2017 K League 2 Busan I-Park Debut
Coach Cho encouraged “You should watch the World Cup too”
2018 Asian Games as an opportunity to become a defender
▲ Kim Moon-hwan answers questions from reporters at a press conference held at the Al-Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar on the 18th (local time).
Doha Yonhap News
“In 2017, coach Jinho Cho said, ‘Shouldn’t you also play in the World Cup? After he made the final list, the words came to his mind.”
Korean national soccer team defender Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), who will step on the World Cup stage for the first time, told the world why he was able to participate in the World Cup as a member of the Korean national soccer team at a press conference held at the Al Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar on the 18th (local time). He said it was because of the gift he left. Coach Paulo Bento brought Kim Moon-hwan to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as a right-back fullback. Kim Moon-hwan, who played as a striker, turned to a defender with the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games in 2018.
He said, “After changing positions, I never thought I would come to the World Cup. He said that switching to a fullback really helped a lot,” and expressed his determination, saying, “I think the World Cup is an opportunity that will never come again, so I am preparing differently.”
Then, I remembered the late director Cho Jin-ho. Kim Moon-hwan made his professional debut in 2017 at K-League 2 Busan I-Park, which was led by manager Cho Jin-ho. However, in October of the same year, director Cho passed away from a heart attack.
When asked about preparations for the World Cup, Kim Moon-hwan said, “I came to Qatar and am slowly improving my condition. The time difference has almost adjusted, so I am trying to show a more active and good appearance during training.”
▲ On the 18th (local time), Moonhwan Kim is training at the Al Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar.
Doha Yonhap News
He also revealed his desire to go out as a starter and compete with a world-class player. Kim Moon-hwan said, “I want to play against Portugal’s Joao Cancelo (Manchester City). Regarding the situation where the importance of defense is increasing against strong teams, Kim Moon-hwan said, “(The day before) we had a meeting about the defensive part. In a pressure situation, each player took a position individually, and talked about how to block the opponent more efficiently.” “The team as a whole is more concerned about the defensive part. The players also talk a lot, and the coach also talks a lot.”
Doha Reporter Kim Dong-hyun