Milton keynes: Even as South Korean football star Son Heung-min struggles to find the back of the net this season, national team head coach Hong Myung-bo remains unfazed by the situation. Hong expressed confidence in his 33-year-old captain, who has yet to score a goal from open play in nine matches for Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) this season.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hong believes Son will eventually end his goal drought. "He has a clear understanding of his role. It's really important for us to determine the right moment when Son can optimize his strengths," Hong told reporters during a training session at MK Dons training ground in Milton Keynes. Despite Son's current struggles, Hong emphasized that his past performances alleviate any concerns.
South Korea is set to face Ivory Coast in a friendly match on Saturday, followed by a game against Austria in Vienna next Tuesday. These matches mark the beginning of South Korea's World Cup year, with the team preparing to face Mexico, South Africa, and a European playoff winner in the group stage in June.
Although Son has shown his playmaking abilities for LAFC, he has only managed to score one penalty goal, raising concerns about a potential decline in his career at a critical time for South Korea. Adding to the challenge, Son has been feeling unwell recently, and coach Hong hinted at a possible position change for him.
Hong mentioned the presence of in-form strikers like Oh Hyeon-gyu from Besiktas and Cho Gue-sung from FC Midtjylland, suggesting Son might be utilized on the wing. Furthermore, Hong addressed the condition of two injured Europe-based players, Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Jens Castrop of Borussia Monchengladbach, noting improvements in their recovery.
With the World Cup less than three months away, Hong stressed the importance of building confidence through victories in these preparatory matches. He also noted that the current squad is not final, indicating that players not present may still have a chance to make the World Cup team. The final selection will be determined in May, based on player performances.