Al Rayyan:Seoul Robert Moreno, the interim head coach of South Korea's men's national football team, has emphasized the need for the team to improve "in every aspect" following their narrow 3-2 defeat to Saudi Arabia in a recent friendly match.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's loss to Saudi Arabia at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan marked the first such defeat in over 21 years. Despite goals from South Korean players Oh Hyeon-gyu and Lee Jae-sung in the second half, the team was unable to recover from the three goals scored by Saudi Arabia.
Moreno, who took charge as the caretaker manager in September, now holds a record of two wins, one draw, and two losses with the team. He expressed disappointment over the outcome, acknowledging that the players were eager to demonstrate their unity and progress as a team. However, defensive errors led to conceding goals that could have been avoided, highlighting areas needing improvement.
Moreno also recognized the performance of the Saudi Arabian team, noting their intense play and pressuring tactics that surpassed their previous performance in the Gulf Cup. He dismissed the criticism regarding the team's inconsistency, particularly the notion that they perform better in the second half, and defended the players' ability to apply pressure effectively.
With his contract set to end soon, Moreno's future with the team remains uncertain as the Korea Football Association had initially appointed him for a two-month term while searching for a permanent head coach. The association had indicated that Moreno might continue through the upcoming Asian Cup if the team performed well in his initial matches. However, with mixed results and the Asian Cup postponed to December 2027 due to security concerns, Moreno's tenure may not be extended.
Moreno expressed his intention to focus on immediate tasks, such as analyzing game footage to identify and address the team's issues, as he prepares for their next match against Qatar.