Kim Young-kwon (33) was missed.
Professional football club Ulsan Hyundai lost 0-2 to Jeonbuk Hyundai in the 110th “Hyundai Derby” at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on 3 February. They had won the first meeting 2-1 on 25 February, but collapsed away from home in Jeonju. It was Ulsan’s second loss of the season and dropped their overall record to 40 wins, 29 draws and 41 losses.
The absence of Kim Young-kwon was felt. Kim Young-kwon, who joined Ulsan in late 2021, was responsible for the defence. He showed the stability of a national team defender. Despite being a defender, he played a key role in Ulsan’s attack with his bold forward passes. Most importantly, he was healthy. He played 36 games last year and 15 this year. However, he went down with a hamstring injury in the first 25 minutes of the 15th round match against Daejeon last month.
Ulsan’s defence faltered after Kim’s injury. They conceded three goals against Daejeon. They also conceded two goals against Jeonbuk. The solid defence they’ve shown all season has broken down. The lack of concentration in the Ulsan defence was noticeable on this day. In both goals, the defence lost sight of the opposition striker for a split second. Jung Seung-hyun came on as a substitute, but it was not enough to fill the gap. The attack was also affected. Kim Young-kwon is a defender, but he has the ability to make bold forward passes. Even when Ulsan took the initiative, their attack was not smooth. Kim Young-kwon’s absence was too much.
Jürgen Klinsmann, the national football team coach, watched the game from the sidelines. Kim has been a key resource for the national team. He has been a first-choice defender under former coach Paulo Bento. He also played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He was also a consistent starter in the two March A matches after Klinsmann’s appointment. 먹튀검증
Klinsmann’s plans for the defence require a major change. Kim Young-kwon, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, is a doubt for the June A match. He was diagnosed with muscle damage and will need time to recover. Furthermore, Kim Min-jae (27-Napoli) is away on basic military training. He is due to join the training centre on the 15th. Cho Yoo-min (27-Daejeon), a regular in the national team, is also out with an injury. A number of new faces are expected to be selected.