[골닷컴, 서귀포] Reporter Kim Hyeong-joong = K-League 1 Jeju United have been fighting a tough battle since the start of the season. There is a big reason why several key players have fallen due to injuries. At this level, he could be called an injured demon.
Jeju lost 1-2 in the 2023 Hana One QK 1 Round 4 home match against FC Seoul held at the Jeju World Cup Stadium at 4:30pm on the 18th. After conceding the opening goal, they equalized in extra time in the second half, but failed to gain a point by conceding another goal shortly before the end of the game.
What is more painful than the result of the game is the news of an injury to the main defender Jeong Woon. During the first half of the first half of the ball fight with Na Sang-ho, Jeong-woon had a problem with his hamstring. He kicked the ball safely, but caught the back of his thigh and collapsed, immediately indicating that he could no longer run. In the end, he was taken out on a stretcher and replaced by Song Joo-hoon to finish the game.
It’s a series of nightmares for director Nam Ki-il. In Jeju’s opening game against Suwon FC, Choi Young-joon, who was appointed captain this season, fell out due to a knee injury. A cruciate ligament tear has been ruled out, and a long-term hiatus is inevitable. Following this, Lee Chang-min, who is in charge of midfield with Choi Young-joon, centre-backs Lim Chae-min and Yeon Je-woon, who were ambitiously recruited this season, and Han Jong-moo, ‘young blood’, also shrinking from their power. In the match against Incheon United in the third round, striker Jin Seong-wook was substituted due to a hamstring injury. The timing of their return is currently uncertain.
Coach Nam Ki-il sighed in a meeting with reporters before the game, saying, “I’ve only played three games this season, but I think I’ve played a lot already.” “When you prepare for the season and prepare for the game, sick players come out. He is also injured on the field. The crisis came from the start of the season.”
In this situation, even Jung-woon collapsed, and the composition of the lineup to play in the game was also disrupted. In Jeju, which uses a back three, the current center back resources are Kim O-gyu, Kim Joo-won, and Song Joo-hoon. If even one of them is injured, it is not easy to organize the defense. This is the reason why coach Nam Ki-il gave a deep sigh when Jeong-woon was injured in the game.
After the 4th round, Jeju is still in the bottom ranks with only 2 points without a win. However, thanks to the A game break, I had two weeks’ time. During this time, players can recover as much as possible and return to a normal state.
Jeju calls Ulsan Hyundai home in the 5th round on the 1st of next month. Then, Gangwon FC and Suwon Samsung will have a guillotine game to escape the bottom ranks. It is necessary to accumulate as many points as possible in these three games to overcome the difficulties at the beginning of this season.
