Cho Kyu-sung, who was thrust into the spotlight last year for his tremendous performance, seems to be under a lot of pressure to perform in a difficult situation for his team.

Jeonbuk Hyundai lost 0-1 to the Pohang Steelers in the 15th round of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 at Steelyard. This ended Jeonbuk’s four-match unbeaten streak.

Acting head coach Kim Doo-hyun once again sent Cho Kyu-sung to the starting lineup. Last season’s top scorer in the K League 1 and a star of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Jo Kyu-sung was highly sought after in the winter transfer window, with some even talking about a move to Europe. In addition to his skills, his good looks made him even more popular. He recently returned to Jeonbuk after suffering a thigh injury early in the season that sidelined him for a while 토토사이트.

During his absence, Jeonbuk suffered a slump that led to the departure of head coach Kim Sang-sik. After Kim Doo-hyun took over, the defense improved, but the offense was still disappointing. Jeonbuk fans had high hopes that the return of Cho Kyu-sung would solve the problem. Against Suwon FC, Cho made his comeback after two months and looked heavy. He took three shots, but none were on target.

He started again against Pohang. To spread the pressure on Cho, Jeonbuk put Hapa Silva directly below him and deployed the speedy Moon Sun-min and Lee Dong-joon on either side. Jeonbuk fans had high hopes that the team would do something this time, but Pohang was also silent. Even when Moon Sun-min and Lee Dong-joon broke through, they were unable to finish in the center.

Just like against Suwon FC, we didn’t seem to be in the best shape. There were quite a few mistakes and the team was lacking in physical battles and aerial battles, which are their strengths. With Cho Kyu-sung blocked, Jeonbuk’s offense stalled. Acting coach Kim Doo-hyun brought on Song Min-gyu at the start of the second half and later added Gustavo to maximize the attack. Jeonbuk attacked onslaught but failed to create any threatening chances.

Cho Kyu-sung didn’t just stay up front, dropping down to the second line to receive the ball and get involved in the play. Despite his efforts, no goals were scored. His shot on goal was blocked by Hwang In-Jae, and just like in the first half, he was hampered by poor touch. Jeonbuk lost 0-1 after conceding a goal to Ko Young-joon.

Cho Kyu-sung requested a Mixzone interview to ask him about his current physical condition and his will to overcome the current situation. Normally, you can catch a player leaving the Mix Zone and interview him, but Pohang had to ask the away team’s officials in advance due to the stadium conditions. The reason for this is that the two clubs have different exit routes.

A Jeonbuk official said, “Cho Kyu-sung told us that it was difficult to get an interview.” Unless there’s something special going on, they accept all Mixzone interview requests, but Cho Kyu-sung refused. It’s a sign that he’s under a lot of pressure.

Acting manager Kim Doo-hyun showed his support for Cho Kyu-sung’s situation in the post-match press conference, saying, “We’re going to make him more comfortable.” Jeonbuk’s next match is a Hyundai derby against Ulsan Hyundai. As the overwhelming sole leader, Ulsan seems to have the upper hand, but rivalry matches are always unpredictable. This could be a turning point for Cho Kyu-sung, who is under a lot of pressure. Will we see the same Cho Kyu-sung we know in the Hyundai Derby?