Stanislav Iljutcenko - "This club deserves to be in K League 1"

Suwon Bluewings secured their place in the promotion–relegation playoffs long ago, but as we approach the final weekend of the K League 1 season, they still don’t know who their opponents will be. Stanislav Iljutcenko isn’t concerned.

While Suwon Samsung were playing their final regular-season match against Gimpo FC, Jeju United hosted Daegu in Seogwipo. The result in Suwon had no impact on the K League 2 table: Suwon were locked into second place, and Gimpo’s season was drifting to an uninspiring end. All eyes were on Jeju, where the small group of assembled media in Suwon had tuned into.

That's where the day's real story was. Yuri Jonathan put Jeju ahead before the break, and rumor has it plenty of Suwon fans booked flights to Jeju at halftime. Finishing second in K League 2 doesn’t earn automatic promotion; that team must face the 11th-placed K League 1 side over two legs in early December.

[READ: Bucheon FC 1995 "ready" for their date with destiny]

Jeju entered the penultimate weekend three points ahead of Daegu but with a far worse goals-scored total. A Jeju win would have relegated Daegu and confirmed the Islanders as Suwon’s playoff opponents. A Daegu win would have left the teams level on points with one match remaining, but Jeju would have dropped into the automatic relegation place. A draw? No change.

Naturally, the match ended in a draw. Geovani brought Daegu level with 20 minutes remaining.

“To be honest, it doesn’t matter who we play,” Suwon striker Stanislav Iljutcenko said when asked if the uncertainty was frustrating. “We have to focus on ourselves, our game, and our style. This is what we’ve done all season, and it’s what makes us strong. Now we just need to prepare physically and mentally for the challenge.”

Iljutcenko and his teammates will no doubt be glued to their screens at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Daegu host Anyang, while Jeju travel to Munsu to face Ulsan HD. If Daegu win, Jeju will need at least a point to avoid automatic relegation. Daegu have scored 12 more goals than Jeju. What can we read into their opponents? Fortunately for Daegu, Anyang have nothing at stake. Ulsan, however, are still trying to avoid the drop themselves—remarkably, the defending champions could still finish as low as 10th.

[READ: "Devastated" Seoul E-Land lick their playoff wounds]

Suwon aren’t worried about any of that. “I feel good,” said the 14-goal striker. “In general we played a good season, so we can go into the playoffs with confidence. We have a strong squad and a good team. We showed that many times. So we definitely have a good chance to get promoted this year.”

Incheon United won K League 2 comfortably. It took Suwon 14 rounds to climb into second place after a poor start that saw them take just four points from a possible 12. “The start didn’t go well, and Incheon moved a few points ahead of us,” Iljutcenko reflected. “All season they kept that distance. When they lost, we couldn’t win. That was the problem, especially at the end of the summer. We dropped too many points, even though we had plenty of chances.”

Stanislav Iljutcenko and teammates react to the shock home loss to Gyeongnam. These are the matches Suwon really needed to win.

Sunday’s 1–1 draw with Gimpo left Suwon on 72 points from 39 matches, six behind champions Incheon. Bucheon FC 1995, who will host the final K League 2 playoff match on Sunday, finished five points behind Suwon. Given the major squad overhaul last winter—bringing in proven K League talent—Suwon may feel a little disappointed with the season.

If so, Iljutcenko isn’t showing it. “Everyone is fit or close to returning. In general, the squad is back. And we have a few extra days compared to our opponent to get into shape.” Midfielder Lee Gyu-sung was substituted just before halftime against Gimpo; manager Byun Seung-whan confirmed the former Ulsan player suffered a concussion.

The Bluewings will host the first leg of their promotion decider next Wednesday at 7 p.m. The early forecast predicts temperatures well below freezing. Despite that, ticket sales have been strong. Aside from the upper south stand—the away end—almost every block is at least partially open.

[READ: Why Suwon Bluewings' Title Challenge Ended]

“This is a great club,” Suwon’s vice-captain concluded. “We have a great team and great supporters. I’m very happy here. I really hope we get promoted. I think we deserve it because we played a good season. And the supporters—they deserve it too. They deserve to be in K League 1. This club deserves to be in K League 1. We’re on the final steps now. We have to take them.”

Iljutcenko is right. Suwon are a K League 1 club at heart. But they still have to earn their way back. Wednesday night at Big Bird promises to be unforgettable.