‘What did you do after leaving Korea’… ‘7G Museung’ Gangwon desperately needs Uzbek express revival

Uzbekistan playmaker Ikromzon Alibayev in Gangwon is hardly recovering.

Gangwon lost 0-2 in the 7th round home game of Hanawon Q K League 1 2023 against Incheon United held at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon on the 16th. With 3 points from 3 draws and 4 losses, they were in 11th place, one step ahead of Suwon Samsung, the lowest place, without reporting their first win yet.

On this day, Gangwon coach Choi Yong-soo dispatched Alibaev as the central midfielder instead of Korea-young. It was a plan to use Alibayev’s excellent kicking ability to aim for Incheon.

Coach Choi said in an interview before the game, “Alibayev is a bit sluggish, but this time I decided to give him more trust. He has excellent passing and finishing shots, so I am putting my hopes on him.”

However, Alibayev’s performance was mediocre. He could not break Incheon’s defense. Even in a counterattack situation, he broke the flow with an inaccurate pass.

In the 33rd minute of the first half, in a counterattack situation, when the pass spread to the left side went out of the touchline, Yoon Seok-young expressed regret with a violent gesture.

According to data analysis company ‘Bpro Eleven’, Alibayev tried 29 passes in 45 minutes and only succeeded in 23. The pass success rate was only 79.3%. 

He recorded more back passes (10) and side passes (11) than forward passes (8). It means that the play that coach Choi expected before the game was not met.

Alibayev has played in six games this season, but has no offensive points. On this day, he did not show any special appearance안전놀이터, and he was replaced by Han Young-young at the start of the second half and finished the game early.

As his Gangwon, it is inevitable. Alibayev showed impressive performances under coach Choi during his past FC Seoul days.

At the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, where coach Choi participated as a commentator, he noticed Alibayev’s performance, and brought Alibayev, who played in Uzbekistan, to Seoul ahead of the 2019 season. Alibayev lived up to expectations that season, recording three goals and five assists in 35 games.

Coach Choi brought Alibayev back after taking charge of Gangwon. Alibayev left Seoul for Daejeon and returned to Uzbekistan to play an active role.

From Coach Choi’s point of view, there were high expectations that he would show the good teamwork he showed in Seoul in Gangwon.

Before the start of the season, he expressed his anticipation, saying, “There was a lack of resources for creative game management in midfield. We needed a player who could do it like Alibayev.”

However, it is true that he is lacking in what he has shown so far. As he was sluggish in the game against Incheon, Gangwon could not manage the game creatively throughout the game.

Coach Choi said after the game, “I used it with confidence, but I showed impatience. I felt that a change was necessary. Instead of Alibayev, I put in Korean Young to coordinate the game.”