[골닷컴, 카타르 알에글라] Journalist Kim Hyeong-joong = Korea national football team coach Paulo Bento gave a press conference after the loss to Ghana.
Bento held a press conference on the 29th at 22:00 (Korean time) at the “Hana Bank Korea House” located at the Al Egla training site at the national team training ground.
The national team lost 2-3 in the second leg of Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Group H qualifiers against Ghana on the 28th. South Korea conceded two goals first and showed the potential to rally until a draw , but lost by conceding the third goal. Until the end of the match they continued to attack, aiming for another draw, but they failed.
Soon after the match ended, manager Bento forcefully appealed to referee Anthony Taylor who blew the final whistle without conceding a corner kick. Referee Taylor immediately issued a red card and was sent off. For this reason, coach Bento was not allowed to sit on the bench in the third match against Portugal. Coach Sergio, who attended the official press conference after the match, expressed dissatisfaction saying: “The referee has responded to a legitimate protest.”
In response, Bento held a press conference. First he apologized to the players. He then expressed his determination to prepare well for the match against Portugal and show what a good team is. He said that he would decide to participate after seeing Kim Min-jae’s physical condition.
The following is a question and answer from Director Bento.
What was the appeal against Ghana and did you know you were going to be deported?
I want to apologize to the players. I will help the team, but yesterday’s reaction was not good. I came out like this because I am also a person, but the referee was a Premier League referee, but he lacked respect. He looked right in the first half, but not in the second. I’m sorry to the players because it’s not a good look.
How will you prepare for the game against Portugal when you can’t sit on the bench?
Not being able to sit on the bench is not a good situation, but I take full responsibility for it. It’s not an optimal situation, but our team knows what to do. I will prepare to show everything because I have time to prepare for the next game and recover. It will show you what a good team and a good organization is. I will prepare many things.
Will there be a new starter for the match against Portugal?
You have to look at it as a whole. If there is a change, it is a change to the starting 11. By doing a good opponent analysis, we hide our weaknesses and show our strengths. As a result, changes to your selection may occur. But since there is still time, the final decision will be made at the last minute.
Is Hwang Hee-chan suitable for the third game? How is Kim Min-jae’s physical condition?
Two different situations with the two players. Kim Min-jae played many matches before the tournament. He has played in all matches, including Serie A and the Champions League. Even after the injury he showed a spirit of sacrifice and will. I tried to play as much as possible in the match against Ghana. Hwang Hee-chan finds himself in a different situation. I haven’t played many games at the club. I suffered a minor injury in a match on the 6th but attended the Carabao Cup just before the roster was announced. I ran with the risk. I guess I’ll have to watch it because I still have some time. Both players are in different situations, but I’ll decide after seeing.
Lee Kang-in is running after having no chance. was he in the plan?
Lee Kang-in is a player who has been watching for a long time. After the 2019 Asian Cup, I was selected even though I didn’t make many appearances for Valencia. He is a player without a doubt. I developed it and observed and analyzed it continuously. I decided not only to look at the club but also to see what he did with us. He’s doing well with the club and has been showing good ability for a month or two before the World Cup. He was useful to us and we chose him with a happy heart.
If Kim Min-jae is unable to play, are you considering other tactics such as a three-man defense?
Not.
I can’t sit on the bench against Portugal, how will you communicate, for example a substitution order?
I won’t because I can’t communicate due to regulations. The other coaching staff is competent. Team training is also underway, and of course it may not be the same as me, but they are competent personnel.
Portugal is a game to be won. What do you think is one of the most important factors?
It takes a lot to win against a team like Portugal. Yesterday’s match showed many positive points, but that’s not enough. Football is like life. We understand this and we have to react to difficult situations as a team. I think the results are not justified because I did a lot yesterday. The match against Portugal has to be pushed to the limit. Errors should be investigated as much as possible. The second goal was the biggest mistake and the other goal was unlucky. He reached for the hand and the second ball became a goal. It was unfortunate. The opponent has individual skills and is a good team, so you have to push your limits as much as possible.
Regardless of the result, what kind of football would you like to hear Bentuho play?
Football has a part that leads to results. People will have opinions. I don’t have much impact. What is clear is that the way we think about the team and the players will not change. It’s not right to just look at the results. It is correct to see both the process and the results that the team has achieved through a long process. There have been difficult situations along the way. It can be said that the national team has known how to play with a different style. I will play this type of football taking the maximum risk against a strong team. I will pour everything into the preparation.
