'#GyeonginDerby:'We will do everything to try and win this game' - Stefan Mugoša

The first Gyeongin Derby of 2022 is just around the corner and Incheon United's Stefan Mugoša says that he and his teammates will be doing everything then can to get the win. But, he says, the game won't be treated differently to any other with Incheon focusing on themselves. Paul Neat caught up with Incheon United's all-time leading scorer earlier this week. 

A bullet header in the 92nd minute from Stefan Mugoša earned Incheon United the three points against Suwon Bluewings last weekend. After missing the start of the last campaign, Mugoša admits that this year he and his teammates got off to the perfect start: 

"Perfect start for me and for the team too. We are so happy, Incheon didn't win for 10 or 12 years in the first round, especially a home game. Maybe three or four days before the game someone told us this. And then I knew what we needed to do in this game."

Incheon had to work for the win, though. An early red card to Suwon's Kim Gun-hee meant the visitors were more than content with getting men behind the ball, something which resulted in a lot of sideways passing. 

"It was hard," Mugoša exclaims. Adding "it wasn't easy when 10 players stayed behind the ball and just make defence, defence, defence." Incheon, and Mugoša, remained patient and, with the help of an inch-perfect cross from newcomer Lee Yong-jae, it was 1-0.

"Finally, in the last second, I scored and I need to say thank you to my teammates to help me to score and of course, I'm so happy and glad because many fans came to the stadium and the atmosphere was very nice. I'm so happy that we won this game."

Attention now turns to a second home game in succession and the visit of FC Seoul. The Gyeongin Derby, as it is known, is usually a very tight affair. In fact, five out of the last seven meetings have been decided by a single goal. Not only that but since 2020 there have been five red cards in this fixture. But, when asked if this fixture feels any different, Mugoša insists that it is just another game for him.

"No, not really. I don't have any special feelings because, for me, this is a game that is like all other games." But it is a fixture Incheon have done well in of late. "It's not a secret but Incheon always play good against FC Seoul. We will try (this weekend), Seoul now also have a good team. They played really good against Daegu, they have a really good team but I don't think about Seoul. We need to be careful, we need to be focused on Incheon and we are playing at home, I don't care who we play against, especially in front of our fans. Everybody who comes here needs to know that it will be a hard, hard game for them. And of course, we will do everything to try to win this game."

An extended version of the interview is coming soon to the K League United Podcast and KLeague.com. In the meantime, the full recording is available now on Patreon.

[LISTEN: Stefan Mugoša Full Interview]

Incheon United vs FC Seoul kicks off at 14:00 KST on Saturday 26th February and can be viewed on KLeagueTV for fans overseas, Naver and Daum for fans in Korea.