▲ Robert Moreno, interim manager of the South Korean national football team, speaks at a press conference announcing the squad for November's Middle East away friendly matches, held at the Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province on October 29.
Robert Moreno, interim manager of the South Korean national football team, delivered a message ahead of the November international matches that internal conflict within the squad had been resolved and that the team is healthy.
On October 29 at the Korea Football Park in Cheonan, Manager Moreno announced the 26-man national team roster for two away friendly matches in Qatar this November.
The roster included every single one of the so-called "96-liners"—Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke), and Hwang In-beom (Porto)—who had recently been at the center of rumors of internal discord, along with captain Son Heung-min (LAFC).
Previously, the three 96-line players caused a stir by hinting at retirement from the national team amid subtle tension with Son during the match against Uzbekistan, the final game of a four-match friendly series from September to October.
As a result, attention had been focused on whether they would be selected ahead of this call-up, but all three players were once again named to the squad alongside Son.
Manager Moreno emphasized the principle that "internal problems are solved internally," avoiding the disclosure of specific details of the conversations.
However, he stated, "We solved the problems by meeting face-to-face with the players, and the players also talked a lot among themselves," adding, "The national team is currently in a very healthy state.
Both the coaching staff and the squad agreed on and shared the ultimate goal of 'bringing happiness to football fans through victory.'"
He added, "Including both Son Heung-min and the 96-line players in the squad means that, based on current performance standards, they fully deserve to be selected for the national team and a judgment was made that they can dedicate themselves to the team."
He also stressed, "The captain of the national team is Son Heung-min, and I have nothing further to add regarding that."
The following is a Q&A with Manager Moreno.
- Fans are very concerned due to rumors of internal discord within the national team, speculation, and attacks on players on social media. As manager, is there anything you would like to explain or ask of them?
"I did not come here to ask for anything or make requests, but stood here to show you directly. My duty is to build the best team with top-tier players and, through that, bring happiness and joy to the fans. Both the coaching staff and the squad must work toward that goal. It is right for us to focus on what we can control and carry out our duties day by day, and I believe the players also serve the public by delivering good performances on the pitch."
- Is the current atmosphere of the national team in a healthy state?
"I cannot disclose the details of the private conversations I had with the players. However, in accordance with our principles, we resolved the issues internally by meeting with the players face-to-face. The players also had many conversations among themselves. Because they are human beings before they are players, I believe that sitting down and talking resolves a great deal, and that is indeed how we proceeded. Since taking office, I spent more time on dialogue, communication, and getting to know each other than on training. Disagreements arise in even the greatest teams. What matters is how you resolve them. In the end, building a winning team and bringing happiness to the people is our common goal."
- How do you assess the captain's leadership, and how did you communicate with the "96-liners," who had hinted at retirement, ahead of this call-up?
"The captain of our national team is Son Heung-min, and I have nothing further to add regarding that. While I cannot go into detail about private conversations, I spoke sufficiently with the players concerned. If you look at what I have said verbally today and the announced squad, you will easily be able to find the answers for yourselves."
- What is the reason Cho Gue-sung was left off the roster despite his strong performances for his club?
"It is not ideal to comment on why a player who is not on the list was excluded. Nonetheless, the coaching staff continues to closely monitor and analyze the player's situation."
- You selected players who performed well at the Asian Games, such as Shin Minha and Eom Ji-sung. Did remarks regarding military service exemptions influence their selection?
"All judgments and criteria for player selection are based solely on 'football' and 'performance.'"
- What is the background behind the first-time national team call-ups of Shin Minha and Son Jeong-beom?
"I judged that both players are young and have abundant potential, which will help the national team's performance. As national team manager, I view the continued emergence of such young players very positively, and it will also be of great help toward the ultimate goal of 'building the best team.' I hope the players recognize the value of how difficult it is to be selected for the national team."
- Does reselecting the 96-liners and Son Heung-min mean there are no issues with carrying out the November match schedule as is?
"Yes. The fact that Son Heung-min, Hwang In-beom, Hwang Hee-chan, and Kim Min-jae were included in the squad means that, based on current performance standards, they fully deserve to be selected for the national team and a judgment was made that they can dedicate themselves to the team."
- You are departing for Europe today after announcing the squad. What will be the primary focus of your inspection?
"I will depart this evening to watch an Atlético Madrid match and the Atlético vs. Bayern Munich fixture, after which I plan to travel to Portugal to watch the Porto vs. Napoli match in person. However, I have no intention of putting pressure on the players or their clubs before matches. I plan to manage the national team quietly while upholding my principles. If time permits, I would also like to watch my son play, who has returned after overcoming an injury."
- Compared to what you thought before taking the job, how do you find the national team now?
"The national team is in a very healthy state. Both the coaching staff and the squad completely agreed on and shared the ultimate goal of 'bringing happiness to football fans through performances close to victory.' South Korea is a country with tremendous potential. Since taking office, I have felt the passionate interest and love of the fans for the national team, which has been a tremendous motivation and source of strength for the coaching staff as well."
- What are your plans for using the 4-4-2 formation tactically going forward, and how do you plan to utilize Lee Kang-in?
"I hope Lee Kang-in shows his best performance in the national team. Currently at his club (Atlético Madrid), he plays in various positions such as winger and midfielder. The task of the coaching staff is to find out and help determine in which position and role he can show his best form. The 4-4-2 is merely a formation until the opening whistle blows. Many variables arise during a match, and we also shifted to a back three in the last game. We will deploy whatever tactical adjustments are needed if it brings us closer to victory in accordance with the opponent's tactics and game plan."
- There is a possibility that the Asian Cup will be postponed. What are your thoughts as interim manager?
"The postponement of the Asian Cup has not been confirmed yet and is beyond our control, so we will seek solutions when the situation arises."
- Do you feel burdened by the current situation under an interim management system? What were your feelings when preparing your opening remarks?
"The pressure as a manager is a natural sense of responsibility that comes with representing the nation. Everyday citizens also live their lives feeling the burdens of life. While preparing the opening remarks, my only thought was that I wanted to start working on the pitch as soon as possible to live up to the fans' love and expectations. Being able to represent South Korea while doing what we love makes us consider ourselves blessed, and we are very proud."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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