Kim Pan-gon, the Ulsan HD manager, vowed to show a good performance as an Asian representative at the FIFA Club World Cup, which features 32 clubs from around the world competing.
Ulsan will participate in the Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States this June. It is the only K League club to participate. Ulsan, along with Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Fluminense (Brazil), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), has a serious mission to uphold Asian pride.
Ulsan will play its first match against Sundowns on June 18, and will face Fluminense and Dortmund on the 22nd and 26th, respectively. The first match against Sundowns is crucial to progress to the round of 16.
Kim Pan-gon also shared the same sentiment. In a recent interview with FIFA, he noted, "The match against Sundowns is probably crucial. I think it’s important to see how much we can reduce the gap in points against the following matches with Fluminense and Dortmund," indicating that the outcome of the first match would determine the prospects for advancing in the tournament.
He did not hide his excitement for the Club World Cup, which expands into a mega-event with 32 clubs participating. He said, "A competition with 32 clubs in a new format will attract significant global interest. For us, it is a great opportunity to compete against world-class teams," adding, "I think we need to show a good performance to our compatriots living in the United States and our soccer fans in Korea."
Ulsan is the only Korean club participating in this tournament. There is also a symbolism in competing as an Asian representative alongside Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), and Al Ain (UAE). Kim Pan-gon said, "There is pride, but the sense of responsibility is also quite significant. Since we represent Korea and Asia, there is pressure to perform well in competition against other continents."
It is true that Asian teams have shown weaknesses in FIFA-sanctioned tournaments over the years. Many expect little to change in the Club World Cup. Kim Pan-gon stated, "Asian countries have faced a lot of difficulties in the World Cup, and I think such challenges may arise again this time." However, he projected that if Asian football properly prepares in terms of speed and technique, it may show competitive performance.
Finally, he urged for a lot of support from the field. Kim Pan-gon expressed, "I hope our compatriots in the United States will have high expectations and come to the stadium to cheer us on. We will do our best to achieve good results that instill pride and bring good performances."
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