“This was our last home game of the season, and we’re very pleased with the result,” said Park. 

“The players had a short recovery period following the Korea Cup, and I was initially concerned about their physical condition. Thankfully, they showed no issues, and I’m very grateful to them for their effort.”

The win pushed Pohang to nine points and Park credited his players for their ability to rise to the occasion.

“It wasn’t easy managing both our domestic and AFC Champions League Elite commitments, but we’re delighted to have secured this win and demonstrated our confidence. 

“Vissel Kobe are a highly tactical and technical team, and we were mindful of the challenges they posed. However, our players rose to the occasion, and this victory gives us additional confidence as we prepare for the remaining fixtures.”

Vissel Kobe head coach Takayuki Yoshida expressed disappointment with his side’s performance, with his side facing a crucial final day in the domestic league on Sunday with the J1 League title at stake. 

“We wanted to bring back three points, but unfortunately, we couldn’t and I feel sorry for our supporters. We made some errors in judgment that affected the outcome, and for the next game, we’ll need to make adjustments. The players will also need to reflect on their performance,” said Yoshida.

“We finished the away game in Pohang under a tight schedule. Now, we’ll focus on the upcoming final match this weekend, which will determine whether we secure our second consecutive J1 League title.

“We made three substitutions at once to manage player conditions, keeping the league finale in mind. The game is just five days away. Tomorrow, we’ll spend the entire day traveling back to Japan, leaving us only three days to prepare. We’ll have to work hard to ensure the players are in the best possible condition.”

Vissel Kobe, who have a one point advantage over Sanfrecce Hiroshima, face Shonan Bellmare at home on Sunday. Sanfrecce play Gamba Osaka away.