Seoul Captain Kim Jin-su: “I’m a Helper”
With FC Seoul on the verge of its first K League 1 title in a decade, captain Kim Jin-su (34) has spoken about the final step. Seoul lead the table alone at 20-6-6 (66 points) and will clinch their first title since 2016, and seventh overall, by beating Gangwon FC in the regular season’s final Round 33 on the 24th at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Kim, who won five K League 1 titles with Jeonbuk Hyundai, told Sports Donga: “Honestly, I don’t know if I have a ‘winning DNA.’ I’m a helper. We got here because the whole team came together.” He added, “We didn’t stay in first by dropping points; we led the league by adding points every match,” and stressed, “I’m sure this season’s experience will be a big help from next year on.”
Source: Sports Donga
Thiago and Lee Young-jae Power Jeonbuk
Jeonbuk Hyundai’s veteran duo of Thiago (33) and Lee Young-jae (32) is driving a late-season revival. According to Sports Donga, Thiago has scored five goals while finding the net in three straight matches, and against Jeju SK on the 18th he turned both of his shots on target into goals. The only Jeonbuk forward in double figures (10 goals), he has climbed to sixth in the league scoring chart. Lee has seven assists in 24 league matches, including four in his last five games with assists in two straight. Against Jeju, he set up two goals from a corner kick and a free kick. Jeonbuk sit third at 12-11-9 (47 points), but they are level on points with fourth-placed Gangwon FC and only one point ahead of fifth-placed Daejeon Hana Citizen and sixth-placed Jeju (46 points each). As Jeonbuk chase second-placed Ulsan HD (50 points), the pair’s form is a big lift.
Source: Sports Donga
Ulsan’s Lee Dong-gyeong Eyes Back-to-Back MVP
Ulsan HD midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong is chasing only the second back-to-back MVP award in K League history. According to Sports Kyunghyang, Lee recorded his 12th assist of the season against Bucheon FC 1995 and now leads the league in attacking points with 11 goals and 12 assists. He is four assists ahead of second-placed Lee Myung-jae (Daejeon, 8) and has registered an attacking point in five straight matches (two goals, four assists). Last year’s MVP, he would join Lee Dong-gook (then with Jeonbuk Hyundai, 2014-2015) as the only players to win it in consecutive seasons. His main rivals are expected to come from title favorite FC Seoul, including Klimala, Kim Jin-su and Jeong Seung-won. “If I win MVP at Ulsan this year, it would mean so much more, because I’d be doing it with good numbers at the club where I grew up and learned the game,” Lee said.
Source: Sports Kyunghyang
Incheon, Jeju Head Into Finale in Contrasting Form
Incheon United and Jeju SK, who will fight for the last Final A (top six) spot in K League 1, head into the season’s decisive match in contrasting form. According to Sports Donga, the two meet in the regular season’s final Round 33 on the 24th at Incheon Football Stadium. Sixth-placed Jeju (46 points, 38 goals) need only a draw to secure a Final A place on their own, while seventh-placed Incheon (43 points, 40 goals) would leapfrog Jeju on goals scored with a win. Incheon, playing at home, are unbeaten in four straight (one win, three draws), with Mugosa, third in the scoring race with 14 goals, netting in each of his last two matches. Jeju, in their first season under manager Sérgio Costa, have lost two in a row and conceded five goals in those games, making a defensive reset a priority.
Source: Sports Donga