South Korea's newly appointed interim football coach, Robert Moreno, has categorically denied allegations that he relied on artificial intelligence during his previous coaching role with Russian club Sochi. Speaking at his first press conference as the "Taegeuk Warriors'" temporary manager on Monday, the Spanish coach labelled the claims as "completely false" and "viral fake news."

Moreno’s appointment follows a turbulent period for South Korean football, marked by a disappointing World Cup campaign and off-field controversies that have left fans deeply unsatisfied. The 48-year-old, the first Spaniard to manage the national team, aims to restore happiness and pride to South Korean football.

"Obviously, I use technology," Moreno stated, acknowledging the use of modern tools in his profession. However, he emphasized that reports suggesting heavy reliance on AI, such as ChatGPT, for tactical decisions and player recruitment were taken out of context and designed to cause harm. He expressed his commitment to conducting his work with honesty and dedication.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) has indicated that Moreno could potentially extend his tenure to manage the team in the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for January-February, pending an evaluation of his performance. His immediate focus will be on four upcoming home friendly matches.

Moreno has included prominent players such as captain Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae in his inaugural squad. His tenure begins with friendlies against Ecuador and Uruguay in September, followed by matches against Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October. The coach expressed a desire to bring smiles back to the faces of South Korean football supporters through positive results and engaging play.

South Korea has been searching for stable leadership since the departure of their previous coach, Hong Myung-bo, who resigned after the team's early exit from the World Cup. Hong's resignation did little to assuage public anger and further amplified scrutiny regarding his hiring process, which even led to a police raid on KFA headquarters.

The KFA has also faced scrutiny over separate allegations concerning the provision of entertainment for foreign referees. Amidst these challenges, Moreno's arrival signifies a fresh start, with the hope that his leadership will steer the team towards renewed success and fan satisfaction.

Moreno's past experience includes a stint as assistant coach for the Spanish national team. His appointment as interim coach for South Korea marks a significant step in his career, as he seeks to prove his capabilities on the international stage and rebuild confidence within the national football program.