Interview: FC Anyang's Michael Kim "We Have To Win!"

FC Anyang Assistant Manager Michael Kim (above, centre) is no stranger to his team's opponents for this Saturday's K League 2 Round 5 clash with Daejeon Citizen having spent over two and a half years with the Purples, including a spell as caretaker manager. After talking during pre-season K League United caught up with the Michael to discuss Saturday's match as well as how things are going for the Violets.
(Image via FC Anyang)


It's not the first time you have faced Daejeon since you left so, as far as you're concerned, it's business as usual?

Yeah, we haven't got off to the best of starts; we have two draws and some losses but have to break this non-winning streak. I think it is a big game for us, it is definitely a big game for Daejeon. They have just won and will want to maintain it. For us, we need to break the cycle and make it our first win.

I think it's going to be an interesting game. We both have a lot to lose because even Daejeon, they've got a few games under their belt that they've won but it's so close right now. One game will push you right back into the fight again so we'll see what happens.

Last time we spoke you mentioned that as a club you like to do your homework so do you feel you have watched enough of Daejeon and feel prepared?

We have watched a lot of games of all of our opponents but I think right now we're more concerned about us and we have to get certain things in order for us, especially tactically and organisation-wise on the pitch - we want to sort those out first. We did an analysis on Daejeon but it's not like we don't know them, but more importantly we have done more homework on us this week.

Tactics-wise, last time out it was a 4-3-3, given that you're at home do you think that will still be the case moving forward?

The formation that we played last game was a 4-3-3 and the only reason we did that is we wanted to put more numbers in the midfield. Obviously, we were playing against a team (Suwon FC) that are quick on the wings and we wanted to make sure that if our wingers were caught out of place that we'd have people in the midfield to cover up for them so that they don't have the burden to sprint back to their position - that's the only reason we played a flat 4-3-3.  We originally play a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, but we're talking about numbers here - it really doesn't matter. I think importantly it is about our shape and how well the players perform out there.

What's the mood like amongst the players at the moment?

The mood is okay. Obviously, the player are a little frustrated because some of the games, if you look at the numbers, the ball possession against Ansan Greeners was 60/40. We had 16 shots, they had eight and we had eight on goal while they had four and then we still lost 2-1. Unfortunately, we gave up a penalty which kind of tipped the scale a little bit but aside from that we played a half-decent game there and, at the end of the day, we didn't get the result we wanted. It's a little frustrating, results matter. And we need those three points because if we aren't collecting these points then the gap is going to start getting wider and it's going to be a lot more difficult.

You're at home, you're going for the three points. Daejeon beat Gwangju away last time so they'll be thinking they can get the three points, how do you see the game playing out?

To be honest with you, with Daejeon if they draw and leave then I think they've done their job - take away a point. But it's very important for us to break the cycle, as I said before, we have to win and we have to go forward with this one.

Michael during his time with Daejeon pictured in 2013

(Image via DCFC)

When we spoke last time, before the season started, you said that you thought Daejeon would come out stronger this year. They've had a couple of wins so far and have signed a lot of players, do you still see that as being the case?

To be honest, before the season started, you know what players they've got but you don't know what the chemistry is going to be, and how they are going to come out and play, and how well they're going to work together. We've played a few games, we've watched a few games with all of the teams that we've seen we kind of get the gist of where they're coming from and what they're capable of doing.

Daejeon, to be honest with you, everybody is similar right now - they're a half decent side. I don't know if they're going to get to the playoffs or not but they have a little bit of a mix of the young and the old with some name-value players like Oh Jangeun and players like that but, to be honest I don't know how well they'll do. I think they're a half decent side so maybe mid-table. That's what I can see for now but who knows? You don't know what's going to happen in the second half of the season.

Football, sometimes it doesn't matter how well you play. For instance, Daejeon played against Gwangju and they got a little lucky with the red card and right after they scored on the set piece so it was a little unlucky for Gwangju but this is the way football is played. They (Daejeon) capitalise on their chance and they win the game so you got to give them a thumbs up for that one.

The Daejeon fans aren't too pleased at the moment with the way that the club is being run, attendances have been very low but for the team to be successful the fans need to get behind the team, don't you think?

Yeah, for the good or the bad true fans get behind their team regardless. I was there at Daejeon, the song is "together we laugh, together we cry", well regardless I think that it's important the fans support the club because regardless of how its run or what they do I don't think they can appease everybody. Within what they can do, they are trying to do the best for the club I think. I think it was the same thing when I was at Daejeon, there's always going to be complaints about something. The most important thing is the during that time just to gel together and see if we can make something out of it.

Full preview of FC Anyang Vs Daejeon Citizen: here