For Paul’s 2023 article on Kang-in, click here.
Going from being the big fish in a small pond to the little fish in a big pond is never an easy transition. This is the transition Lee Kang-in had to make this year, moving from middle-of-the-table La Liga side Mallorca FC to Ligue 1 kings and perennial Champions League participants, Paris Saint-Germain FC.
There were a lot of question marks and many of Kang-in’s fans were scratching their heads as to why he would choose PSG. There were talks of Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa, but out of nowhere, PSG nabbed the rising Korean star coming off the best year of his young career (6 goals, 6 assists). PSG is loaded with talent, and many wondered if this was strictly a marketing decision and that Kangin would just ride the bench.
It started quite well for Kang-in. He was acclimating well to his new surroundings since his Spanish fluency allowed him to relate not only to new manager Luis Enrique but also to the many Spanish squad members. He started the first preseason game, and he looked great. However, this is where he started to take a few steps back. He picked up a knock that took him out a few weeks. This time was crucial as he was getting used to playing with his new teammates in a new system.
Luis Enrique still believed in Kangin, and when he returned from injury he was thrust into the starting lineup. Again he plays well, but a couple of games into the regular season, he again picks up a knock. To compound things, PSG picked up a slew of new players, Ousmane Dembélé being the biggest name acquisition, with his transfer announced in the middle of August as the season was getting going. Unfortunately for Kang-in, Ousmane just is a player who would naturally take over the Right Wing position he was excelling at for the Korean National Team.
Kangin doesn’t even get a chance to compete for playing time after returning from his injury as he is sent to the 2023 Asian Games with the Under-24 Korean squad. Earning a gold medal here was paramount for Kangin, as doing so would exempt him from the mandatory 2-year military service and shrink it to a 2-week basic training camp that he could complete whenever he had off-season free time. As he was just returning from injury, his play wasn’t great, but the team was strong enough to push through and earn gold. Kangin immediately went and joined the Korean National Team for the October friendlies and as his form started to return, it started to show on the pitch as he notched multiple goals and assists during this time.
Then, he returned to PSG, playing as well as he ever has. Would he still start, or was he just a marketing tool? The latter would prove to be true at first, as Kang-in jersey sales would skyrocket, even surpassing superstar Kylian Mbappe. They also had an Asia tour during the preseason, which Kangin joined but did not play in, so it’s clear that the marketing factor is THERE. Fortunately, though, two different things can end up being true! Luis Enrique made it known that he loves Kangin’s versatility as a player, and Kangin got thrust back into the starting lineup in the Left Midfield position, while the Right Wing spot he excels at with the Korean National team is occupied by Dembele. Although maybe not as flashy nor with the same stats-potential as he could get on the Right Wing, Kang-in got more and more comfortable in his midfield position as the season progressed. Notching his debut goal in the Champions League, scoring goals and providing assists in Ligue 1, and even recently winning the Man of the Match at the French Trophée des Champions en route to his 2nd trophy in his career (won the Copa Del Rey with Valencia).
That’s the basic facts of what has occurred for Kang-in since his breakout year in Mallorca, but what about his play? Has anything changed? You bet your butt it did.
What we have to remember here first is that Kangin was Mallorca’s star and most if not all of the offense was put on his plate to start, create, and sometimes even finish. He had the freedom to dribble the ball however he saw fit, and got the “free role” that all superstars do. That player is no longer needed for both PSG and the KNT. We’ll take a look at Kangin on both squads.
On the KNT, Jurgen Klinsmann may have his shortcomings, but establishing and letting Lee Kang-in cook on the Right Wing for the Taegeuk Warriors might be the best thing he’s done (along with playing Son Heung-min centrally). Kang-in has been killing it for the KNT from the RW. He’s really emerged as somebody as important as the likes of the two world-class players the KNT has: Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae. You can see the confidence growing, and the role and respect on this team are expanding, yet he’s only 22 years of age. On the right, with the sideline behind him, he can focus on the defense in front of him with a good amount of the pitch at his disposal. This allows him to dribble aggressively from an inverted standpoint while also having a plethora of passing angles to be dangerous. If he stays in this role, the number of goals and assists he’ll rack up will be tremendous, and let’s not forget his elite set piece-taking either!
His role is completely different at PSG. He’s used more in the midfield, and primarily on the left. Playing much deeper than he does with the KNT, in this role Kang-in is more of an initiator than a creator/playmaker. He gets the offense going with his precision passing, which allows attacking players like Mbappé, Dembélé, and Barcola the space to do their thing. He’s also doing his best Lee Jae-sung impression with PSG and is scoring the majority of his goals by crashing the box and being at the right place and the right time instead of relying on his individual brilliance. While I do believe Kangin would excel more on the right wing, as he does for the KNT, Dembele’s presence obviously prevents this scenario from occurring on the regular. The blessing in disguise here? Kang-in is forced to expand his game. Much like how he upgraded his defense by playing for Mallorca, I believe Kangin has improved his offensive passing and off-the-ball movement while at PSG. He isn’t relied upon to beat his man off the dribble and create offense like he was at Mallorca. Luis Enrique’s philosophy revolves around possession and keeping it, so you can say Kangin’s play is much safer and more efficient than it was at Mallorca. It was an adjustment for Kangin, but Enrique seems to love him and if he’s getting starting minutes like he has, who are we to complain?
While not quite a world-class player yet, I do believe Kangin, at the ripe age of 22, is taking the right steps into becoming one. There is still so much untapped potential, which is hard to believe given his skill and abilities already. With the Asian Cup about to begin, this could be another stepping stone for him. If he can score goals and give assists like we know he can and bring the title home for Korea for the first time in 64 years, I feel like that would catapult his confidence to the next level. You might think to yourself, “Wow, the kid has accomplished so much at such a young age”, but the reality of it is that he is just getting started.