Diego Forlán and Rodrigo Bentancur have shared their thoughts ahead of Uruguay's friendly against South Korea. The match, which kicks off on Monday at 8 a.m. Uruguayan time at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, is the second and penultimate test of La Celeste's Asian tour.

Forlán, Uruguay's interim head coach, acknowledged the high standard of the opposition. The former striker highlighted the growth of football in Japan and South Korea, with many players now featuring in top European leagues. "Pressure always exists, whether you are interim or not, because of the responsibility of being in charge of a national team, in this case that of my country, with the history it has," the coach explained. He stated the match would be difficult and high-intensity, but that it was a privilege for the squad to be together. The coach also detailed that the team has had 180 minutes of on-field work this week, with sessions focused on high pressing and defensive transition, aiming to correct the mistakes that have led to a run of five matches without a win.

Squad condition

Rodrigo Bentancur, for his part, confirmed the good physical condition of the group. "The squad is very well and all the players are recovered. We are ready for tomorrow's match, with a lot of desire," said the Tottenham midfielder. Bentancur, known as 'Lolo', also expressed his excitement at facing his former teammate Heung-min Son, promising he and his colleagues would try to stop the South Korean forward from scoring.

This fixture follows a 3-1 defeat to Japan on September 24, a result that leaves Uruguay on a run of five matches without a win.

Forlán has stressed that no opponent should be underestimated, a key message for a side looking to get back on track. The match falls within the FIFA international window and will help fine-tune details ahead of upcoming official commitments. The squad will return home after this fixture, closing a tour that has provided valuable experience in distant conditions. The coach concluded that, beyond the result, the objective is to accumulate minutes of collective work and solidify concepts that will allow them to regain effectiveness in the decisive competitions ahead.

First reported at Montevideo Portal