'We've prepared well but it won't be easy' - Tiago Orobó on Gangwon FC clash

In an exclusive interview with K League United, of which the full version can be heard next week, Daejeon Hana Citizen striker Tiago Orobó looks ahead to the visit of Gangwon FC this Saturday, November 11th at 14:00 KST in Round 36 of the 2023 Hana 1Q K League 1 campaign. Tiago has a good record against the Bears this term and is also gunning for the golden boot.

This week could be one of double celebrations for Daejeon Hana Citizen star Tiago Orobó. His wife just gave birth and this weekend, he takes on a team that he has a good record against - Gangwon FC - as he looks edge closer to winning the golden boot. Tiago is on 16 goals for the campaign, one clear of Joo Min-kyu his nearest competitor. His 16th came in the 2-2 draw with Suwon Bluewings last time out, helping Citizen come back from 2-0 down to earn a draw. Tiago's assist for Masatoshi Ishida's dramatic late equaliser put him on 20 combined goals and assists, no player in K League 1 has managed that this term.

In the dressing room after the draw with the Bluewings, some of the senior players gave their two cents about what sort of mindset the team needs to take into the final three games of the season. Both Oh Jae-suk and Kim Young-wook mentioned Gangwon and how the fans have a "story" and "pain" when it comes to that particular club after what happened in the playoffs in 2021, and that it's important to prepare properly for the game to take the three points.

Daejeon's top scorer Tiago Orobó, who has two goals and one assist against Gangwon this season, affirms that the team have prepared well:

"I can confidently say that we have prepared [well] for the game but we also know that it's not going to be an easy game, especially because Gangwon's position, they're battling relegation, so it's not going to be an easy game but from our end, there are many younger players who'll need the coach's approval to be in his picture for next year so we'd better be prepared also from our end. But, besides that, we are professional players a professional team so we should show professionalism and a good attitude against our opponents at all times. For my personal goal, I have to keep fighting to be the top scorer so we're going to show some good stuff tomorrow."

[READ: Daejeon Hana Citizen vs. Gangwon FC Preview]

The team, too, despite dropping into Final B, are in decent form and are aiming to extend their unbeaten run to seven. This form is something that Tiago believes can be bottled up and taken into 2024:

"We will be very grateful to finish the last three games undefeated throughout the end of this year and it's also going to help maintain our form to start next year on a very good note. Like I mentioned before, we have many young players and players that haven't had a lot of chances this year that have to prove themselves to the head coach so that's going to be a big motivation for us."

Gangwon FC is the team that Tiago made his Daejeon debut against, scoring in the 2-0 win that sealed the Purples' first win back in K League 1. The Brazilian says that he was aware of the history:

"Yes, I had heard about the rivalry against Gangwon before the game (Round 1, 2-0) and I also heard about what happened two years ago in the promotion playoffs; that's what's going to make [Saturday's] game especially very difficult for both teams, because of many reasons; because of the rivalry, but also because Gangwon's battling relegation." 

[READ: Who'll win the 2023 K League 1 golden boot?]

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