At a press conference on September 15, Jeonbuk Hyundai manager Chung Jung-yong stated that the team will make every effort in the AFC Champions League Elite to achieve excellent results in Asian competitions.

On September 16, Jeonbuk Hyundai will face Japan's Kashiwa Reysol in the first match of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

This season's AFC Champions League Elite is divided into East and West zones, with 12 teams in each zone competing. The top eight teams from each zone will advance to the 16-team knockout stage. Jeonbuk Hyundai earned entry after winning the 2024 K League 1 title and will face strong Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol in their first match.

The two teams have met eight times in Asian competitions, with Kashiwa Reysol winning five matches, drawing one, and losing two. However, Jeonbuk Hyundai won their most recent encounter. In 2018, Jeonbuk Hyundai defeated Kashiwa Reysol 3-2 at their home ground, Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Currently, both teams are positioned third in their respective domestic leagues.

One day before the match, both teams held a press conference at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Jeonbuk Hyundai was represented by manager Chung Jung-yong and veteran defender Kim Tae-hwan. The team is hoping to quickly regain momentum after a disappointing result in the league following their loss to FC Seoul.

Chung Jung-yong said: "As a manager, I'm very much looking forward to this competition. I managed at my previous club for about three years and had the opportunity to participate in this competition before, but ultimately it didn't happen. I'm very honored to have this opportunity now. Tomorrow is our first match and we're playing at home, so we've fully prepared to win and make a good start to the competition."

Given the congested K League schedule, Jeonbuk Hyundai will need to manage player fitness and rotation. Regarding this, Chung Jung-yong said: "As you know, this is a very important competition and tomorrow is our first match. We should use as many players as possible. Fortunately, we'll have a rest day after the league match, so I think we should focus all our energy on this match."

Compared to the K League, the AFC Champions League Elite has fewer restrictions on foreign player usage. When asked whether more foreign players might be fielded in this competition, Chung Jung-yong said: "That's difficult to say. I believe all our registered players in their best form should play, and we also need to consider whether they can perform effectively in their positions. We've prepared accordingly, and I'm confident that the starting eleven for tomorrow's match will perform well."

In recent years, Middle Eastern clubs represented in the AFC Champions League Elite have demonstrated strong performance due to their financial strength. When asked about Jeonbuk Hyundai's realistic goals for this season, Chung Jung-yong acknowledged it won't be an easy journey.

"That's right. This is not an easy journey. It's not just for us. All teams will play in packed schedules," he said.

However, he added: "Still, this is Asia's highest honor and I don't want to waste even 1% of this opportunity. Our goal is to reach the top four in Asia if possible, and to advance step by step."

Regarding opponent Kashiwa Reysol, Chung Jung-yong warned his team to be careful of their midfield control.

He said: "Generally, Kashiwa Reysol is a team that can maintain over 60% possession and their pressing is very intense. That's their strength."

"We need to limit what they do well and also utilize our own strengths. Kashiwa Reysol's midfielders, including number 39 Atsuya Nakagawa, excel at ball control and pressing, so we need to pay special attention. Additionally, international matches are different from league matches. Since there's no common language between the two sides, players must communicate immediately on the pitch," he said.

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