“Without being intimidated, with a challenging position.”
Daejeon Hana Citizen is preparing for the 2023 season in Chonburi, Thailand. The off-season of Daejeon, which succeeded in promotion to the K-League 1 after 8 years since 2015, was more meticulous and steady than ever.
At the center of the promotion was ‘rental student’ Ju Se-jong. Wearing a Daejeon uniform on loan during last season, he participated in 19 games and scored 1 goal and 3 assists. Standing at the waist, he acted as a lubricant for the team’s offense. In particular, in the first leg of the promotion playoff (PO) with Kim Cheon, he scored a come-from-behind goal and contributed greatly to the promotion of the team.
Joo Se-jong, who met with this magazine in Chonburi, Thailand on the 19th, said, “It is an off-season to spend in Korea for the first time in a long time. It’s hard,” he laughed, “because I got promoted. Now we need to prepare part 1. I have the idea that I have to do better, more thoroughly.”
There was no problem adapting to joining during the season. Sejong Joo said, “When he joined the team, the coach really helped him adapt. And he gets along well with everyone, veterans and young players alike. So I quickly adapted,” he said. “I came to this team with the goal of promotion. When I scored a come-from-behind goal in PO, I felt really good. When promotion was confirmed, it was the most memorable moment in my football life. It was all the more so because it was the six months I ran hard.” 먹튀검증
Now it’s a reality. As a ‘challenger’, you have to knock on the door of Part 1. He, who had experience playing in the first division before Busan I-Park was demoted and FC Seoul, said, “The second division teams often rely on individual abilities rather than perfection with organizational power. Part 1 has team colors and is organized and well prepared. Last season, our team showed a solid performance as time went on, but we need to become a more competitive team.”
Emphasis was placed on basic fitness. Daejeon coach Lee Min-seong is concentrating on improving the physical strength of the players before starting tactical training in earnest. Joo Se-jong said, “I am constantly building up my stamina. That’s why it’s hard,” he said with a smile. “The director said that I should have the strength to endure. I feel like I am preparing well, following well as he said to do it.”
There are many juniors in the team who are going through the first part for the first time. Joo Se-jong gave advice to such juniors. He said, “Perhaps, as we did in Part 2, we will have less time to attack and more time to defend. We may not have a chance. In training, even one easy pass must be accurate to create a chance.”
The goal is to settle in the Final A. Ju Se-jong said, “The goal is Final A, but we must not be demoted again. And in large-scale stadiums such as Jeonbuk, Ulsan, and Seoul, where there are many spectators, you must not be shaken and do not be intimidated.”