Pohang Steelers coach Kim Ki-dong is pleased that foreign players who have been sidelined with injuries have shown a desire to help the team in any way they can. As much as he would like to let them go, he still cares about them.
Pohang has lost two foreign players who have been key cogs throughout the season at this crucial time of the season. Wandelsson, the left flanker, and Oberdan, the core of the midfield, are out. The departure of Wandelsson, who can play both fullback and wing, and Oberdan, who has tremendous physical strength and intelligent midfield possession, is more than a loss of two players in Pohang’s situation. The timing of the departures is also bad, and Kim is bound to have a headache.
Even while injured, Wandelsson and Oberdan have made no secret of their desire to contribute to Pohang. Pohang believes that the two players are effectively out for the season, but they are showing that they want to play one last game.
Kim told reporters about the players’ attitudes at the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 Final media day held at the Line Tree Locus Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on Nov. 18. “Wandelsson told me before the surgery that he would play with a mask on. Even Wandelson’s wife told him to play as soon as possible, asking if he was going to rest with such an injury,” Kim laughed.
“It was serious enough that he had to have surgery, but he’s determined to come back. So he’s been jogging. He said he’ll play the last one or two games, and he even asked me to find him a mask because he wants to play,” Kim said of Wandelsson.
Kim, however, wants nothing but goodwill. “In our case, what would Wandelsson do if he played one or two games? It’s harder for foreign players to build up their bodies. So I want to rest him,” Kim said.
Oberdan also reportedly jokingly told Kim through his best friend Zeca that he was fine. “I was talking to Zeca about Oberdan the other day, and he asked me, ‘Are you alive? He said that if it were him, he might be dead,” Kim laughed. Kim was worried about Oberdan’s health and asked him how he was doing, but he jokingly replied that he was fine.
It remains to be seen whether the two players will play or not, but Kim is grateful for their sincerity as they apologize for not being able to contribute to the team at a crucial time and want to recover quickly. 먹튀검증
However, he vowed to find a breakthrough. “This year, we haven’t played without Oberdan,” Kim said, “but we have to turn the team around even without him. Complaining and worrying won’t solve the problem. It’s difficult, but it’s the coach who has to find a solution in the given situation.” He said he would find a way.
Meanwhile, Pohang, led by Kim, will play Hanawon at 7:30 p.m. on the 20th at the Pohang Steelyard.