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Jesse Lingard was by no means going to lift the worldwide profile of South Korea’s Ok-League to match Ok-Pop or Ok-Drama ranges, and the previous England worldwide is struggling to make a optimistic impression in The Land of Morning Calm.
With simply 105 minutes performed for FC Seoul within the first six video games earlier than present process knee surgical procedure on Friday, Lingard has made extra headlines for accidents and feedback from his coach than for something but achieved on the pitch.
After all, these are nonetheless very early days.
The previous Manchester United participant was a shock signing for the six-time Korean champions in February, simply the largest within the league’s 41-year historical past.
Expectations adopted go well with. Virtually 52,000 turned up – the very best attendance in Asia’s oldest skilled league because it began counting solely bought tickets in 2018 – to see Lingard’s dwelling debut towards Incheon United on 10 March.
Each contact was cheered initially however there have, as but, been no targets or assists.
Even with out accidents, there was a recognition there could be some rustiness, with Lingard’s final look earlier than arriving in South Korea coming again in April 2023 for Nottingham Forest.
Flashes of kind
“While we all hoped that he would immediately make a big difference for Seoul, we also knew that it would probably take time as he has not played for so long,” Seoul fan Kim Yong-myung advised the BBC.
“Most fans still think that he will be a big help if he can stay fit.”
There have been flashes of the flexibility that took the midfielder into the England staff – the final of his 32 caps coming in 2021.
A sensible by means of ball towards Incheon nearly resulted in a objective for the 31 year-old on his debut and there was a lob and switch that delighted followers.
In opposition to Jeju United the next week, regardless of a heavy first contact ending a possible one-on-one state of affairs, some good passing resulted in an personal objective, just for that to be dominated out for an offside.
Accidents imply he has not featured since for Seoul, who’re in an analogous mid-table place to that through which they completed final season.
Moderately than performances on the pitch, the largest speaking factors to this point surrounding Lingard have stemmed from feedback by FC Seoul head coach Kim Ki-dong.
“He only played a few minutes, and yet he didn’t work hard and avoided tussle,” Kim mentioned, in line with nationwide newspaper Joongang Day by day after the Jeju recreation, Lingard’s third, through which he got here off the bench after 58 minutes.
“Fame doesn’t win football games. If it did, I would have brought in a famous retired player.”
This response made headlines world wide.
In Asia, Korean coaches are well-known for demanding most bodily effort from gamers always, however journalist Lee Sung-mo believes that a little bit has been misplaced in translation.
“It happens quite often when you translate English to Korean or Korean to English without context,” Lee mentioned.
“In Korean culture, Kim’s comments were closer to motivation for Lingard as he wanted him to show more passion on the pitch because he had belief in the player.
“However whenever you simply translate it in English with out context, it might be understood as aggressive criticism. It is impossible Kim meant that approach.”
That is the way it seemed when Kim sought to cool the situation.
“Some elements about which can be a little bit exaggerated,” said Kim, who took the Seoul job in December. “I advised him that I mentioned that within the interview as a result of he’s a particular participant who ought to take a number one position.”
Lingard also said that he had talked with the coach and there was no issue.
Whatever the intention, the worldwide picture was that Lingard’s Korea transfer was turning right into a nightmare.
It would not be the first time a British player has struggled in the region.
Paul Gascoigne had a short cameo in China, and while Jay Boothroyd impressed in Japan, Gary Lineker’s time with Nagoya Grampus was marred by injury.
In South Korea, former Burnley striker Andy Cooke had a prolific spell 20 years ago for Busan under Ian Porterfield but others, such as Chris Marsden, who signed from Southampton in 2004, and Jordon Mutch, who arrived after leaving Crystal Palace in 2019, did not reach double figures for appearances.
Standards are high. The K-League is regarded as one of the top three leagues in Asia, along with those in Japan and Saudi Arabia, and it has the most successful record of any league in terms of winning continental championships.
Off the pitch, it can be challenging too.
“It appears to be powerful for European gamers to adapt,” said Lee. “The language is completely completely different, the climate is completely different and the tradition is completely different. So it’s not straightforward except the participant is able to open up himself into a brand new state of affairs and setting.”
Lingard appears keen to do this.
“He is probably not enjoying, however he’s coming to look at our video games,” mentioned Kim.
“He’s additionally energetic on social media and posting positively. It looks like he has the precise perspective and desires to succeed. Now we have to attend for him to get match, settle, after which he’ll have the ability to present us what he can do.”
There is still time, according to journalist Lee.
“Lingard has been a bit unfortunate to this point and he is clearly displaying his dedication for his new membership even when he can not play for them. We have to wait to see till he totally recovers from accidents.
“There’s still a chance that he could be a success in the K-League.”
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