Pre-season Q&A with Ulsan HD's Kim Pan-gon & Kim Young-gwon | OneFootball

Ulsan HD are busy getting ready for a big season ahead with an extra competition on the horizon, the FIFA Club World Cup, as well as the 2025 Hana Bank K League 1, the Korea Cup, and AFC Champions League Elite. Manager Kim Pan-gon and captain Kim Young-gwon are asked about how pre-season has gone so far.

Interview with Manager Kim Pan-gon

Q1) What is the goal of this training camp?A1) We have brought in several new signings. Our aim is to ensure the new players integrate well with the existing squad and achieve strong team cohesion.

Q2) What are your objectives for this season?A2) Naturally, our primary goal is to win the league for a fourth consecutive time. Additionally, we want to deliver strong performances in the AFC Champions League, where we underperformed last season, and achieve good results. We are also preparing to ensure that our fans can celebrate success at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Q3) How has the training gone so far, and how prepared is the team?A3) We’ve been training for about 10 days now, and everything is progressing smoothly, with no major injuries. Tactically and physically, the team is coming together well. I believe fans can look forward to an exciting season.

Interview with Captain Kim Young-gwon

Q1) How do you feel about being appointed captain?A1) Being a captain is challenging, no matter the team. It’s a role that requires responsibility, gravitas, and resilience. While it’s a difficult position, I’m trying to live up to the trust the manager has placed in me. I’m working hard to set a good example for the players, coaching staff, and, of course, the fans.

Q2) What are your goals for this season?A2) Our goals are to win the K League and the cup competitions. Furthermore, we will be competing in the Club World Cup, and our objective there is to make it past the group stage. We are preparing with that in mind.

Q3) How do you feel about working with so many new players?A3) Since the start of the winter training camp, the players have been working hard to adapt to the manager’s tactics physically and mentally. We’ve been focusing on aligning with those tactics through practice matches. Our main focus is to be fully prepared for the official competitions, and we’ll make sure the team and our physical condition are ready to perform at our best. Personally, I think the addition of new players is fantastic—it’s exciting and brings a lot of anticipation. Some of them are familiar faces from the K League or the national team, so I’m feeling very optimistic about this season.

Pre-Season Friendly Results (5 matches: 4 wins, 1 draw)

Via Ulsan HD press release