Dino Toppmöller (45), the head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt, named Son Heung-min (33) as his top priority for defense.

Frankfurt, led by Toppmöller, will face Tottenham in the first leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League semifinal away match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on the 11th at 4 a.m. (Korea time).

Toppmöller noted at a press conference on the 10th, one day before the match, "We are really looking forward to this game. It is an absolute highlight for all of us," adding, "Both teams definitely deserve to be in the quarterfinals. It will be a fierce contest, and of course, we want to win."

Toppmöller emphasized, "We must showcase our best performance as a team," adding, "I am well aware of the outstanding capabilities of individual players like Son Heung-min and Dominic Solanke. There are many names to mention. But we have a team that can compete against Tottenham."

Son Heung-min has recorded 11 goals and 12 assists over a total of 42 matches for Tottenham this season. He continues to show consistency as a key attacker for the team.

However, it's true that he has somewhat stalled compared to the 2021-2022 season, in which he finished as the league's top scorer with 24 goals and 8 assists. Some fans and experts have been critiquing this aspect recently.

Most importantly, seeing Son Heung-min continue to miss decisive chances in recent matches has led to criticism mentioning his age, saying, "His prime is over."

Nevertheless, for the head coach facing Tottenham, Son Heung-min remains a formidable threat. He still possesses the ability to resolve situations himself, but he is also well aware that he significantly contributes to his teammates' chances through various movements and link-up plays.

The match against Frankfurt is expected to be an important stage for Son Heung-min. Despite the recent criticism, it is still an opportunity for him to prove his value to his teammates and fans.

Tottenham has essentially drawn a line in the sand. They are keenly aware that the only way to turn around this disappointing season is by winning the Europa League. Head coach Ange Postecoglou also sees that winning Europa is the only path to prevent his dismissal.

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