Coach Stielike ‘aims for best team, seeks to charm soccer fans’

“We came to Australia to become the best team.”

Uli Stielike, the Korean national team coach, showed strong determination. At a press conference on Friday ahead of the first Group A match of the Asian Cup against Oman, which will take place at Canberra Stadium at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Stielike stressed, “Korean soccer needs change. It should play soccer that fascinates soccer fans who are watching.”

The upcoming event is the Asian Cup that poses big burden to Stielike. Having taken the helm of the national team in September last year, he is embracing the giant event even before getting the opportunity to set the framework for change. Many Korean soccer fans, including officials of the Korean Soccer Association, wish to see Korea win the Asian Cup title to achieve a new leap forward of Korean soccer. He is facing the daunting task of Korea clinching this championship for the first time in 55 years.

Stielike said, “Everything is going well. We have no player with injuries, and players are highly spirited. We have completed preparations for a match against Oman.” Asked how he will use Son Heung-min (23, Bayer Leverkusen), the coach said, “When it comes to soccer, nothing can be done individually. We have come here not to produce the best player, but to become the best team,” in emphasizing anew the importance of teamwork. He said, “I don’t feel any burden due to the fact Korea has never won the title for 55 years. It is time to take on challenge again. All players are endeavoring to win the title.”

The coaches of Japan, the winner of the previous event, and Iran, teams that are considered candidates for the best four teams, also have many agonies. Japan, which is Korea’s perpetual rival, also has strong aspiration to acquire its fifth title of the championship overall. After being eliminated in the group league of last year’s World Cup in Brazil, Japan recruited Coach Javier Aguirre, who hails from Mexico, and is seeking transformation. However, Aguirre, who must lead Team Japan to championship for two consecutive Asian Cup events, is facing an embarrassing situation due to his alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal while serving as coach for the Real Zaragoza of Spain in the 2010-2011 season.

According to Iran coach Carlos Queiroz , Iran has not made any progress at all since its elimination in the group league at the World Cup in Brazil and the situation turned from bad to worse. He has been leading the Iranian national team since 2011, but the national team is lacking support from the Iranian soccer association. In contrast, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou is gearing up to secure the team’s easy first championship title in its home turf.