“I can’t wait to give the fans a three-peat.”
So said English Premier League (EPL) star Jesse Lingard (Seoul).
Seoul drew 0-0 with Incheon United in the home opener of the second round of the Hana One Q K League 1 2024 on Tuesday at 홀덤사이트 Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Lingard, who has been the talk of the town since his “surprise” arrival in Seoul, took the field as a substitute for the second straight game.
The stadium was attended by 51,670 fans, the highest number in the K League since the last paid attendance count in 2018.
Many fans traveled to Sangambeul to witness Lingard’s “next-level play.
Even with only 20 minutes left before kickoff, there was a 50-meter queue in front of the Lingard jersey sales booth. Some fans took four hours to buy a jersey.
“From the first day I arrived at the airport, I felt so welcomed and loved,” Lingard said at the post-match press conference. “Thanks to the support, I was able to adapt to the K League faster than I thought. They have been a great support for me to train and play with confidence,” he said.
“I can’t wait to show them a better performance and make them feel happier,” he said, “and I can’t wait to give them the three points.”
Lingard took the floor early in the first 30 minutes of the first round, unlike the 31-minute second round.
Each of his plays drew gasps from the 50,000 fans in attendance, but most of those gasps were more in sympathy than awe.
It was the first time Lingard had ever held a post-match press conference in the K League.
He answered questions calmly and sincerely. Even when asked about his disappointing performance, he didn’t shy away from the questions.
“It was a game that could have been won or lost,” Lingard said. We didn’t create a lot of chances, but it’s just the beginning,” he said, adding, “I think we need to be a little bit more confident, both individually and as a team.”
Earlier in the press conference, Seoul head coach Kim Ki-dong pointed out that Lingard looked tired in the second half.
Lingard acknowledged this, saying, “As the coach said, I definitely need to build up my body a bit more. I haven’t played 90 minutes for a very long time, so I think it’s natural that my body is not 100% yet. I’m sure I’ll get the fitness to play 90 minutes sooner or later.”
However, he added, “I felt less tired today because there were more than 50,000 fans who came in and gave me a lot of energy. The support really helped me,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Lingard also missed a crucial scoring chance in the final minute.
A ball from the right side of the box by Kang Sung-jin was met by Lingard with a non-stop right-footed shot from the front of the goal area that soared high over the crossbar.
He looked at the turf for a moment and looked disappointed.
When asked about the play, Lingard smiled and said, “Sungjin Kang’s pass was perfect. I knew the pass was coming at that time, so my movements were perfectly timed,” he recalls.
“But just before I shot, the ball bounced up and I didn’t get the shot I wanted. That’s something I have to adapt to,” he explained.
“Even if you make mistakes, you have to keep trying,” Lingard concluded. That’s how you become a better team. You can’t let those mistakes affect your confidence going into the game,” he said.
“I think it’s a very competitive league,” Lingard said when asked about his impressions of the K League after two games.
“Physically, I’m experiencing that it’s a very fast and strong league,” he said, adding, “Tactically, it’s a little bit different from what I’m used to in terms of soccer, so I think I need to adapt to that more quickly.”
Reporters from global sports publication The Athletic UK and the UK Daily Mail covered the match and attended the press conference, demonstrating the interest of British fans in Lingard’s life in Seoul.