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Daniel Levy admits protests against him by Tottenham fans have “hurt”, but the Spurs chairman has hit back at his critics and insisted: “When I’m not here I’m sure I’ll get the credit”.

Spurs finished 17th but won the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou, who was then sacked despite leading the club to their first trophy in 17 years.

Addressing the protests against him for the first time, Levy told Gary Neville’s The Overlap podcast: “Of course it hurts.

“But their pain is also my pain. I want to win and when we are not playing well and not winning, believe me I suffer as well.”

Levy has also hit back at his critics, saying: “I think it’s one of those situations - when I’m not here I’m sure I’ll get the credit.

“When you come here and look at this wonderful building [Tottenham Hotspur Stadium], and the fact that other clubs are now trying to copy what we’re doing, that should be a sign that maybe we did do something bold, and something right.”

Levy has played a key role in the construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but fans have argued he gets involved too much in football-related matters.

“People who have worked in this club and understand the football workings of this club, I do not interfere at all on the decision-making of this player versus that player.

“It is always the coach or the technical staff. The only thing I get involved in is when they decide which player they want to buy or sell, I will do my best for this football club. But I am not interfering in the football decisions.”

An emotional Heung-min Son was in tears as he said goodbye to Tottenham in what is likely to be his last appearance in a Spurs shirt.

After announcing he will leave Spurs this summer, Son captained Spurs for the final time as they played Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in his native South Korea.

The 33-year-old was given a guard of honour by both sets of players as he left the pitch in what was a beautiful moment for a Spurs legend.

Son was smiling as he walked off the pitch after being substituted in the second half but he started crying when he sat down on the bench and the 64,773 fans inside the Seoul World Cup Stadium started chanting his name.

Son has scored 173 goals in 454 games for Spurs and last season captained them to their first trophy in 17 years when they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.

He is in advanced talks to join MLS side LAFC but has described the decision as “the most difficult one I have made in my career”.

Speaking this week, Son said: “I came to north London as a kid - a very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English. Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment.”

New Spurs manager Thomas Frank has described Son as “a true Spurs legend” and “one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League”.

“If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans," Frank said. “A beautiful ending.”

Thomas Frank’s Tottenham round off their pre-season tour of Asia with a game against Newcastle.

Spurs take on Eddie Howe’s Magpies in Seoul as departing club captain Heung-min Son returns home, while Mohammed Kudus gets to continue gelling with his new team-mates after some promising showings.

Frank’s side will be buoyed by their 1-0 win over Arsenal in Hong Kong, where Pape Matar Sarr scored the winner in spectacular style.

Newcastle are still having to deal with the Alexander Isak situation amid interest from Liverpool, while they also pursue a top-class striker in an attempt to replace the Swede should he depart.

On the pitch, they have lost three of their four pre-season games already this summer and need to put things right quickly.

TV channel: In the UK, the game will not be televised.

Live stream: You can stream the match online via either club’s official site. Spurs have Spursplay, where an annual subscription is £45.

Heung-min Son starts for Tottenham in South Korea in what could be his final appearance for the club, as they take on Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in his homeland

Son has confirmed he wants to leave Spurs after captaining them to Europa League glory last season - their first piece of silverware in 17 years. MLS outfit LAFC are leading the race for his signature.

Son has only started once this summer amid uncertainty over his future, and played just under a quarter of an hour in a midweek friendly win over Arsenal.

There is still no place for Dominic Solanke in the squad, who has been struggling with an injury, which will be a real concern for Spurs with less than two weeks until their first game of the new Premier League season.

Frank rotates his back line as Kevin Danso comes in for Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies replaces Djed Spence on the left. Pape Matar Sarr his place after scoring from the halfway-line against Arsenal, starting in midfield alongside Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur.

The Spurs skipper is ready for a new challenge after ending the club’s long trophy drought

Skipper: Heung-min Son

AFP via Getty Images

George Sessions

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Tottenham captain Heung-min Son has revealed he will leave the club this summer.

Son has spent the last decade at Spurs and achieved his goal of silverware in May when he helped the Premier League team to Europa League success with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

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It ended a 17-year trophy drought for the club and South Korea captain Son explained his decision to target a "fresh challenge" during a press conference in his home country ahead of Tottenham's pre-season friendly with Newcastle on Sunday.

After Spurs arrived in Seoul on Friday, Son - following a remarkable 454 appearances and 173 goals for the north London club - confirmed his desire to depart this summer, with MLS outfit LAFC understood to be leading the race for his signature.

Son told a press conference: "Before we start, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer. Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision.

"It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career, such amazing memories. It was so hard to make this decision.

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He continued: "I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change - 10 years is a long time.

"I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age. I leave the club as a grown man, a very proud man.

"I want to say thanks to all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love. I hope the goodbye is also good timing and this is the right time to make that decision. I hope everyone can accept and respect that."

Tears: Heung-min Son was visibly emotional at the South Korea press conference

AFP via Getty Images

New Tottenham head coach Frank confirmed Son would start and be captain in Sunday's friendly with Newcastle at Seoul's World Cup Stadium.

It could be Son's final appearance for Spurs, despite the UEFA Super Cup fixture with Paris St Germain in Udine on the horizon on August 13.

Frank said: "It's very clear that Sonny will start and lead the team out as captain. If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans. It could be a beautiful ending."

Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen and after a tricky debut campaign, he quickly became a fan favourite and subsequently a modern-day Premier League great due to his consistency and personality, clinching the golden boot award in the 2022-23 season, but he is now set to exit after 10 years in north London.

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Heung-min Son makes what is likely to be his final appreciate in a Tottenham shirt when Spurs play Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in South Korea. Son has confirmed he has decided to leave Spurs this summer but he will feature when Thomas Frank’s side face Newcastle in the final game of their tour of Asia, on what is sure to be an emotional day in Seoul.

Spurs are looking to build on their 1-0 win over Arsenal in Hong Kong, where there were plenty of encouraging signs ahead of the new season. With less than two weeks until Spurs face Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup, Frank is targeting another good display.

Newcastle are without star striker Alexander Isak amid transfer interest from Liverpool. Eddie Howe’s side have endured a difficult pre-season and Isak is back in England as he waits on a new bid from Liverpool after their opening offer of £110million was rejected this week. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.

Heung-min Son is set to start for Tottenham in South Korea in what could be his final appearance for the club, as they take on Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in his homeland

Son has confirmed he wants to leave Spurs after captaining them to Europa League glory last season - their first piece of silverware in 17 years. MLS outfit LAFC are leading the race for his signature.

Son has only started once this summer amid uncertainty over his future, and played just under a quarter of an hour in a midweek friendly win over Arsenal.

But the 33-year-old is expected to start against Newcastle, while head coach Thomas Frank will hope Dominic Solanke can return from an ankle issue. Solanke last appeared in a 2-0 win over Reading.

Frank has little reason to rotate his back line after they battled to an impressive clean sheet in the Arsenal friendly. Djed Spence did well against Bukayo Saka, while Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro will likely keep their places.

The same can be said of Pape Matar Sarr. The Senegalese has scored three goals so far in pre-season, including a halfway-line lob against Arsenal.

While Spurs were solid in defence last time out, they were not at their sharpest in attack, and Frank could look to rotate. James Maddison made his injury return off the bench and could slot in higher up the pitch from the off, while Lucas Bergvall has struggled to assert himself in these summer friendlies so far.

Brennan Johnson is also in line for a greater contribution; however, whether he is deserving of a start over Mohamed Kudus is up for debate.

Wilson Odobert showed flashes of threat against Arsenal, rattling the post in the first half, but should make way for Mathys Tel to get some minutes in the legs.

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A calm, more assured approach kept the Gunners quiet in Hong Kong

Sturdy: Cristian Romero kept Bukayo Saka quiet

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Matt Verri

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The celebrations were somewhat more muted than those seen in Bilbao ten weeks earlier, but Tottenham fans could once again enjoy the sight of Heung-min Son lifting a trophy above his head.

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If watching his side beat Arsenal to win the Herbalgy Trophy ultimately goes down as one of the most successful days of Thomas Frank’s tenure then things will not have gone to plan, but this was an important foundation block to build on.

Spurs fans could have been forgiven for having some caution heading into the north London derby in Hong Kong.

Pre-season performances up to this point had been largely uneventful. There has also been justifiable frustration on the transfer front, with the club yet to add to the signing of Mohammed Kudus earlier in the summer.

However, with just under two weeks to go until the UEFA Super Cup showdown with PSG, Spurs produced a display to offer real encouragement as the new season looms.

Gameplan: Thomas Frank’s side stifled the GUnners

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Most notable in the 1-0 win over Arsenal was the defensive structure on show from Spurs. The Gunners mustered just one shot on target, a tame effort from Kai Havertz straight at Guglielmo Vicario.

The likes of Kudus and Wilson Odobert worked hard to track back and double up on the Arsenal wingers, while Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both dealt superbly with any crosses into the box.

It can be easy to read too much into pre-season matches, but this felt like something of a blueprint for how Frank could set his side up this season, particularly against tougher opposition.

“Some of the bits we have been working hard on is the combination of defensive organisation,” Frank said after the match.

“So high pressure, middle, low, then that desire to keep a clean sheet. That gives you a bigger opportunity to win matches.”

Spurs’ best performances towards the end of last season, primarily in the Europa League, came when Ange Postecoglou abandoned his usual principles.

Winner: Spurs were rarely troubled after the opening 20 minutes

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They had barely 30 per cent of possession when beating Bodo/Glimt away from home to reach the final, and a similar approach had been used to get past Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

With fast attackers, hard-working midfielders, and two elite centre-backs in Romero and Van de Ven, Spurs have a squad capable of soaking up pressure and picking their moments on the counter. Midfielder Joao Palhinha should soon join on loan from Bayern Munich.

That threat on transition was not regularly evident against Arsenal, particularly in the second half, and the main danger came from set-pieces. Spurs twice almost scored directly from a corner in the first half.

Frank will want to see more of an impact from open play in the coming weeks and months and there will also be times where a more front-footed approach is required, certainly when Burnley visit north London on the first day of the Premier League season.

There was, though, a solidity to Spurs that was too often lacking last season. They sat back and soaked up pressure but this was not desperate, last-ditch defending.

Frank will be encouraged by the performance and can be expected to deploy a similar game plan against PSG for the Super Cup. A similar result and another trophy would send Spurs into the new season in a buoyant mood.

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