In the aftershocks of the “ping-pong incident” that shook Korean soccer, one of the concerns was whether Lee Kang-in (23, Paris Saint-Germain) would be psychologically shaken. The criticism was too strong.
This is the first time Lee’s unstoppable rise since he was a shooting star has been halted. His place at Paris Saint-Germain was in doubt, and his slump could have been prolonged if he didn’t prove himself on the pitch.
Luckily, the lid has been lifted and the results are positive. Despite the increased frequency of his appearances off the bench, there hasn’t been a significant difference in his performance.
Lee came off the bench in the 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the Champions League round of 16 second leg in San Sebastian, Spain on June 6 to record his first individual assist in the Champions League. It would prove to be a catalyst for things to come.
Lee came on as a substitute at the start of the second half and showed his quality throughout the 45 minutes. The highlight was a penetrating pass in the 11th minute that found space behind the defense. Kylian Mbappe latched onto the pass and finished with a right-footed shot to seal the win.
Lee’s performance was confirmed by the statistics. According to sports statistics company Opta, Lee completed all nine of his passes in the offensive zone in 45 minutes, as well as creating a chance and assisting once each. He also drew three fouls from opponents who were wary of him.
Lee’s unwavering mental toughness was also confirmed. If we compare the 20 games that Lee played for Paris Saint-Germain before the Asian Cup (13 Ligue 1, one cup competition, six Champions League games) with the four games he played afterward (three Ligue 1, one Champions League), we see an improvement in his attacking contribution.
Lee came off the bench in the 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the Champions League round of 16 second leg in San Sebastian, Spain on June 6 to record his first individual assist in the Champions League. It would prove to be a catalyst for things to come.
Lee came on as a substitute at the start of the second half and showed his quality throughout the 45 minutes. The highlight was a penetrating pass in the 11th minute that found space behind the defense. Kylian Mbappe latched onto the pass and finished with a right-footed shot to seal the win.
Lee’s performance was confirmed by the statistics. According to sports statistics company Opta, Lee completed all nine of his passes in the offensive zone in 45 minutes, as well as creating a chance and assisting once each. He also drew three fouls from opponents who were wary of him.
Lee’s unwavering mental toughness was also confirmed. If we compare the 20 games that Lee played for Paris Saint-Germain before the Asian Cup (13 Ligue 1, one cup competition, six Champions League games) with the four games he played afterward (three Ligue 1, one Champions League), we see an improvement in his attacking contribution.