With the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) hosting the Asian Cup, English Premier League (EPL) teams will lose their core during the season.
The AFC announced the 2023 Asian Cup schedule on its official website on the 5th (Korean time). The competition starts on January 12, 2024 and ends on February 10, 2024. The draw for the 24 finalists has been decided to be held in Doha, Qatar, on May 12.
Originally, the event was scheduled to be held in China from mid-June to mid-July this year. However, the tournament was postponed when China returned the right to host the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Korea also stepped up to host the 2023 Asian Cup, but Qatar took the hosting rights. Since it is impossible to hold the tournament in the summer in Qatar, it was confirmed that the event will be held in the winter as well.
British ‘Talk Sports’ said on the 6th, “Tottenham Hotspur, 먹튀검증 Brighton and Arsenal will lose key players due to the Asian Cup midway through next season. It will be a direct hit.” As it is held in the middle of the season, if players are selected, it will inevitably be a blow to the power. Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma and Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu were mentioned. They are all players who play an important role in the team.
‘Talk Sports’ said, “Son Heung-min is a striker that Tottenham relies on, although it is regrettable considering that he was the top scorer in the EPL last season. Whoever comes as a manager will try to revive Son Heung-min’s ability. A departure will be fatal for the next manager and he will likely try to find new attacking options.”
Regarding Mitoma and Tomiyasu, “Mitoma, who had a sensational performance in Brighton, has secured a place in the Japanese national team. Even if you catch Mitoma in the summer, you will lose it briefly in the winter. Tomiyasu can play anywhere in the defense. Defensive stability. When this was needed, coach Mikel Arteta used Tomiyas. Tomiyas, the core of Japan, will be called up to the Asian Cup unconditionally.”
Although it has not been mentioned, Wolverhampton’s Hwang Hee-chan will also be called up to Klinsman to play the Asian Cup. It is clear that teams with Asian Premier League players next season will be able to run the entire season stably only by taking measures against departures before the start of the season.