Jesse Lingard arrived at FC Seoul with much anticipation and fanfare, but his performance on the pitch has failed to live up to the excitement off it. The former England international has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons and is striving to improve his fortunes, aiming to join the ranks of successful British exports. Lingard’s lack of playing time meant it was expected that he would need some time to adapt and get up to speed.

Nevertheless, his arrival attracted a large crowd of 52,000 for his debut, marking the highest attendance since South Korea began counting only purchased tickets in 2018. During his debut, he received huge cheers every time he had the ball. However, Seoul has struggled domestically, and Lingard has been absent for the team.

The team’s head coach, Kim Ki-dong, gained attention when he criticized Lingard for what he perceived as a lack of effort, emphasizing that “fame doesn’t win football matches.” Lingard is set to return from injury in mid-May, but his coach has made it clear that he will need to demonstrate a stronger work rate to meet expectations. The coach emphasized the importance of effort and work rate for a player to be considered a true footballer, suggesting that he has contemplated removing Lingard from the team if those expectations are not met.

The K-League, recognized as one of the top three leagues in Asia alongside those in Japan and Saudi Arabia, has a successful record in continental championships. FC Seoul has not won their domestic league since 2016, lacking a significant challenge for the title in recent years.