," Kim Ki-dong, the coach of Seoul, said. "It is true that Seoul has not achieved good performance so far. I will not play soccer just for its name. I will make it a season where fans and players regain their pride."
In addition, Lee Jung-hyo, the head coach of Gwangju, the main character of last year's "Sudden Wind," said, "We have tried to make Gwangju the K-League's winning club one day," and emphasized, "This year is said to be the test of Gwangju, and we will try to put other team coaches on the test."
On this day, the K-League 1 coaches generally predicted "3rd to 4th, 8th to 9th" for this season's game.
The coaches generally picked "Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Seoul, and Gwangju" as the strong teams, and classified the rest of the teams into the mid-range.
Kim Hak-beom, the new head coach of Jeju, said, "Jeonbuk, Ulsan, Gwangju, and Seoul are expected to be in the semifinals to compete for the championship." Pohang coach Park Tae-ha also said, "I don't think there will be any weak teams. Soccer will develop only when the squad is solid and the team that invests a lot performs well. In that sense, I think Jeonbuk, Ulsan, and Seoul will make it to the third round."
Chung Jung-yong, manager of Gimcheon Sangmu, who was promoted to K League 1 this season, said, "Maybe our team will be classified as a weak team," but vowed, "I will try every game with the spirit of a challenger." 토토
The first round of the K League 1 of the 2024 season will start with Ulsan-Pohang and Jeonbuk-Daejeon matches on March 1, followed by Gwangju-Seoul, Incheon-Suwon FC, Gangwon-Jeju (hereinafter, March 2), and Daegu-Gimcheon (March 3).