Moreno denies adopting artificial intelligence

Spaniard Robert Moreno, the interim coach of the South Korean national football team, denied relying on artificial intelligence in preparing his team or in his previous coaching experiences, asserting that the claims made on this matter were taken out of context and exaggerated. Moreno took over the South Korean team last August on a contract extending until the end of November, succeeding Hong Myung-bo, who resigned after South Korea's elimination from the World Cup group stage. Moreno previously coached the Spanish national team for nine matches in 2019 before being dismissed from his position as coach of Russian club Sochi in September 2025 due to poor results, amidst accusations from the club that the Spanish coach was relying on artificial intelligence in his work. Speaking at a press conference in Cheonan, Moreno said, "If you review the facts, you will find that much of what has been published has been taken out of context and exaggerated. It's natural for me to use technology, but these reports are incorrect." Moreno is preparing for his first match with the South Korean national team against Ecuador on September 24, while Son Heung-min, the Los Angeles FC striker, will continue to wear the captain's armband. The Spanish coach praised the abilities of the 34-year-old Son, noting his versatility on the field. He said, "We all know how capable he is of playing in multiple positions, and for me, he can play in three." Moreno faces the difficult task of regaining the trust of Korean fans, following a period of mounting criticism, particularly since the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach in 2024, before the anger intensified after the disappointing performance at the World Cup. Hong was questioned by members of parliament last July, along with Chung Mong-gyu, the former president of the Korea Football Association. Police raided the association's offices in August amidst investigations and allegations that have sparked widespread controversy surrounding the management of football in the country. The Korean Football Association also issued an apology after a leaked government report alleged that the association provided "sexual entertainment services" to foreign referees during 2011 and 2012. Moreno confirmed that he had meticulously studied South Korea's World Cup matches and player performances, but declined to publicly criticize his predecessor. He stated, "I studied the World Cup matches and the players thoroughly, but I believe it is inappropriate to publicly evaluate my predecessor. It's important to learn from the past and draw lessons from it." He added, "It's clear that when you lose, many problems surface, but when you win, they diminish." South Korea will play a number of preparatory matches in the coming period for the 2027 Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia. They will face Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan, along with other opponents yet to be determined, as part of Moreno's efforts to build a team capable of competing at the continental level.