Robert Moreno has walked into one of many extra demanding jobs in worldwide soccer with South Korea determined to rebuild confidence, however his first press convention shortly turned in the direction of an uncommon controversy from his earlier function. The Spaniard was compelled to handle claims that synthetic intelligence had performed an inappropriate function in his work at Russian membership Sochi, earlier than turning his consideration to a really totally different problem: restoring perception within the Taegeuk Warriors.
Robert Moreno denies utilizing AI to arrange for video games
Moreno strongly denied experiences that he relied closely on synthetic intelligence throughout his time at Sochi, the place he was dismissed in September 2025 following a poor begin to the season.The Spaniard took cost of the Russian Premier League membership on December 15, 2023, arriving with Sochi on the backside of the desk. He remained within the job till September 2, 2025, when he left by mutual consent after the membership collected only one level from its opening seven matches of the brand new marketing campaign. His total document at Sochi ended with 22 wins, 17 attracts and 23 defeats.The controversy surrounding his strategies emerged after his departure. Sochi’s former sporting and basic director Andrei Orlov claimed Moreno had developed an unusually heavy reliance on ChatGPT for a variety of membership operations.In accordance with claims from membership officers, AI was allegedly used for all the things from planning coaching classes and figuring out potential switch targets to deciding on beginning lineups and organising journey. One significantly controversial instance concerned an away journey to Khabarovsk, the place an AI-generated itinerary reportedly proposed preserving the gamers awake for 28 consecutive hours.The claims additionally included an alleged suggestion involving striker Artur Shushenachev, additional fuelling strategies that ChatGPT had gone far past being a easy analytical device and had turn out to be concerned in key soccer choices.Moreno rejected that portrayal when the topic was raised at his first press convention as South Korea’s interim coach in Cheonan on Monday.“It was a bit of stories that’s utterly false and went viral,” he mentioned.Moreno acknowledged that he does use know-how however insisted that the experiences had distorted how he labored.“Clearly I exploit know-how,” he mentioned. “For those who confirm information, you will notice that a lot of what was reported was taken out of context and blown out of proportion.”He added: “Anybody who spends 10 minutes trying into it will probably see that all the things has been taken out of context and put collectively to trigger hurt.”Moreno was appointed South Korea’s interim coach in August on a contract operating till the tip of November. The Korea Soccer Affiliation might prolong that association by way of the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January and February, though that will be “topic to an analysis”.The 48-year-old, who beforehand took cost of Spain for 9 matches in 2009, is the primary Spaniard to educate South Korea.
Son Heung-min stays captain as Moreno names first squad
Moreno’s first task is to arrange South Korea for a sequence of friendlies, starting with Ecuador on September 24.Son Heung-min stays captain after being included in Moreno’s first squad. The 34-year-old LAFC ahead stays a central determine for a nationwide group making an attempt to get well from a disappointing World Cup marketing campaignMoreno highlighted the veteran’s versatility when discussing his plans.“We’re all conscious of Son’s versatility,” he mentioned. “For me he can play in three positions.”Moreno additionally used his first look earlier than the Korean media to vow a extra constructive expertise for supporters.“We’ll attempt to do our work actually and with the goal of creating all Korean soccer followers pleased,” he mentioned.His appointment adopted the resignation of Hong Myung-bo, who stepped down after South Korea had been eradicated within the group stage of the World Cup.Moreno is subsequently taking up a group whose issues have prolonged properly past outcomes, with public confidence within the nationwide aspect and the nation’s soccer authorities each badly broken.
South Korea’s soccer management has endured a turbulent interval
Discontent surrounding Hong’s appointment in 2024 had already prompted anger amongst supporters, however the World Cup disappointment intensified the scrutiny.Hong was questioned by lawmakers at a parliamentary listening to in July alongside Chung Mong-gyu, the previous head of the Korea Soccer Affiliation. The KFA’s places of work had been subsequently raided by police in August.The federation additionally apologised after a leaked authorities audit reported that it had offered “sexual leisure” for overseas referees in 2011 and 2012.Moreno has made clear that he doesn’t intend to publicly dissect Hong’s tenure, regardless of having studied the group’s World Cup performances carefully.“I’ve studied World Cup matches and gamers inside out however I feel it’s inappropriate to publicly consider my predecessor,” he mentioned.As a substitute, Moreno needs the earlier failures to turn out to be one thing the group can study from.“You will need to use no matter occurred previously as a studying alternative,” he added. “What is evident is that while you lose, many issues floor. However while you win, they fade away.”For now, Moreno has six matches to work with earlier than the tip of his preliminary contract. After Ecuador, South Korea are scheduled to face Uruguay, Venezuela and Uzbekistan, together with two opponents but to be named, as preparations construct in the direction of the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.