"This is the way how we have to go" - Paločević on Gimcheon rout

FC Seoul's Aleksandar Paločević believes that, after putting five past Gimcheon Sangmu on Wednesday night, the players know how they need to perform moving forward, and that with his former Pohang boss Kim Gi-dong at the helm, goals and assists will soon follow.

There was a sense of relief around Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday night as FC Seoul recorded a 5-1 win over Gimcheon Sangmu in Round 5 of the 2024 Hana Bank K League 1 season. In the stands amongst the supporters who will have been relieved to see their team put in the sort of performance they were expecting under Kim Gi-dong.

Also, among the players. Attacking midfielder Aleksandar Paločević included who was happy with the performance.

"Finally, finally, we play some normal game. We have really nice players, really quality players, you know? But in our last four games, we didn't show like this. Our performance, especially the first half,  we were really tough like men, how we have to play. And okay, the second half was a little different,  we changed a little tactic, we changed substitution a little bit, and a little go down, but we controlled the game. This is the way how we have to go."

Five goals, four in the first half alone, was quite the contrast from the sluggish 1-1 draw away to Gangwon just a few days beforehand. What had changed since?

"Sometimes, sometimes I cannot explain for myself. You know, there's nothing, there's like three days between, you know. We are a team with high-quality players and everything is up to us; how we are these days, how we wake up, but we have to really wake up and we have to really go every game like this."

FC Seoul boss Kim Gi-dong revealed that he had held meetings with his players on the day of the game, something he didn't usually do. Paločević revealed that the message was simple.

"He just said, 'Guys, play with confidence, play how you can.' Of course, [there was] a little tactic, how we go this game. [The meeting] is something between our team. But the meaning of the was to say like, Guys, with confidence, go and destroy this. It's kind of similar [to how it was at Pohang] because this coach likes to keep his style, he doesn't change too much." 

Paločević played his best football under Kim Gi-dong, scoring 19 and assisting 13 in 40 appearances for Pohang Steelers. Was he happy to see Kim take over at FC Seoul?

"Yeah, of course, especially because we, me and Iljuctenko, we had an amazing season there with him and there's an amazing team I would hope we'll be like the results again."

The Gimcheon rout was Paločević's fifth appearance of the campaign and third start. His assist to tee up Park Dong-jin 10 minutes from time was his first of the season. 

But with fixtures coming thick and fast in April, six more including the Seoul Derby in the FA Cup, how is Paločević feeling fitness-wise?

"It's okay. I just need to find my form, I need a little more time but I think it's coming. I need some goals, like today I had one assist, it's very good for me and I know it'll be like how I was in Pohang, you know, many goals, many assists. But this is the first and very important. We didn't start well (this season), now we need to keep getting the points to make a result then everything will be going well." 

With a desire to score goals, was there a temptation to break rank and try to get himself on the scoresheet?

"No, no I didn't think. After maybe 60 minutes, he put me back number six and he told me I have to be like a defender, try to cut the ball, try to be like in the defensive part, don't go [forward] too much. But I don't have a problem with this if the team is going well then everyone is good. This is the most important now, the team. And if the team is good, like how we are playing, and if I make an assist, the points are coming.

Jesse Lingard was left out of the matchday squad due to a knee injury. When fit, Paločević is competing with the former England international for a place in the team. The extra attention that FC Seoul and K League are receiving, however, is a good thing.

"I think this is really nice for FC Seoul, special also for Korea. Many media now checking, looking at us, this is good to see, and we hope he will come soon back and help us to get more points and  make more."

Listen in full: here

More Post-match Reaction

Stanislav Iljutcenko:

"I think we had a perfect day. Especially the first half was amazing. Everything that we wanted, we did. We scored really fast, 4-0 was very comfortable for us. Second half, I think the first 15 minutes we become a little sleepy and give Gimcheon opportunities. But overall, after this, we start to control and scored the fifth goal and deserve three points. Very important three points for us and we're very happy."

Listen in full: here