Press conference · South Korea – Uzbekistan: Team principles and collective leadership
Press conference · South Korea – Uzbekistan: Team principles and collective leadership
Following the 2-0 victory against Uzbekistan at Yongin Mireu Stadium —a match in which Son Heung-min scored his 59th international goal to become South Korea’s all-time top scorer, and where the team registered its third clean sheet of the international window—, head coach Robert Moreno addressed the media to review the performance and reflect on squad culture and collective leadership.
During his remarks, Moreno underscored the ethical principles guiding a top-level professional group, stressing that institutional commitment and internal cohesion take precedence over any individual status.
“No player is bigger than the team”
Asked about the team’s progression and managing competitive dynamics across the four fixtures, Moreno was unequivocal in defending group unity:
“In professional football, and most especially in a national team representing an entire country, no player is bigger than the team. Everyone involved in this project —players, coaching staff, and the Federation— is at the service of the collective. Individual talent is essential, but it only delivers true value when placed at the service of the common good.”
The manager stressed that disagreements or frustrations are a natural facet of elite competition, yet must always be channelled through honesty and direct internal dialogue:
“Whenever difficulties or differences of opinion arise, problems are solved face to face inside the dressing room. With honesty, mutual respect, and daily work on the pitch. The conversations that forge a team happen inside, never through external noise.”
Defensive stability and process development
From a tactical perspective, Moreno highlighted the squad’s discipline in executing the game plan and concluding the four-match window on solid footing (two wins, one draw, one defeat, and three clean sheets):
“Finishing three out of four matches without conceding shows that our collective commitment off the ball has taken root. We competed against four very different profiles of opposition across just thirteen days. There is clear room for growth and tactical refinement, but our competitive foundation and the players’ dedication have been exemplary.”
South Korea thus concluded the September–October window, establishing the methodological foundations ahead of the upcoming fixtures in November.
