‘I made a decision in September’: Paulo Bento leaves the South Korean national team

Portugal’s Paulo Bento has announced that he will no longer be South Korea’s coach after losing 4-1 to Brazil in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“This is where our participation ended and now it’s time to think about a future that won’t go through the Korean team. I’ll rest and then I’ll see what I do. I just reported this to the players, to the president, it’s a decision I’ve made since September. Today I just confirmed it and thanked for everything they have done and for everything they have given,” he said.

At a press conference after the meeting with Brazil, Paulo Bento said he was “very proud” of having coached the South Korean national team, which he has led since 2018. “If it wasn’t for the best band I would have worked with, they were definitely one of the best,” he said.

Regarding the round of 16 matchup, Paulo Bento said he was “sadden by the result but very proud of what these guys have done in these four years”.

This was Paulo Bento’s second World Cup as a manager after leading Portugal to the 2014 World Cup when the Kinas team failed to qualify from the group stage.

Paulo Bento’s statements for Canal 11 in the mixed zone:

Result against Brazil
“Little can be said about the result. This is a fair victory for Brazil, they were and remain the best team. I think that after the game, as part of our strategy, we were not able to put it into practice at that time. we wanted. Even if it’s hard to explain, with such an early goal, I think we didn’t start the game badly. The first goal we took with some discontent, the second goal was a penalty that we conceded with the situation, which I think was relatively good control. It wasn’t a dangerous move. After 2:0 the game was almost over. In the first half, we made a few mistakes that led to some transfers to Brazil, almost every time they reached our goal. we scored a goal in the first half. We tried to regroup and rebuild for the second half in order to calm the players a little and analyze the actions. We changed our style of play, we started playing 4-3-3 and not 4-2-3-1 I think that Brazil also lowered the intensity a little in the second part and allowed us to play a bit. As I said, it was an honest victory for the best team. It would be fairer to score more points in the group stage, especially in the game with Ghana, which we clearly deserved to win. But I think we left a good idea of ​​the quality of this team’s game and the consistency of what we’ve been doing for four years, a process that has been beautiful and long. And now congratulations and congratulations to my players for everything they’ve done in these four years.”

The decision to leave the technical team
“I have made this decision since September, the players have known about it since then. There was an invitation from the federation, then there was a decision on my part. Obviously, when you apply for an invitation, there are things you can accept and other situations that are more difficult to accept. I went back to speak with the President after my decision was made, and I realized that today was over. I already understood that , I just confirmed it again today. If it was my heart and to continue working with them, I would stay, I have not the slightest doubt, but I made other decisions at other times more with my heart than with my head, I feel that today, as a result of the experiences I’ve had, I’ve used my brain more than my emotions. I’ll have to complete a long process that wasn’t in Korea. As you know, I have already been in other lengthy processes such as Sporting CP and the national team. It was a great experience with a fantastic group. It’s always difficult. It’s not safe to say that this was the best band we’ve worked with, but it was definitely one of the best bands I’ve ever worked with.”

What will follow?
“Now a trip to Korea, and then take care of the things that need to be taken care of: say goodbye to some people, and then return to our country to rest a bit and see what happens.”

Support for the national team for the remainder of the World Cup
“Obviously, I think that at this World Cup there was already a double happiness, to miss the team that I lead and for which I have great love and respect, and the team of my country. I think the last game was more dramatic for us, because it could and should have been if there was justice in football, a game that determined the first place in our group, but it was impossible. The best luck for the national team, that she can go as far as possible. If we can become world champions, so much the better, and we’ll be rooting for Portugal from now on.”