“The ‘Demolition’ combination? Can we just play like we did with Pesic?”
Kangwon FC coach Choi Yong-soo (50) has very high eyes on foreign strikers. It is because of the memory of leading the ‘Demolition (Dejan-Molina)’ combination at FC Seoul and reaching the top of the K-League. It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve been with them, but it still seems like Dejan and Molina are the standards. Even ahead of the opening of the 2023 season, coach Choi said, “The time for foreign players to breathe is still short.스포츠토토 We’re still a long way from being like Dejan and Molina,” he said.
The answer of Uzbekistan midfielder Alibayev (29, Gangwon) was unexpected. He mentioned striker Pesic, who he played with in Seoul in the 2019 season. In an interview with Sports Donga, Alibayev said, “I have heard a lot about the performances of Deyan and Molina,” but said, “Then I think it will be fine to show the play I played with Pesic in Seoul.” “Gangwon’s Dino plays similarly to Pesic. If you breathe well, you can show a good combination,” he raised his voice.
Alibayev is the player who will be the last key to Gangwon this season. Unlike existing midfielders such as Han Young-young, Dae-woo Kim, and Min-woo Seo, he can creatively solve the game. Last year, Gangwon focused on flank attacks with Kim Dae-won and Yang Hyun-joon, but this year, with the addition of Alibayev, they can use various strategies. Coach Choi expected Alibayev as “a player who will grease the game.”
The relationship between Alibayev and director Choi is deep. At the time of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, Alibayev met the Uzbekistan national team and coach Choi as a commentator for the first time. Prior to the 2019 season, when he was the head coach of Seoul, coach Choi recruited Alibaev, who had been marked during the Asian Games. Coach Choi’s presence was the biggest reason Alibaev chose to go to Gangwon this season. “I know exactly what the director wants from me,” he said. He wants to sacrifice for the team and prove my worth.”
Although he is still adjusting to his new team, his trust in his teammates is strong. Alibayev said, “I’m in sync with Dino, but I’m not 100% yet. Still, we are improving our condition together,” he said. “There are many good players such as Kim Dae-won, Yang Hyun-jun, Gallego, and Lee Jeong-hyeop. They are players who will play the role of a solver in the attack,” he said with strength.
Alibayev claimed to be a ‘special helper’ in Gangwon. “My strength is being able to help the attackers around me. I want to help as much as possible not only to the strikers, but also to my teammates around me.” “The goal is to make Gangwon go to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. The team comes first, but I personally want to record as many assists as possible.”