{"id":24211,"date":"2023-11-13T17:10:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T17:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/klinsmann-targets-end-to-s-korea-asian-cup-drought-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-11-13T17:10:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T17:10:04","slug":"klinsmann-targets-end-to-s-korea-asian-cup-drought-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/klinsmann-targets-end-to-s-korea-asian-cup-drought-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Klinsmann targets end to S. Korea Asian Cup drought | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nSEOUL:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann<\/a> on Monday set his sights on ending South Korea’s Asian Cup title drought in Qatar next year, and told fans to blame him if they fall short.<\/p>\n

South Korea are regional powerhouses who reached the 2002 World Cup semi-finals as co-hosts but they have not lifted the continental title since 1960.<\/p>\n

Klinsmann has had mixed results since replacing Paulo Bento in February, failing to win in his first five games before racking up three straight victories.<\/p>\n

The German legend said he would accept nothing less than the Asian Cup title when the pandemic-delayed tournament kicks off in January.<\/p>\n

“We want to go there and win the Asian Cup,” the former Germany and United States boss told reporters.<\/p>\n

“Win it and not say ‘maybe the final four’ or ‘maybe, maybe, maybe’. Not maybe — we go there to win it.”<\/p>\n

South Korea will start as one of the Asian Cup favourites, with Klinsmann able to call on star names like Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, Bayern Munich’s<\/a> Kim Min-jae and Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in.<\/p>\n

The Taeguk Warriors lost to Australia in the 2015 Asian Cup final and were bundled out by Qatar in the quarter-finals four years later.<\/p>\n

Klinsmann said it was “right” that fans expect his team to lift the trophy and accepted that he will be to blame if they don’t.<\/p>\n

“We have to aim for the highest goal, and if we don’t reach it then it’s the fault of the coach — no problem,” he said.<\/p>\n

“But you have to set the goals, clear goals. This is what we will do.”<\/p>\n

South Korea kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Singapore on Thursday, before travelling to face China five days later.<\/p>\n

They have also been drawn with Thailand in one of the toughest groups of the second round of Asian qualifiers.<\/p>\n

Klinsmann said he had travelled to Singapore to scout their first opponents and warned his players that they have to “be serious”.<\/p>\n

“You have to have a very professional mindset to go through World Cup qualifying, even if you have more slots available,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It would be the wrong way to look at it.”<\/p>\n

Klinsmann has not had a smooth ride since taking the job, with supporters and media accusing him of reneging on a pledge to move to the country, saying he spends more time at home in California than he does in South Korea.<\/p>\n

Klinsmann defended his approach by pointing out that 70 percent of his players were based in Europe, and said he would “not change the way I work”.<\/p>\n

“The KFA knew that I would go back and forth, they knew that I look at my work from an international perspective and not from a domestic,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I’m not a K-League coach, I’m an international coach.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n