Even if you are a favorite to win, there are variables.
Seoul SK began work in September 2021. They won the cup competition held during that period, and dominated both the 2021-2022 regular league and playoffs. Achieved the treble crown.
However, preparation for the 2022-2023 season was not easy. Because we went to the championship game for the 2021-2022 season, there was little time to prepare for the 2022-2023 season. In addition, there was a 60-day group training ban, so the players did not have enough time to prepare their bodies.
Nevertheless, SK was evaluated as a candidate to win the 2022-2023 season. This is because the domestic player MVP duo of Kim Seon-hyung (187cm, G) and Choi Jun-yong (200cm, F) was alive and well, and Jamil Warney (199cm, C), a solid foreign player, also accompanied SK.
However, SK coach Jeon Hee-cheol was worried. In an interview with this magazine in the 2022 off-season, “I know that there are many people who have a high opinion of our team’s strength. However, the realistic goal we can achieve is the semifinals. “We have to think about the situation after the semifinals after the semifinals,” he said. Aim far lower than other people’s expectations.
There was a reason. It was because of the EASL (East Asian Super League). SK, the 2021-2022 winning team, qualified for the EASL along with Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation. During the 2022-2023 season, they had to compete against teams from other countries home and away.
They had to play at least 6 more games than teams not participating in the EASL. The break between games due to EASL was also short. The physical burden on the players could have been great. SK coach Jeon Hee-cheol was very worried about that.
However, EASL did not take place in the 2022-2023 season. COVID-19 has not completely disappeared. So, EASL held a short-term competition in Japan in March 2023. For that reason, SK was able to catch its breath. SK took a breather and ran ferociously from the second half of the regular season. Achieved ‘advance to the championship game for the first two seasons in a row’.
However, SK is considering the same problem in the summer of 2023. Since they are the runner-up team in the 2022-2023 season, they must participate in the 2023-2024 EASL. Since EASL will be held normally this time, SK will have to worry about many things. Since this is the first time traveling overseas during the season, SK’s concerns may be greater.토토사이트
SK coach Jeon Hee-cheol also said, “After the home opening game, we will play 10 consecutive away games. You also have to digest EASL in the meantime. In any case, we have to play more games than other teams. “I think the players will endure, but it will definitely be physically difficult,” he said, worrying about physical strength issues.
Of course, SK coach Jeon Hee-cheol did not set his goals low. “There are so many things to consider in the regular league. Still, if we finish in fourth place, I think we will be able to advance to the championship match,” he said, expressing confidence.
However, “when faced with difficulties, one should not be overloaded. “You have to endure it while controlling it well,” he said, focusing on the words ‘overload’ and ‘adjustment.’ Since they had to play more games than other teams, they seemed to pay more attention to the word ‘adjustment’.