Next few months to be decisive for Ki, Korea
Korea was so desperate ahead of its final two games of qualification for the 2018 World Cup on Aug. 31 and Sept. 5 that it selected Ki Sung-yeung who was not fit. The captain had spent all summer recovering from knee surgery. In the end, he did not even make the substitute’s bench against Iran or Uzbekistan.
The fact that he has just now started playing again for Swansea City, his club in the English Premier League, shows how far from fit he actually was two months ago. Still, better late than never and Ki’s late start to the season may mean that he is a little fresher than others when the World Cup kicks off next June.
Ki completed his first full game of the English season midweek as Swansea lost to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. It ended in a 2-0 defeat though Ki was perhaps the standout player, earning the highest rating from Wales Online news site.
“It has not been good to have to wait so long to play, after four months this is my first 90 minutes,” Ki said.
His injury came at a bad time for the South Wales club. Swansea has not really got going this season and has won just two of its first ten games. Last season, Ki came into the team and helped it avoid relegation to the second tier, which happens to the bottom three teams in the 20-member league. A relegation battle is on the cards for this season too.
“I had played for the manager at the end of last season,” Ki said. “I had hoped to be in the team right from the start of the season.” At least now he can make a difference. “It is never easy to watch when things are difficult and as a team I want to help us.”
He also played in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal that was a sixth loss in ten games this season. Now the focus for the team is on staying in the Premier League.
As well as the team’s target of stay- ing in the top tier, there is something else for Ki. His contract at the club expires next summer. Then, he can leave for another team without a transfer fee. From January, he is allowed to start talking to other clubs.
Club coach Paul Clement is happy that Ki is back to fitness though there was some understandable frustration at the club that his injury came while playing for Korea in Qatar in June.
“I was really disappointed that he got injured in the summer and I wasn’t able to use him from the word go this season,” Clement said. “He’s a really good player and he’s played lots of games since I came here.”
Whatever Ki’s future, and as he is to turn 29 in January, if he is to seek a new club then next summer would be the perfect time, it is all good news for Korea coach Shin Tae-yong.
Ki adds control, composure and class to the Korean midfield. He is a big player for his country and he is likely to be a big player for his club over the next few months as Swansea fights for top tier survival. The next few months are going to be nothing if not exciting.