Cheonan: Newly appointed interim South Korea head coach Robert Moreno addressed controversial reports regarding his past coaching methods as he unveiled his inaugural squad on Monday.

Moreno took charge in August under a short-term contract extending through November. He takes over from Hong Myung-bo, who stepped down following a group-stage exit at the World Cup.

The former Spain manager—who oversaw nine matches for his national team in 2009—was dismissed by Russian side Sochi FC in September 2025. Following his departure, the club alleged that he relied heavily on artificial intelligence to formulate match strategies.

“If you verify facts, you will see that much of what was reported was taken out of context and blown out of proportion,” Moreno clarified during a press conference in Cheonan. “Obviously I use technology…those reports are not true.”

Moreno’s six-game tenure kicks off on September 24 against Ecuador, with 34-year-old LAFC forward Son Heung-min remaining as team captain.

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“We’re all aware of Son’s versatility,” Moreno said regarding the veteran forward. “For me he can play in three positions.”

The primary mandate for Moreno is repairing public trust in the national team setup. Widespread skepticism surrounding Hong’s selection in 2024 escalated into intense criticism following the early World Cup exit.

In July, Hong and former Korea Football Association (KFA) head Chung Mong-gyu faced questioning during a parliamentary hearing. Police subsequently raided KFA headquarters in August, leading to a public apology from the federation after a government audit revealed that foreign referees had been provided "sexual entertainment" in 2011 and 2012.

“I have studied World Cup matches and players inside out but I think it is inappropriate to publicly evaluate my predecessor,” Moreno noted when asked about the previous regime. “It is important to use whatever happened in the past as a learning opportunity. What is clear is that when you lose, many problems surface. But when you win, they fade away.”

As part of their build-up for the 2027 Asian Cup set for January in Saudi Arabia, South Korea is scheduled to play Uruguay, Venezuela, Uzbekistan, and two additional opponents yet to be confirmed. (AP)