Kitchee head coach Kim Dong-jin says team are ‘much improved’ after poor start, seeks AFC Champions League redemption
- Interim head coach says Kitchee ‘much-improved’ after poor early season form led to Chu’s dismissal
- Kim cautiously optimistic over claiming overdue Champions League victory, despite no talks over taking job full-time
Kim Dong-jin said Kitchee are “much improved” from a stumbling start to the campaign but need buckets of “fighting spirit, mentality and character” to break their AFC Champions League duck on Wednesday.
The Premier League champions are set to face South Koreans Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Hong Kong Stadium, aiming to save face in the competition after earning only one point from their opening four matches. Bangkok United top Group F with 10 points, as Jeonbuk and Lion City Sailors, Kitchee’s final Group F opponents in a fortnight, are locked together with six points.
Former Kitchee boss Alex Chu Chi-kwong lost his job soon after a 2-1 defeat away against Jeonbuk in September. Kim was installed as temporary head coach and, after finding his footing, has overseen a six-game unbeaten run. Perhaps more significantly, incohesive early season performances, characterised by sloppiness and bickering, have given way to more purposeful, unified and organised displays.
“When I took the team, we tried to return to basics, then concentrated on establishing the way we play, building up through the middle, creating and finishing in the final third, pressing together, and being compact defensively,” Kim said.
“We have progressed, and are much improved from the beginning of the season.
“We are playing one of the best teams in the K League, but everything is possible. We need our fighting spirit and mentality and character.
“We did quite well in the away match. But this time we will try to play our way, and see if we can change the result.”
And Kim was waiting for fitness news on the trio of Helio Goncalves, Kim Shin-wook and Paulo Cesar. Captain and centre-half Goncalves sustained a minor problem on Hong Kong international duty but was expected to play in Wednesday’s game, which kicks off at 6pm.
South Korean striker Kim has had miserable luck with injury since joining in February this year. The 35-year-old has been sorely missed in the Champions League, making only one appearance from the bench. He returned from six weeks out to score twice as a substitute in the Senior Shield victory over RCFC on November 4, but missed the past three games with a “muscle problem”, leaving his compatriot and boss non-committal over the player’s chances of featuring against former club Jeonbuk.
Goalkeeper Cesar was forced off against Southern following an injury to the knee.
Tan Chun-lok, meanwhile, a regular in midfield for Hong Kong, has struggled for action. The 27-year-old, who joined Kitchee after former club Guangzhou City perished in March, has begun only three out of eight matches under Kim and was hauled off at half-time on his most recent start in late October.
“We have a strong midfield, and he needs to fight for his position,” Kim said. “But some games, he can play.”
Kim admitted Friday’s 0-0 draw with Southern was “a big disappointment”.
“We showed strong mentality and character, and did not expect that result,” he said.
“People sometimes think the league is easy, but most teams have six foreigners, and the quality is good.”
Kim said he remained undecided over whether he wants the post long term, and there have been no discussions with chairman Ken Ng Kin.
“I will just do my best, then it is the chairman’s decision,” Kim said.
“But I will say, I like our players, they follow everything we ask. I trust every player and believe in them. The responsibility for results is purely on me.”
