The K-League, which celebrated its 40th anniversary, announces a strong start for the 2023 season on the 25th after a long hibernation due to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The match between defending champion Ulsan Hyundai and FA Cup winner Jeonbuk Hyundai, which will be held at Ulsan Munsu Stadium on this day, is the official opening match of the Hana One Q K League 1 2023.안전놀이터
●Hyundai
is a ‘family rival’ that has fought fiercely in recent years. After competing throughout the season, Jeonbuk ended up winning the title, but last year was different. Head coach Hong Myung-bo’s Ulsan smiled broadly in his second year in office. After breaking the runner-up jinx, he reached the top for the third time in 17 years since 2005.
In the new season, the two teams are competing for the championship. The two teams, who had conducted battery training in Europe in a ‘yui’ manner, also completed the pre-season power reinforcement. An exciting story is attached here. Special midfielder Amano Jun (Japan), who played a big role in Ulsan’s championship last year, decided to extend the K-League lease and joined Jeonbuk coach Kim Sang-sik. Director Hong, who was very angry, set the day, saying, “(Amano) is by far the worst Japanese I have ever known and met.”
Even though time has passed, the sediment remains. Director Hong and Ulsan are still in the position that Amano is lying, and Jeonbuk insists that there is no fault. In addition, even winger Lee Dong-jun, who headed to the German Bundesliga based on his impressive performance in Ulsan, went to Jeonbuk, and the mutual hostility grew. Since these two teams met from the first round, the atmosphere is already hot.
●Challenge and Competition
There are many factors that could threaten the ‘Rangang system’ of Ulsan and Jeonbuk. The stronger the team, the greater the checks around it. It is a challenge to secure the minimum number of victory points instead of helpless defeat. In fact, opponents who actively raised their bodies appeared. Ahn Ik-soo’s FC Seoul and Cho Seong-hwan’s Incheon United.
In particular, Seoul turned on the green light for ‘reconstruction of a prestigious house’ by leasing Hwang Eui-jo, a national goalkeeper who had a difficult time after leaving Bordeaux (France), for a short term. It is expected to fill the weak firepower through synergy with existing member Ilyuchenko. Hwang Eui-jo is expected to compete with Cho Kyu-seong (Jeonbuk), a junior in the national team who delayed advancing to Europe, so there is plenty to see.
Incheon, which also won tickets to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League this year, which celebrated its 20th anniversary, also absorbed several great players, including veteran midfielder Shin Jin-ho. It is a will to clear the image of the ‘King of Survival’, which was uncomfortable through entering the semifinals for two consecutive years.
In addition, Pohang Steelers and Jeju United, which have been consistently knocking at the top, are also determined to do well based on their solid team organization.
The battle for survival is also expected to be interesting. It is worth paying attention to the challenge of promoted teams Gwangju FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen, as fierce competition for rankings is expected, with the expression ‘2nd round of 10’. Last year, ‘the strength to win’ was needed, but this year, ‘the strength to endure’ is important. Depending on the propaganda of Gwangju and Daejeon Hana, which say, “It cannot be a sacrifice,” the ‘relegation zone’ is expected to fluctuate greatly.