Jürgen Klinsmann has admitted he’s faced a “huge learning curve” during his brief stint as South Korea head coach.
Klinsmann has been in the job for just six months, but is already under pressure after failing to win any of his four games in charge so far.
Draws against Colombia and El Salvador, and defeats at the hands of Uruguay and Peru, have ramped up the pressure on the former U.S. men’s national team coach ahead of friendlies against Wales and Saudi Arabia.
At a press conference ahead of Thursday’s match against Wales at Cardiff City Stadium, Klinsmann said he was happy with the progress his team showed in his first four games despite a lack of results.
“I think we did quite well the first four games,” the former Germany international said. “We didn’t get the results, but I was pleased with the way the team showed up and dominated all four games.
“We didn’t have Sonny (Son Heung-min) in the last two games because of his injury, and we didn’t have (Kim) Min-jae either, but for me, it’s a huge learning curve. I want to see the progress happening with every game. I want to win absolutely, no doubt about it, but the must-win comes in Qatar (host of January’s Asian Cup).”
Klinsmann has been criticized in South Korea not only for the team’s results, but also the fact he’s continued living in Los Angeles during his tenure as head coach of the Taegeuk Warriors.
Korean media calculated that Klinsmann has spent just 67 days in the Asian country since his appointment in February.
After Jurgen Klinsmann took charge of South Korea, the period of his stay in Korea is only 67 days. His contract has a provision for living in Korea, but no specifics on the exact period. pic.twitter.com/t9Ak6fmEN8
— Korea Football News (@KORFootballNews) August 17, 2023
“The fans are very disappointed with the fact he is spending most of his time in the USA rather than in Korea,” South Korea journalist Lee Sung-mo told the BBC.
“[K-League] games are being played every week, and there are many talented young players there,” said Lee. “The fans expect the manager to visit to see them himself and communicate with fans, K-League clubs and players.”
In a press conference last month, Klinsmann defended his decision to spend most of his time away from the country he is coaching.
“Maybe it’s something new to people that are used to doing it differently. I don’t blame anybody when they say, ‘Where is he?'” Klinsmann said. “The work of a national team coach is international. I need to know what goes on in Europe. I need to be in touch with the coaches of the [Korean] players in Europe.
“I am a workaholic. I love to work like Koreans love to work. If I’m not maybe 24/7 in the country, I still work 24/7.”
On Wednesday, Klinsmann acknowledged the criticism of the team’s on-field displays, adding that it comes with the territory.
“That is normal,” he said. “You can also win all four games in the beginning and there will be still criticism — maybe the way you play, maybe the way the team plays, maybe the way you sub, maybe whatever. That is part of your job. You’ve got to live with criticism every day, probably 80% of your paycheck is that everybody’s allowed to tell you what to do. But it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s a wonderful experience so far.”
[lawrence-related id=14607,10021,27511]