"It's a special game... we want to win"

Osmar of professional soccer's K League 2 (2nd Division) Seoul Irand FC has vowed to put up a good fight against his hometown team of nine years, K League 1 (1st Division) FC Seoul.

The team will host Seoul in the third round of the 2024 Hana Bank Korea Cup at Mokdongju Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on May 17 at 7:30 p.m.

It will be the second 'Seoul Derby' in the history of the tournament, as the two teams are battling for a spot in the Round of 16.

In particular, Osmar, who played for Seoul until last year, will be making his first appearance after switching to the new Eland jersey. It is also known as the 'Osmar Derby'.

Osmar made his K League debut in 2014 and has been a key player for Seoul, making 282 appearances (22 goals, 12 assists) in his career. He played for the club for nine years, excluding a loan spell at Cerezo Osaka (Japan) in 2018.

Osmar was uncharacteristically ready to play against his hometown team and former teammates.

"It's a very strange feeling," he told the club. I don't know how I'm going to feel when I meet and greet my old teammates before the game," he said, adding, "It's going to be a really special game because the emotions I feel now will be amplified 10 times, 100 times."

Osmar has played against England before, in the third round of the 2021 FA Cup (now the Korea Cup) during his time in Seoul. He played the full time and the match ended in a 1-0 victory for Korea.

"Honestly, I thought it would be an easy game, but it wasn't," he says of the defeat. I hope they come with the same mindset this time," he said, adding, "We want to show that we are not an easy team. This is our home. We want to win."

"We have to recognize our strengths as a team. Our strength is to defend and attack together. We're getting better and better, so I hope we can play well in the Seoul derby."

"I've trained and played with the Seoul players, but I've never played against them in an official match, so it's new. It will be a challenge for myself," he said, adding, "I hope to see them on the field with good preparation to show the fans good matches, memories, and new stories."