Tottenham Hotspur’s Korean superstar and club captain Son Heung-Min made his long-awaited return from injury in the second half of Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace. Spurs’ Premier League campaign has been miserable, with Spurs likely to finish in 17th place, just above the relegation zone, but the focus the past few weeks has been firmly on the Europa League playoffs. Spurs are now in the final, where they will take on Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21.
Son is no stranger to European competition — he is one of the few players still at the club that also participated in the 2019 Champions League final. Spurs lost that match, but as Son recently told Korean outlet Yonhap News, the drive to achieve success at Tottenham Hotspur is what is driving him, and the reason he has stayed at the club for a decade.
“I’m still here mainly because I want to accomplish things that others have not been able to. To complete the puzzle, you need every piece. Ultimately, I think the most important final piece is still missing. I think I’ve been chasing that piece for 10 years and I’d love to finish that puzzle this time.
“We have a much different squad now than we did [in 2019’s Champions League final team], but I think it will be important for me and others with previous experience to share that with our teammates. I really want to win. And there are fans out there who really want us to win, too. If we prepare ourselves well, then we can accomplish our goal.”
The Europa League final against United could provide Son with his last chance to find that puzzle piece. Spurs are a deeply flawed team to be sure, but they’ll be facing a United team that has significant issues of its own, and a team that Tottenham have already beaten three times this season. It’s a huge opportunity, the significance of which is not lost on Sonny.
“I think this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something I may never have again. I think the entire focus has to be on that match. I have to get really locked in and prepare my body for that occasion. I hope I won’t have regrets afterward. When I return to Korea after the season, I’d like to give my Korean fans and our Tottenham supporters the biggest smile I can bring.”
Son has been recovering from a foot injury he sustained a while ago, and one that he played through for a period of time. He’s been back in training for a while now, working on stamina and fitness; Sunday’s substitute appearance was his first for Spurs since the Europa League quarterfinal win at Eintracht Frankfurt on April 10.
But Son isn’t interested in talking about his injury, or his fitness. His full focus is on being as ready as he can be in what will be Tottenham’s most important match in six years.
“You can count in one hand the number of times a football player takes the field in full health. Rather than talk about my injury, I think it’s better to discuss how I should prepare for the next match. Instead of dwelling on bad things from the past, I should stay optimistic and think about good things that will happen in the future.”