FC Seoul’s AFC Champions League Failure: Trials, Triumphs, and Lessons Learned
Central Melbourne: the end of a relentless, rain-soaked battle between Melbourne City and FC Seoul. Both sets of players and coaches shook hands amidst the torrential downpours; unified by both the intensity of the last 90 minutes, and the dejection of knowing that their AFC Champions League campaigns were over.
Going into the last round of fixtures in the group stage, any of FC Seoul, Melbourne City and Shandong Taishan could finish in second behind Al Hilal. As the final whistle blew in Australia, it looked as if FC Seoul had done it. But, it was Shandong captain Marouane Fellaini, who scored deep in extra time, sending the home team through to the knockout rounds of the tournament.
Matheus’ FC Seoul will feel hard done-by. And while there may be some positives to take from this campaign, ultimately, they only had themselves to blame:
- Two heavy defeats in the first two games: 4–0 away at Shandong, followed by 4–2 against Al Hilal in Riyadh
- Regained some momentum with two home wins: 2–0 against Melbourne City, followed by a last-gasp 2–1 win against Al Hilal
- A second defeat to Shandong Taishan by one goal to nil — FC Seoul’s first home defeat of the year, took their fate out of their hands
A humbling experience in the first two games
Despite their domestic dominance, many players, and even Matheus himself, found themselves in uncharted territory at the start of Gameweek 1. Large sections of the team had never competed in any form of continental competition, and the first two games proved to be a trial by fire. They started their campaign, where it ultimately ended, in Shandong, who inflicted a bruising 4–0 defeat on FC Seoul. An otherwise assured and composed backline made uncharacteristic errors, more akin to the kind of errors that we saw in the early stages of Matheus’ management.
The calibre of competition only increased when FC Seoul visited the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal, the most successful team in the history of the AFC Champions League, were up next. There was some improvement on the attacking front, but once again, FC Seoul conceded four goals to lose 4–2.
The first two matches served as a rude awakening, as FC Seoul suffered heavy defeats, leaving them to grapple with the realisation that their path to glory would not be as straightforward as their domestic exploits. For a team that had grown accustomed to success on the home front, the harsh reality of the AFC Champions League was a sobering reminder that they were now facing adversaries on a different level altogether.
Signs of life in the campaign, thanks to their home form
Several weeks later, there was a renewed sense of determination as FC Seoul returned to the familiar embrace of the Sangam Stadium. Domestically, they continued to win in spite of their poor start in the AFCCL. With a capacity crowd of 66,000 supporters behind them, FC Seoul defeated Melbourne City 2–0 in a performance that showcased the confidence, flair and defensive solidity that they were otherwise used to. “This was undoubtedly one of our best displays during my tenure,” said Matheus after the game. “We came into this match knowing that nothing less than a victory would suffice, and the players delivered in emphatic fashion.”
A week later against Al Hilal, it was much the same, but even better. Odion Ighalo put the opposition ahead, but FC Seoul demonstrated the kind of calmness and confidence in their own ability, that has come to define their identity under Matheus. Captain Stanislav Iljutcenko led from the front, scoring twice in the last twenty minutes to deliver a huge win for the Koreans.
Losing control of their own destiny
However, just as you may have expected FC Seoul to complete a hat-trick of home wins and secure their passage to the knockout round of the tournament, they slipped up. Despite FC Seoul dominating the game against Shandong Taishan, it was Marouane Fellaini taking a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box that would deliver a vital three points for his side. (Before going and doing the exact same just a few days later, to seal FC Seoul’s fate.)
In his post-match interview, Matheus was visibly disappointed. “We wanted to determine our destiny in the competition with our own efforts, but we must accept the result and move forward. It’s in these challenging moments that we have the opportunity to learn and grow as a team, to come back to a stage like this and right the wrongs.”
What now for FC Seoul?
Objectively, it is clear this campaign was just a start for this FC Seoul side. Barring a disaster of epic proportions, they will win the K-League again and be back in the AFCCL next season.
They can build around their core of impressive Korean talent, whose development will continue under the watchful eye of Matheus and his backroom staff. In theory, they will come back to the AFCCL with far less anxiety and apprehension — knowing that they have the capability to beat the very best in Asia.
But, that continued growth can be both a positive for FC Seoul’s chances and a potential problem. Take for instance, 20-year-old Kang Seong Jin (3G, 1A in AFCCL, 10G, 8A in K-League). The club managed to keep him in January, but he may almost certainly be subject to interest from European clubs in the upcoming summer window. There are also some other key players who are out of contract at the end of the season: Na Sang Ho (26, LM) and Kim Jin Ya (25, RB). Will they be tempted to stay for just that little bit longer, in the hope of taking FC Seoul to new heights? Or, will they seek success at either stronger clubs on the continent, or maybe even Europe too?
For Matheus, the next few months are about two things: continued domestic dominance and player development. They’ll hold onto what they can in the summer; recruit well, and be ready for another run in the AFC Champions League. He’ll hope for a far better start in next year’s group stage — and hopefully, a far more satisfying conclusion.
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