Seoul: FC Seoul's head coach, Kim Gi-dong, expressed the importance of learning from their recent 7-3 defeat against FC Barcelona, encouraging his players to draw valuable lessons from the experience. The match, held at Seoul World Cup Stadium, saw Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scoring twice for the visiting team, while Cho Young-wook, Yazan Al-Arab, and Jung Han-min netted goals for FC Seoul in front of a crowd of over 62,000 fans.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Gi-dong acknowledged the challenge posed by facing a world-class team and admitted dissatisfaction with conceding multiple goals but emphasized the educational aspect of the encounter. He noted Barcelona's ability to maintain rhythm and create space, highlighting the need for his team to adopt a similar style of play in the future.

Kim also praised the talent of Barcelona's Yamal, who not only scored twice but also assisted in Robert Lewandowski's first goal. Despite being impressed by Yamal's skills, Kim stated that if given a choice, he would prefer the 2022 FIFA World Cup version of Lionel Messi for a single match due to Messi's versatility in creating chances.

During the pre-match talk, Kim prepared his team for a challenging game, referencing former South Korean captain Park Ji-sung as a model of hard work and determination. He encouraged his players to aim for a strong performance regardless of the result, using the game as a benchmark for their development.

In particular, Kim highlighted the performance of team captain Jesse Lingard, a former Manchester United player. Lingard played a significant role in motivating his teammates, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the opportunity to compete against top-tier opponents and continuing his positive influence on the team both on and off the field.