Lee Kang-in must stay humble, South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann says of PSG playmaker
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Lorient's Montassar Talbi in action with Paris St Germain's Lee Kang-in at Parc des Princes, in Paris, on Aug 12.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SEOUL – South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called on Lee Kang-in to keep his feet on the ground, as the Paris Saint-Germain playmaker continues his emergence as the country’s next great hope.
Lee, 22, was give a rousing reception when he scored twice for the South Koreans in a 4-0 friendly win over Tunisia in Seoul last Friday, as he capped a month that also saw him help his country retain the Asian Games title in China.
“It’s just a joy to work with him because he’s always in a good mood, he’s always smiling, but he’s also hungry,” the German said.
“This is what he needs to be. It’s not easy for Kang-in to stay hungry because here, he’s getting treated like a pop star, which is not good because a pop star doesn’t score goals.
“He has to stay humble. He has to stay focused. He has to work hard and fight.”
Lee has been rated as one of the country’s most promising prospects since moving to Spain to join Valencia’s academy as a child, eventually playing 62 times for the La Liga outfit before switching to Real Mallorca in 2021.
He featured four times – three as a substitute – for South Korea at the World Cup Finals in 2022 and in the summer signed for Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth €22 million (S$31.7 million).
With the Asiad gold, Lee and his teammates have been exempted from South Korea’s mandatory military service. This means he can focus on his career in Europe.
“Every time he will come back to Korea, there will be I don’t know how many people screaming for him,” Klinsmann said.
“When a club like Paris Saint-Germain takes a player from Korea, it means that it’s a very special player. Kang-in is hugely talented.
“He will now start to learn from top players in Paris what it means to play in the Champions League and also what it means to play under the pressure of winning titles.”
Next up for the Taegeuk Warriors is a friendly against Vietnam on Tuesday at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Lee is set to shine again with captain Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur an injury doubt, along with Red Star Belgrade midfielder Hwang In-beom.
Klinsmann believes Vietnam will offer a good match, adding: “This is the last test we can have before we start the World Cup qualifying and go to Qatar. We think we know quite a lot about Vietnam and it’s a good test for us.”
South Korea are grouped with China, Thailand and Singapore or Guam in the second round of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers, which start in November, two months before they head to Qatar for the Asian Cup Finals. REUTERS
