-Will you return to Korea in two years?

"First I will go to Eindhoven, however, I want to continue relations with Korean soccer and Korean people. I will be an advisor or anything for Korean soccer."

-How do you evaluate the World Cup outcome?

"I think the World Cup was a large success in that people who didn't like soccer much came to love it, especially with female fans. Korean soccer must use this power to raise the level of the K league games."

-You fulfilled our dream. When was the first time you were sure that the players could perform a miracle?

"I didn't speak of it in public, but I had that 'feeling' last March. In March, the players from Japan and Europe all got together and it was from then on that we could estimate our level. After training every day with all the players and attuning ourselves, I could not assert the round of 16, but knew that we were going to perform much better than anticipated."

-What was the level of the players that came back from abroad?

"When I first saw Ahn Jung-hwan he was really terrible. I warned him that if he didn't follow my training system, he wasn't going to be able to even dream of the World Cup. He knew what I was saying, and started to cultivate himself.

-Wasn't Ahn Jung-hwan an alternate player for the second half?

"I think Ahn Jung-hwan was conceited in his heart because he was playing in Italy. I thought I had to shake him up a bit. I teased, 'Who knows you in Italy? Probably the people of Perugia know that Ahn Jung-hwan watches the benches.'"

-Was that effective?

"Of course. Sometimes the coach has to irritate the players. Good players show response and bad players break down. Those that didn't show respond to my scolding were not included in the 23. Ahn Jung-hwan and Lee Chun-su showed good results. On the other hand, there was no need to scold players like Lee Young-pyo, Park Ji-sung, and Kim Nam-il. They are young and have a spirit like fire. They are players who would really fight on the grounds with their fists if you would let them. I had to pat them on the head and tell them to ease their temper. The methods differ according to player and the duty of a coach is to maximize each player's skill and relate it to the game.

-Was there any spiritual training in preparation for big games?

"It was most important to give them confidence. I gave the players a detailed analysis on their opponent in the group leagues. They knew the teams well and had played against them. Any strong team has its weak points and our job is to find those weak points and dig our way in. I wanted to show a new Korean soccer that was based on physical strength and play a tough, strong, and offensive game. I especially wanted to lead the game the way the opposite team wouldn't like it. After analyzing Portugal and Poland, they are both fine times, but we found out that they become bewildered if they are pushed into tackles from the very start. We planned our strategy by heightening the Korean team's characteristics."

-Personally, which game during this year's World Cup is most memorable?

"It was the quarterfinals with Italy. We missed a penalty kick and Italy had scored. It was the end for any strong team in that situation, especially against Italy. Italy had a 'zero-sum game.' All they had to think was 'even if we don't score we won't let a ball through.' They were probably the only team in the world who could have made that come true. But Korea overcame that with their skill and mentality. The Korean team fights more passionately in the worst conditions. It was most memorable because they showed their real talent in a difficult situation."

-Didn't you think you should substitute Ahn Jeong-hwan when he missed the penalty kick.

"Missing a penalty kick doesn't mean the game is ruined. Many internationally famous players have missed penalty kicks. Ahn Jung-hwan showed that he wanted to do something and I trusted his attitude. Actually, Ahn Jung-hwan was at first a little lazy both mentally and physically but he took my scolding as bitter medicine and eagerly followed my lead. I thought that with that will, he could overcome a crisis."

- Is that the role of a star player?

"You have to have good team work to play against a team like Italy. However, the game turns with the slightest difference and that difference makes one or two star players. When I was a coach at Eindhoven, Brazil's superstar Ronaldo once played terrible games. When that happened, I took him out to stimulate him. Then I put him in as a starting member in the next game and he scores three, four goals. Good players are bound to respond to any kind of form. They show their response on the ground instead of with words. Those players make the team different. Ahn Jung-hwan is not on the level with Ronaldo, but he was a player that could make the team different."

- Which players do you think will be able to run in Europe?

"All players are capable of playing in Europe. It is the league and club that matters. Even if they start in the second league, they must select teams where they can play as ace players. Money is a second thing. If they succeed there, then they can go on to the next level."

- Why is it important to be an ace player?

"Ahn Jung-hwan and Seol Ki-hyun were playing in Europe and Hong Myung-bo and Hwang Sun-hong were playing in Japan and they are stars in Korea. However, they were not always ace players so when they joined the team, their playing levels were not that high. Rather, the players in Korea had better skills. Those that came back from abroad had much difficulty in getting used to the training and it was even shocking. I said to them, 'You may be stars in the media but that means nothing to me.' I told them not to put on airs from starring in advertisements and riding nice cars but to show that they were stars by their skills on the grounds. Real stars know what is important. Our players immediately caught my drift."

- Are there any Korean players that you would like to take back with you to Europe?

"If I could make a contribution to Korea, I would like to take the younger players to Europe to give them long-term training for the 2004 Olympics and 2006 World Cup. I would like to take with me yet unknown 18 to 19 year-old young players to Eindhoven or introduce them to other clubs."

- What does the Korean team lack in comparison with the world's greatest teams?

"Don't underestimate the Korean team. When I first came to Korea, all that the so-called specialists said was Europe this and Europe that. Of course, there are big leagues in Europe, but that doesn't mean we have to feel inferior. Didn't our players just prove that we could go to top?"

- What do you think is the most urgent task for Korean soccer?

"Korean soccer is going through a time of changes. There are young players from 18 to 25 who can keep their strength until the 2006 World Cup as well as five or six older players, who have already retired or will retire soon. Korean soccer must transfuse fresh, young blood."

- Do you have a favorite Korean song?

"I can't sing the national anthem but I can hum along. I'd like to share an episode from the congratulatory parade. When the national anthem was playing, I was humming along and the child standing in front of me smiled. But to others it seemed like I was chatting with the child and for a time there were talks that I had not been respectful to the national anthem. I was just singing along to the melody. Actually, I sang along with the Korean national anthem at every game we played."

(Hong Heon-pyo, bowler1@chosun.com )