Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors last season had no problem defending their title in the top-tier K League Classic as they clinched their fourth domestic league title with two matches to spare.
But that doesn't mean the club had a satisfying season as Jeonbuk was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League after losing to Japanese side Gamba Osaka.
The result in Asia's premier club tournament prompted Jeonbuk to recruit a slew of local big names for the squad this off season, with some local fans even calling the four-time K League Classic champion "Real Jeonbuk," comparing the South Korean club to star-studded Spanish giant Real Madrid.
Now, their task is to find the best combination of new and existing players on the pitch.
Though their winter signings aren't jaw-dropping like Chinese clubs, Jeonbuk's new additions include former Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic midfielder Kim Bo-kyung; Brazilian forward Ricardo Lopes, who had 11 goals and 11 assists with domestic side Jeju United; and striker Kim Shin-wook, who scored 18 goals with Ulsan Hyundai FC last season to win the golden boot.
"After the failure against Gamba Osaka (at the quarterfinals) last year, we decided to bring more players," Jeonbuk head coach Choi Kang-hee said Monday, a day ahead of team's first AFC Champions League (ACL) match against FC Tokyo. "In order to win the AFC Champions League, we thought about building another squad that can be used besides the domestic league, and we now have this strong squad."
For their ACL Group E opener against Tokyo on Tuesday, Choi didn't hesitate to use new players. Six of 11 starting members of Jeonbuk were new signees and their two of three second half substitutes were also new recruits.
The new faces were pivotal for Jeonbuk's 2-1 victory. In particular, the opening goal showed how new players can contribute.
In the 38th minute, Kim Bo-kyung escaped Tokyo's defense with a Marseille turn and passed the ball to Lopes who later set up forward Go Moo-yul, also a new signee from Pohang Steelers this season, to score the goal inside the box.
The addition of quality players allows Choi to play various tactics on the pitch. The team started with the 4-1-4-1 formation, putting veteran striker Lee Dong-gook upfront. Go and Lopes played on each flank, while Kim Bo-kyung and Lee Jae-sung were in center midfield, with Erik Paartalu, also a new signing from Australia, focusing on the defensive role.
After striker Kim Shin-wook entered the pitch in the 63rd minute, replacing Lopes, Jeonbuk switched to the 4-4-2 formation and in the 86th when Brazilian attacker Leonardo substituted center back Lim Jong-eun, the team had three defenders in the backline as Paartalu moved down.
"More players, more ways to use them," Choi said Tuesday after the match. "There will be various combinations of players."
Choi's task is to find the best way to harmonize the new recruits with existing players and double the impact. As there are players who can execute multiple positions on the pitch, the 56-year-old coach is still on the search for the best lineup, especially for the midfield and attack.
"The addition of Kim Bo-kyung allows us to use Lee Jae-sung in various ways," Choi said. "If we play two strikers upfront, Kim and Lee can still play in the center midfield without having a defensive midfielder."
When Jeonbuk signed 196-centimeter tall Kim Shin-wook from Ulsan, there were concerns whether the 27-year-old striker could co-exist on the pitch with team's veteran forward Lee Dong-gook, the all-time leading scorer in the K League Classic.
On Tuesday, two forwards played together for more than 30 minutes. Lee, who scored Jeonbuk's second goal in the 83rd minute and was named "Man of the Match," said there is no problem playing with Kim.
"Because of Kim Shin-wook, other players are getting more attacking options," Lee said. "Since he has a height advantage, we need to focus on the ball coming out from his header."
Coach Choi admitted that there are still things to improve after playing their first official match of the season on Tuesday.
The K League Classic starts on Mar. 12. For all the new players, Choi just asks them to absorb team's traditions.
"Jeonbuk have their unique atmosphere which players need to sacrifice for their club," Choi said. "I can see new players trying to sacrifice for the team and they just need to keep it ongoing." (Yonhap)
