‘I’ll play in any position’: Lee Kang-in unfazed by role as PSG’s jack-of-all-trades

Lee Kang-in has insisted that what matters is giving 100 percent on the pitch, regardless of what position he plays, the versatile PSG midfielder said Monday in a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven.

PSG midfielder Lee Kang-in, center, applauds spectators after the Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Lee Kang-in has insisted that what matters is giving 100 percent on the pitch, regardless of what position he plays, the versatile PSG midfielder said Monday in a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven.

"As an attacking player, you always want to score or assist," Lee said in Spanish, translated into English using Google Translate. "But the most important thing is to help the team win. You can always do better, but I think the start of the season has been good. I'm happy to be able to score and help the team."

"Every time I play as a No. 9, [PSG manager] Luis Enrique asks me to be very mobile. I think it's beneficial because you can create space and opportunities. With this freedom and mobility, you can have more chances and score more goals. The position that I like the most? I want to play in any position — I will always give 100 percent to help my teammates and the team."

His remarks come after he has played in multiple positions this season due to the absence of his former teammate Kylian Mbappé, who left to join Real Madrid this summer.

Lee has played as a winger, attacking midfielder and false nine, picking up four goals across 10 matches so far this season.

While he mostly played as a winger last season and continues to execute that role with the Korean national team, his performance as a false nine proved effective in the Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg on Saturday, where he displayed good positioning and scored a goal.

Lee, 22, combines strong technical ability, acceleration and accurate shooting, enabling him to dribble past players and advance the ball in attacking situations.

The Ligue 1 champions head into Tuesday’s match with one win and one loss in the new league phase of the revamped Champions League. Lee has yet to register a goal or assist in the tournament.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]