“(Lee) asked me to go with him (to Hangzhou) and make sure we get a good result.”
While the question of whether Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain-PSG) will be replaced by Hwang Sun-hong has become a major topic of discussion in the soccer world, his “best friend” Uhm Won-sang (Ulsan) said.
Lee was named in the final squad announced more than two months before the Hangzhou Asian Games.
However, the Asian Games are not compulsory for athletes to be included in the roster, so it remains to be seen if Lee will actually be able to join his teammates in Hangzhou for the ‘golden challenge’.
While PSG’s intention to send Lee is unclear, the good news is that Lee himself seems to have a clear desire to go to Hangzhou.
Uhm Won-sang is two years younger than Lee and the two have formed a friendship, competing together at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“When the final list came out and I got in touch with Lee Kang-in, we knew each other very well about what we wanted to achieve, and Lee Kang-in is also attaching great importance to this goal,” Uhm Won-sang told reporters before the Hwang Sun-hongho call-up training at the Paju NFC (National Football Team Training Center) on the 25th. “He said to me, ‘Let’s go together and achieve good results.
Uhm Won-sang and Lee Kang-in first attempted to win an all-around medal at the Tokyo Olympics, where the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
“All of our teammates and coaches have the same goal (gold), and we know how important this competition is,” said Uhm Won-sang, encouragingly, “I think we’ll be able to overcome difficult situations.”
“I don’t have to tell you, everyone knows that Lee Kang-in is a very good player. If he joins our team, it will be a very positive factor,” he said, adding, “I think it’s my role to help him do well (if he joins the team).”
Uhm Won-sang was sent home early after Hwang tore ankle ligaments in an away exhibition match against China last month.
After focusing on rehabilitation for a while, he returned to the field as a substitute in a K League 1 match last weekend.
Uhm Won-sang said, “I’m not back to full strength. I’m still cautious,” he said, but added, “The injury healed faster than I thought.”
“Although I was unfortunately injured, I am very positive that I was able to show the coach what I can do,” he said. “It was also a very positive trial, as I was able to experience first-hand the humid weather and grass conditions in Hangzhou.” 먹튀검증