In light of his recent exclusion from Seoul FC’s lineup, midfielder Lingard finds himself at risk of being sidelined from the South Korean team after only two months.
“I have pondered extensively about the exclusion of Lingard,” expressed Coach Kim Gi Dong when queried about the English midfielder.
“I do not believe a player who fails to run for a few minutes is a player. Consider if he does not engage and run as well as a player who runs for 90 minutes?”
“Even as a substitute, he does not demonstrate effort and reluctance to engage physically. What significance does his name hold on the field? I will convey this precisely to Lingard,” remarked the Seoul FC captain.
Lingard’s future now hangs in uncertainty. He has yet to make any significant contributions since joining the South Korean team. The midfielder born in 1992 has only appeared as a substitute three times with no goals or assists. FC Seoul currently sits in 7th position on the table after four matches, having won only one game this season.
Social media has also seen numerous criticisms directed towards the former Manchester United star. Initially, Lingard’s arrival sparked excitement in South Korea. In the season opener, Seoul played away against Gwangju and sold out tickets in just two hours.
In the second match, Seoul FC played at home, and the former Man United star generated a frenzy akin to that of a celebrity. The Seoul World Cup Stadium set a record for the highest attendance in the history of home season openers, setting a record for the number of spectators since the K.League changed its promotion/relegation format in 2013, with 51,670 fans.
Now, Lingard will undoubtedly need to put in more effort in the coming time if he wishes to avoid being ousted. Matters are further complicated for the forward as he grapples with a knee injury, which may render the former Manchester United star unable to participate in Seoul FC’s upcoming match against Gimcheon Sangmu on April 3rd.