Hwang Hee-chan says Julen Lopetegui is 'such a nice person'

Football

Published: 26 Jan. 2023, 16:32

Hwang Hee-chan says Julen Lopetegui is 'such a nice person'

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui talks to Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Nunes during a Carabao Cup game against Gillingham at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England on Dec. 20. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Korean midfielder Hwang Hee-chan continues to heap praise on new boss Julen Lopetegui, crediting the Spanish manager with creating a motivational atmosphere at the club with detailed instructions and a lot of positive support.

Wolves have seen a definite improvement since Lopetegui took the helm, winning two of their five Premier League games over that spell and drawing one. They made it through to the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup and forced Liverpool to a replay in the third round of the FA Cup, although they eventually fell to the higher-ranked side.

Hwang has also seen an improvement under Lopetegui’s leadership, returning to a starting spot in the squad and scoring his first goal in nearly a year in the FA Cup game against Liverpool, forcing the repeat game.

“Even outside the pitch, he's such a nice person,” Hwang told Wolves.co.uk in an interview published Wednesday. “When he sees something that's not fair for the players, he's always the first one to step up to try to take care of us.

“In games, he's always focused on motivating the players to help us perform better on the pitch.”

Hwang described Lopetegui as a very detail-oriented manager who gives very clear direction throughout the game, a tactic that Hwang has clearly benefited from.
“He gives us a lot of detailed instructions on how we should play from our own third into the middle third and then into the final third.

“He speaks with us a lot about how each player should play depending on whether he's on the right or left, and how we should position ourselves both defensively and offensively. Tactically, it's comfortable for us because we know exactly how we should be playing.”

As well as Lopetegui, Hwang also talked about his experience playing against former teammate Erling Haaland, now of Manchester City, last Sunday.

“I met him before and after the game as well,” Hwang said. “He's the best player at the moment. He keeps moving forward to break even more records now.

“I'm proud to have played with him and I'm also proud of him to see him play so well. I think he can continue to be the best player and hope that he keeps playing well.”

Man City beat Wolves 3-0 on Sunday with Haaland scoring a hat-trick. Haaland's hat-trick — with goals in the 40th, 50th and 54th minutes — takes the Norwegian to 25 Premier League goals already this season with just 19 games played.

Hwang and Haaland were two of the three stars of Jessy Marsch's double-winning Red Bull Salzburg squad in 2019, alongside Takumi Minamino of Monaco. Having enjoyed some of the earliest success of both of their club careers together, the trio was quickly separated although reportedly still remain friends.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]