Lee Seung-woo's Candid Thoughts on National Team Exclusion… Moreno Also Present at Match

Lee Seung-woo, who was recently left out of the national football team roster, has opened up about his honest feelings.

Lee met with reporters in the mixed zone after the first match of the 2026–2027 AFC Champions League Elite league stage against Kashiwa Reysol, held at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium yesterday (September 16).

"I feel like I've already said too much," Lee said, making no secret of his genuine emotions. "Naturally, my heart remains the same, and it's simply disappointing."

He added, "However, it is a result I cannot control. Another opportunity will come if I perform better at my club team, so I want to continue showing good form," resolving to work harder.

Earlier, interim South Korean national team manager Roberto Moreno announced a 30-player roster on September 14 for the A-matches in September and October.

While fresh faces like Kim Gun-hee, Park Tae-jun, and Kim Min-su received surprise call-ups, and players like Gu Sung-yun and Jung Seung-won returned after a long absence, Lee Seung-woo's name was notably missing despite his strong performances in the league.

At the time, when asked about the reason for leaving Lee off the squad, manager Moreno drew a line, stating, "If we start talking about players who weren't selected, there's no end to it."

Lee started in yesterday's match, played the full time, and led his team to a 2-1 victory.

Manager Moreno also visited the Jeonju World Cup Stadium to observe South Korean players firsthand.

"Tactics in the domestic league are mostly similar, but facing teams from a new country with new tactics was much more exciting," Lee said. "Regardless of who the opponent is, the players' determination to win led to our second-half comeback victory."

Regarding receiving a yellow card from the referee for a delayed substitution situation in the 41st minute of the second half, he explained, "There was a communication barrier during the substitution process so I tried to convey the message instead, but the referee seemed to have a hot temper."

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.