Hwang Hee-chan (29, Wolverhampton) is injured again.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will face Manchester United at 10 p.m. (Korea time) on the 20th in the 33rd round of the 2024-2025 season Premier League.
Wolverhampton has struggled severely this season, hovering close to the relegation zone throughout the season. Eventually, the club appointed coach Vitor Pereira during the season to change the management, and after a 2-1 victory against Southampton on March 16, they have secured wins against West Ham United (1-0), Ipswich Town (2-1), and Tottenham Hotspur (4-2), achieving four consecutive league victories.
The next opponent is 14th place Manchester United. If Wolverhampton manages to defeat Manchester United, they can overtake 15th place Tottenham Hotspur (37 points) and climb to 15th place.
The problem is that Hwang Hee-chan has fallen injured again.
On the 19th, before the match, Wolverhampton shared an interview with Coach Pereira through the club's official website.
Coach Pereira noted, "Jean-Rickner Bellegarde, Matt Doherty, and Hwang Hee-chan are all attempting to return. It's not a serious injury, but they are trying to come back to help us. We have one more training session, and after that, we will decide about their participation."
He continued, "Hwang Hee-chan felt discomfort in his muscles before the last match. He seemed fine over the weekend, so we played him, but he still had pain, and the medical team is helping with his recovery. We need to monitor the situation more tomorrow."
The coach stated, "This week was really good. We had a bit of relaxation, but we continued training for team development. The energy was great, and the connection with the fans was fantastic. The reason I enjoy being with the fans on the field is that I can see happy smiles on people's faces. Ultimately, I returned home, but I enjoyed that moment."
Pereira mentioned, "Last week, after the match against Ipswich, the training atmosphere felt a bit loose for a day, but we immediately talked and corrected that mood. There was none of that feeling this week. The players are very focused and know that we have a lot to do. We are an ambitious team. We will fight to the best of our ability in every match until the end."
He added, "Our goal is always to do our best, fight for points in every match, and maintain our team's identity whether attacking or defending. This team spirit is the result of what we created together. The players have absorbed the coach's ethos. I always want more—better football, more evolved play."
He also discussed Manchester United's dramatic victory in the UEFA Europa League. Manchester United won 5-4 against Olympique Lyon in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League held at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on the 18th, coming back from a 2-0 lead to being behind 2-4, but ultimately turning the game around to win 5-4.
Coach Pereira said, "Old Trafford was truly fantastic. Of course, the traffic was the worst. Still, it was a perfect game that made me think, 'This is football.' It was an emotional game, and I love things like this."
He continued, "It was a really big win, and victories like this bring confidence. The Manchester United we will face will be a much more confident team. But as I've said from the start, the important thing is not Manchester United, but us."
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