After the second leg of the Coupang Play Series between Man City and Atletico Madrid held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 30th, a tall man in a white T-shirt stood out at the entrance of the team. Looking closely, it was former national team captain Ki Seong-yong (FC Seoul). Why did Ki Sung-yueng visit the home stadium on a day when there was no game in Seoul?
The ‘purpose of the visit’ was immediately clear. When Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, the “world-class manager,” showed up to leave work, Ki Sung-yong walked towards Guardiola. That’s how the surprise encounter happened. The two looked at each other and exchanged a few words. During the conversation, Guardiola made friendly gestures, such as stroking Ki Sung-yueng’s arm.
For eight years from 2012 to 2020, Ki Sung-yueng traveled to the English Premier League (EPL) stage as a member of Swansea City, Sunderland, and Newcastle. Among his 187 EPL matches (15 goals), there was also a direct match against Manchester City, led by Guardiola. However, to Ki Sung-yueng, Man City and Guardiola were more than the opposing team and the opposing team’s command tower. He admired Man City’s advanced football. He said that he watches Man City’s weekend games as well as Tottenham’s matches played by his close junior Son Heung-min. This is because Man City is a team that uses the most advanced and innovative tactics.
Ki Sung-yueng, who must have closely watched Rodri (Man City), the top defensive midfielder, play that day, did not forget to meet with Guardiola after the game to fill up his ‘fan spirit’. Ki Sung-yong posted a ‘two-shot’ with Guardiola on his personal SNS and said, ‘I slept all night. I want to see you longer in December. I expect the best tactical games this season as well.”
Ki Sung-yueng received leadership training (UEFA License B) in Wales last year. In order to grow into a leader like Guardiola in the future, he would have needed to meet the ‘world’s best leader’. Coach Guardiola led Man City’s’Treble (three crowns)’ in the 2022-2023 season.
Ki Sung-yueng and another K-League made a surprise visit to the match, which Atletico Madrid won 2-1, attracting attention. It was Mpoku, the representative striker of the Democratic Republic of the Congo belonging to Incheon. An Incheon official who accompanied Mpoku hinted, “I visited the stadium because of a relationship with Atletico’s Axel Witzel and Yannick Carrasco.” It is known that Mpoku has maintained a good relationship for over 10 years, even after having a meal with Bichel at the Belgian club Standard Liege in 2011. On this day, it is said that Bichel himself presented Mpoku and the team’s interpreter’s ticket as a gift.
The Coupang Play series, in which a large number of world-class masters and players participated, was of great interest not only to domestic soccer fans but also to the players. On the 26th, the K-League team, which consisted of 22 K-League players, played a friendly match against Atletico Madrid. Lee Soon-min (Gwangju)’s ‘theater goal’ in the second half won 3-2 come-from-behind.
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