The ghostly ‘prevention of losing streak’ is one of the specimens that proves the changed Ulsan Hyundai.
Ulsan has never fallen into a losing streak on the K-League stage since the launch of’Hongmyeong Protection’ in 2021. In the 17th round away game of ‘Hanawon Q K League 1 2023’ against Suwon FC held at Suwon Sports Complex on the 6th, they trailed 0-1, but after the middle of the second half, they scored 3 goals (Martin Adam, Joo Min-gyu, Bakko) and won 3-1 come-from-behind. , escaped from the pain of losing the previous Jeonbuk Hyundai War.토토사이트
Ulsan had two consecutive games without a win (1 draw and 1 loss). In particular, they suffered their second loss (13 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses) this season as they lost 0-2 in the 16th round against Jeonbuk, the rival of Hyundai. Although it is still a solo system, losing to a rival team had a negative impact on the squad. The aftereffects of the defeat against Jeonbuk stood out even when Yun Bit-garam allowed the opening goal in the 16th minute of the first half in the Suwon FC away game. However, as if showing off, he won a ‘reverse victory’.
Ulsan, who had 6 consecutive wins at the start of this season, stagnated with 1 draw and 1 loss in the 7th and 8th rounds, then went on to win 6 consecutive wins. And recently, in a 3-3 draw with Daejeon Hana Citizen in the opponent’s intensive check, and losing to Jeonbuk, there was a point of view that a ‘real crisis’ was coming, but it was reversed in the enemy area. Even though Kim Young-gwon (hamstring) and Park Yong-woo (ankle), the core of the defense, fell out due to injuries, they stood up like talons.
No matter how strong a team is, it is bound to face a crisis during the season. The key is how strong the internal solidarity is to overcome, and Ulsan has reached the level of crisis blocking know-how as well as its overwhelming performance this season.
Joo Min-gyu, who scored the winning goal, said, “After the Jeonbuk match, coach (Hong Myung-bo) did not make the atmosphere of the meeting heavy, but made it comfortable and gave us freedom. “I was surprised,” he said. “It seems that the players felt alert in such autonomy. So I prepared better,” he said.
Director Hong, who has experienced the commanding tower of the national team at each level, after making a comeback as a field leader through Ulsan in 2021, emphasized the importance of ‘one team’ with communication as a topic. The key was to focus on the ‘necessary words’ rather than many words. Park Joo-young, Lee Chung-yong, Kim Young-kwon and other senior staff served as bridges between the team and the coaches and made them open their mouths more. The coaching staff looked more closely at players who were not playing or were younger, reflecting the needs of the main staff.
Ulsan, which has been reborn as a true ‘one team’, broke the past ‘Jeonbuk Trauma’ and gained strength in the game, winning the K-League championship trophy for the first time in 17 years last year. The essence of the ‘one team’ was to show off the best performance while faithfully self-managing with the theme of ‘sacrifice with a purpose’ regardless of starting or non-starting.
This season, Ulsan is influencing the game by consistently playing their part even as key players alternately play as starters. In the match against Suwon FC, Esaka Ataru, who stepped on the ground after a long time, and Adam, who returned to the starting lineup after two games, scored the equalizer. In addition, Joo Min-gyu and Bako, who were put in as substitutes that day after starting against Jeonbuk, scored consecutive goals as if they had promised, leading the come-from-behind victory.
Ulsan won the championship last season with 76 points (38 matches). It has already surpassed 40 points with 41 points without turning around this season. It is being said that an early victory is possible even if the trademark “prevention of losing streak” continues.