“I want to give 3 points to our fans who welcome us like this as soon as possible.”
Jesse Lingard (Seoul), the “K-League’s best star” from the English Premier League (EPL), said this. 스포츠토토
Seoul tied Incheon United 0-0 in the second round home opening match of Hana One Q K League 1 2024 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 10th.
Lingard, who has been drawing attention every day by “surprise joining” Seoul, played as a substitute for two consecutive games and played on the ground.
The stadium attracted 51,670 spectators, the highest number in the K League, since the 2018 paid spectators were counted.
Many fans visited Sangambeol to appreciate Lingard’s “play in a different dimension.”
Even with only 20 minutes left before kickoff, there was a 50-meter-long queue in front of the Lingard uniform sales booth. Some fans reportedly purchased uniforms that took four hours.
Lingard told a news conference after the game, “I felt very welcomed and loved from the first day I arrived at the airport,” adding, “I was able to adapt to the K-League faster than I thought because of the support. He is a great help to me in training and playing games with confidence.”
“I want to show better performances as soon as possible so that fans feel happier,” he said, adding, “I want to give fans 3 points as soon as possible.”
Unlike the first round in the 31st minute of the second half, Lingard stepped on the ground in the early 30th minute of the first half of the day.
Every single play he made impressed 50,000 spectators. However, most of the cheers that erupted on the day were expressing regret rather than awe.
This is the first time Lingard has held a press conference after the game in the K League.
He answered the questions calmly and sincerely. He did not shy away from questions about his disappointing performance and gave sincere answers.
“It was a game that we could have won or lost. I didn’t create many chances, but it’s just the beginning,” Lingard said. “I think I need to raise my confidence personally and overall.”
Seoul coach Kim Ki-dong, who held a press conference earlier, pointed out that Lingard looked exhausted in the second half.
Lingard acknowledged this, saying, “As the director said, you need to build up your body a little more. I think it’s natural that your body hasn’t been made 100% yet because you haven’t been able to play 90 minutes for a very long time. Sooner or later, you will have the physical strength to play 90 minutes.”
At the same time, he said, “As more than 50,000 fans came in today, I felt less tired because I received a lot of energy. Cheering gave me a lot of strength.”
Lingard also lost a crucial scoring opportunity in the last minute.
Lingard’s right-footed non-stop shot from the front of the goal area, which Kang Sung-jin gave away from the right side, soared above the net.
He looked at the lawn for a while and looked sorry.
When asked about the scene, Lingard smiled awkwardly and said, “Kang Sung-jin’s pass was perfect. I knew that the pass would come in at that time, so my movement matched perfectly.”
“However, as the ball bounced right before shooting, the shooting failed to continue as I thought. This is something I have to adapt to,” he explained.
Lingard said, “Even if you make mistakes, you have to keep trying. That way, we can be a better team. You can’t let that mistake affect your confidence in leading the game.”
When asked how he felt about the K-League after playing two games, Lingard replied, “I think it’s a very competitive league.”
“I’m experiencing a very fast and strong league physically,” he said. “Tactically, there is something different from what I’ve been doing in football, so I think I have to adapt to this part faster.”
Meanwhile, the British branch of the global sports magazine The Athletic and British Daily Mail reporters covered the game and attended a press conference to show British fans’ interest in “Lyngaard’s Seoul life.”