The conflict between manager Seo Jung-won and Chengdu Rongcheng is escalating. Chinese media also seem to have targeted Seo Jung-won.
On the 17th (Korean time), Chinese 'Zibo' reported, "Manager Seo Jung-won has opened fire. He has endured the club's behavior for the past six months. He stated that he was completely unaware of player transfers or loans."
According to the media, Manager Seo Jung-won made a candid remark at a press conference held a day before the match against Tianjin Jinmenhu scheduled for the 18th. He said, "I have endured the club for six months. As a manager, I can no longer stand it. I cannot just be an observer anymore," adding, "Since winter, the club has not trusted our coaching staff. Later, they fired the medical team and the interpreter. All coach contracts were only finalized in March."
Even the management of the team was out of Manager Seo Jung-won's hands. He emphasized, "There are almost no decisions I can make now. The second half is a tactical fight with three lines. However, the club has not contacted me at all regarding player transfers or loans. I do not know either. As a manager, I cannot tolerate this situation."
He even issued an ultimatum. Manager Seo Jung-won declared, "So I want to make it clear. If the club is not satisfied with the coaching staff, please let us know as soon as possible. We can make decisions, and I hope to communicate with me as soon as possible."
Since his appointment in December 2020, Manager Seo Jung-won has led the team excellently for four and a half years. He immediately promoted Chengdu to the first division and recorded the club's best-ever performance by finishing third in the Chinese Super League (CSL) last season, securing a place in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League elite.
Chengdu is currently ranked third in the league based on 16 rounds this season. The gap in points with first-place Beijing Guoan is only 4 points. They led the table for the first time in the club's history in the first half, but now they are in pursuit of Beijing.
Although Manager Seo Jung-won has made Chengdu a strong team, he is experiencing discord with the club. According to Chinese media, the board is reportedly threatening Seo Jung-won's position by violating the re-signing conditions due to failure to win. Currently, Seo Jung-won's contract with Chengdu lasts until this year.
Seo Jung-won's wife, Yoon Hyo-jin, also expressed her anger on social media, saying, "I have never asked for you to respect him. However, there is not a bit of understanding or kindness towards someone who has prioritized the team and devoted himself entirely for four and a half years. Do you not have even the slightest conscience as a person? Is it to cut off his hands and feet and silence him, saying, 'I will go, so please let me save my life'?"
Nonetheless, the attempts to shake Seo Jung-won continue in China. Chinese journalist Xu Zhang claimed, "Seo Jung-won alleged that the club fired the medical staff. However, he brought unlicensed medical staff from Korea, and that medical staff misdiagnosed a Chengdu player who had a fracture, saying he was fine. It is fortunate that he was not held accountable later."
There are even criticisms that Seo Jung-won is being paid too much. Chinese 'NetEase' pointed out, "The main conflict between Seo Jung-won and Chengdu is money. He is currently receiving the highest salary in the CSL, which is somewhat burdensome for Chengdu."
The media also reported, "This year's total salary for Seo Jung-won's coaching staff exceeds 40 million yuan (approximately 7.7 billion won). This is higher than that of his mentor, coach Choi Kang-hee, and more than the combined salaries of the two coaches from Shanghai." It also noted, "Chengdu has invested 300 million yuan (approximately 58.1 billion won) to 400 million yuan (approximately 77.5 billion won) each year for the past three years. This is not an insignificant investment for a winning competition team compared to Beijing Guoan and Beijing Renhe. However, their performance is lower than that of other teams."
There have even been conspiracy theories suggesting that Seo Jung-won leaked internal club news. NetEase stated, "Seo Jung-won has always sought out Korean media to complain, which has led to a fracture with the club. Over the past few years, Korean media have reported negative news about Chengdu much earlier than Chinese media. Who would have leaked this information? Whenever the club's negative aspects are updated, suspicions arise that it is Seo Jung-won's side that is behind it."
He even told Chengdu fans they should side with the club. The media emphasized, "Chengdu football fans should also unite with the club on this issue. Do not become vampires like Shandong and suck the club's blood!"
However, public opinion is the opposite. One Chinese fan exclaimed, "Seo Jung-won did not threaten anyone with a knife to demand 40 million yuan. It is all Chengdu who willingly entered into the contract, so why question the moral hazard? This is really shameful!"
Another fan pointed out, "Since the contract has been signed like this, the club has to pay the money. Even if sued by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), they must compensate." Other fans added, "Even if it is really that amount, wasn’t the contract agreed upon and signed by both parties? Did anyone really hold a gun to force them to sign?" and criticized the absurd media play, saying, "There is no spirit of the contract at all. It is tarnishing the reputation of China and Chinese football."
[Photo] Zibo.com, CSL, Seo Jung-won's social media.
[OSEN]