"Super Match is perfect game to change the atmosphere" - Suwon Bluewings' Dave Bulthuis

Suwon Samsung Bluewings sit bottom of the table following two draws and five defeats from the first seven matches of the 2023 Hana 1Q K League 1 campaign. But centre back Dave Bulthuis says that the Super Match is the perfect game to bring change to the atmosphere within the club. 

Suwon Bluewings will make the short trip to the capital on Saturday to take on the old enemy FC Seoul and Dave Bulthuis believes that, despite the difficult start to the new season, the football has been better than last year:

"The football is definitely a lot better than last year the way how we play and stuff like that. But we, until now, didn't manage to get the points. Many, many mistakes and also I think we just miss a little bit of luck now, and you can see the confidence go down every time a little bit more but I think the next game against the Seoul derby game, it's a perfect game to change the atmosphere, you know?"

Despite the poor run of form, Bulthuis quickly dismisses any notion of nerves heading into Saturday's Super Match:

"No, no. Not nervous at all but I think more in the situation the team is now that everybody in our team feels, of course, a little bit stressed and everybody wants a good result, especially in this derby match. So I expect that all the players will give their best in this game. I think Seoulis in good form so we need to play a very good game to beat them. So we need everybody for the 100%, that's for sure."

Suwon Bluewings were able to pick up four points against FC Seoul last year, earning a 3-1 win in the capital last September and a 0-0 draw at Big Bird the following month. Bulthuis wore the captain's armband for both of those matches and says that leading the team was a "great experience":

"It was a great experience to be the captain in the team. Unfortunately, this year [the club] choose for somebody else. Okay, I think it's already special for a foreigner to be captain in a Korean team, is already special because that doesn't happen a lot, they say something about that they respect me in this country and stuff like this. But yeah, the situation changed now and for me, it doesn't matter who is the captain at this moment. For me, I just want to give everything and for this game to win, to get the three points and for the supporters will be so happy."

Bulthuis and his Suwon teammates will be hoping for a repeat of the 3-1 win at Seoul World Cup Stadium, something which he says is all the more satisfying:

"I think it's even better to win in their stadium. To win at home is a nice feeling, but to beat Seoul away in their stadium, I think there is no better game than this."

Listen to what else Dave Bulthuis had to say as well as all the Super Match build-up in this week's episode of the K League United Podcast.

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