Will Lee Kang-in's (24, PSG) tragedy repeat that of Park Ji-sung?
PSG will compete for the championship trophy against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final for the 2024-25 season, which will be held at 4 a.m. (Korea time) on June 1 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Having already claimed the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles, PSG is aiming for the treble. This marks the first challenge for the club in history for the Champions League title. PSG has only been a runner-up in 2020, but has yet to win the Champions League.
There are unfortunate forecasts that Lee Kang-in may not participate in the most crucial match of the season. According to 'WhoScored.com,' Lee Kang-in's name was absent from the projected PSG starting lineup for the Champions League final. The 4-3-3 PSG is expected to feature Kravatskhelia, Dembélé, Dou, Luis, Vitinha, Neves, Mendes, Pashuo, Marquinhos, Hakimi, and Donnarumma as the best lineup.
Even if PSG wins, it would be a bittersweet victory if Lee Kang-in does not play. Lee Kang-in did not have the opportunity to play in the final match of Ligue 1 either. Throughout this season, Lee Kang-in contributed to the team with 6 goals and 5 assists, but has not been able to celebrate.
Coach Luis Enrique does not seem to trust Lee Kang-in. Lee Kang-in was once again excluded from the starting lineup in the crucial Coupe de France final. Although Lee Kang-in was on the substitute list, he did not step on the field for even one second.
Even with three goals scored in the first half leading to a 3-0 victory, Coach Luis Enrique did not consider Lee Kang-in, opting instead to substitute Hernandez, Verraudeau, Gonçalo Hamus, Mayulu, and Zaïre Emery in the second half. This is the reason for the rumors surrounding Lee Kang-in's transfer.
Lee Kang-in's situation is similar to that of Park Ji-sung 17 years ago. Park Ji-sung's Manchester United drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final and won 6-5 in a penalty shootout. Park Ji-sung became the first Asian player to win a Champions League title, yet he was not listed among the players for the most important final.
Sir Alex Ferguson noted, "Park Ji-sung was a tremendous player. It was a very difficult decision to exclude Park Ji-sung from the final roster," and he apologized to Park Ji-sung multiple times. Ultimately, it was difficult to criticize Ferguson too much since Manchester United won the championship.
Park Ji-sung was a key player for Manchester United, starting in both the quarterfinal series against Roma and the semifinal series against Barcelona. In particular, during the second leg of the semifinal against Barcelona, he effectively contained Lionel Messi and was even named the 'Most Valuable Player,' leading Manchester United to the finals.
At that time, both in Korea and abroad, Park Ji-sung's starting appearance was taken for granted. However, Sir Alex Ferguson chose Owen Hargreaves instead of Park Ji-sung. Park Ji-sung was also omitted from the substitute list, leaving him deeply hurt.
In contrast, Lee Kang-in has already been frequently excluded from starting lineups in important matches, often waiting on the substitute bench without ever stepping onto the field. This indicates that his place in the team is narrower than that of Park Ji-sung. While there are many excellent players in PSG, making it likely that Lee Kang-in could hold the trophy, he wouldn't be able to fully rejoice without having contributed directly to the victory.
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