Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of Ulsan Hyundai, a professional soccer team, said that he did not change his opinion about the public criticism of Japanese midfielder Jun Amano, who moved to Jeonbuk Hyundai.
Coach Hong started a press conference at the 2023 K-League Winter Battery Training Media Camp held at the Lotte City Hotel in Ulsan today (16th) and said, “There is a problem that has become a problem for us these days, but I I have revealed my thoughts and there is no change in that thought.” he said.
Amano was loaned to Ulsan from Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan last season and scored 9 goals and 1 assist in 30 K-League 1 games, helping Ulsan rise to the top of the league in 17 years.
However, after last season, the contract extension with Ulsan failed, and before this season, the original team, Yokohama, moved to Jeonbuk again on loan.
In a press conference on the 11th, coach Hong Myung-bo expressed dissatisfaction with the transfer process of Amano’s team and criticized him heavily.
At the time, coach Hong said, “When I first talked to you, money was not important, but in the end, I moved to Jeonbuk because of money.”
Amano refuted the following day at the Jeonbuk club’s media camp, saying, “Ulsan has never made a position (discussion) with sincere thoughts. So I accepted that I had no intention of signing a contract.”
He said, “It’s true that I told coach Hong that I would stay in Ulsan. However, Ulsan made a formal offer to me in Jeonbuk and then set up a meeting.”
In response, Ulsan released two A4 sheets of material after Hong’s press conference to explain the negotiation process with Amano and refute Amano’s claim.
As for Amano’s words, “We have never formally spoken about the contract,” said Ulsan, “Director Hong Myung-bo, coaches, and the secretariat discussed a complete transfer or an extension of a loan transfer with Amano in July, October , and November of last year. We have reached an agreement. Furthermore, we have reached a mutual agreement on the salary and conditions, and a second offer was sent to Yokohama on November 3rd.”
Ulsan also said, “On October 31 last year, we submitted a lease extension proposal to Yokohama after completing the personal agreement with the club and the player, and on November 4, we submitted a personal contract to Amano according to the agreement. pictured.” From July last year, coach Hong, coaches Ikeda and Kwang-soo Cho, and the club’s secretariat went out to hold meetings with the player for Amano’s stay.”
Director Hong, who stood in front of the media again after hearing Amano’s story, emphasized, “I did the press conference earlier, knowing everything about the contract process with Amano.”
As for coach Hong’s criticism of Amano, when he said there was a debate about whether he had personally attacked the player, he said, “I never made a personal attack.”
Coach Hong said, “I played in Japan for 5 years. I have many friends and a coach I respect in Japan. “I thought about it. It didn’t work out as a result, but I didn’t attack him personally.”
(Photo = Provided by Korea Professional Football Federation, Yonhap News)
