[스포츠한국 이정철 기자] Lee Kang-in (22, Real Mallorca), who had been overlooked by coach Paulo Bento, had a chance at the Qatar World Cup. Unexpectedly, he was on the starting line-up for the match against Portugal. Choi Tae-wook (42), who was Bentuho’s coach, revealed his personal opinion about ‘Lee Kang-in Ki-yong’.
Choi Tae-wook, Lee Chun-soo’s best friend and who was until recently the coach of the Korean national team for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, appeared on Chun-soo Lee’s YouTube channel, ‘Chun-soo Lee’, which was released. on the 21st.
Lee Chun-soo asked Choi Tae-wook about Lee Kang-in, who played a big role in the Qatar 2022 World Cup. We asked why Lee Kang-in, who was excluded from the Qatar World Cup and the final evaluation game, many opportunities in Qatar World Cup.
In fact, Lee Kang-in was ignored by coach Bento until the Qatar World Cup. Lee Kang-in played a big role in Mallorca in Spain’s Primera Liga, but coach Bento did not moderate Lee Kang-in. As a result, he was criticized by many domestic football fans.
However, Bento replaced Lee Kang-in in the 30th minute of the second half of the Qatar World Cup against Uruguay, and then pulled Lee Kang-in out again in the 12th minute of the second half of the match against Ghana. Lee Kang-in gave Cho Kyu-seong a ‘messenger cross assist’ in the 13th minute of the second half of the game against Ghana.
Lee Kang-in later started in Portugal, which was the last game of the group stage. It was Lee Kang-in who played an active role leading the ‘mythical 16’ of the Korean World Cup national team.
Regarding this, Choi Tae-wook said, “(Lee) Kang-in started to improve a lot 6 months ago. The transition between offense and defense was a little weak, but it started to pick up six months ago. I started to overcome this,” he said. Because I still watch the game,” he said.
“(Director Bento) considers defensive transitions very important. I knew (Lee Kang-in) would play an active role in the attack. Defensive transition was important, and it started happening six months ago.”
At the same time, Choi Tae-wook said, “When I watched from the side, Director Bento didn’t give me a chance, but Kang In-i got a chance himself. for him to conquer That’s why we played the game,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lee Kang-in, who returned to Mallorca after the Qatar World Cup, missed the Celta Bigo game on the 21st (Korea time) due to disciplinary action for accumulated warnings (5 warning cards in the Spanish Primera Liga in the 2022- .23 seasons). He is expected to return for an away game against Cadiz on the 28th.
