An article from the BBC focused on Heung-min Son's (32, Tottenham) slump has been published. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou (59) praised Son as a necessary player for the team.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on the 11th (Korean time) in an article titled "Age affects everyone," which highlighted Son's recent decline in performance and conveyed various reactions from fans.

The evaluations from the fans were harsh. A fan with the nickname 'Sean' noted, "Heung-min Son will soon turn 33. He can now only play one game a week due to his physical condition. He also seems to lack confidence," stressing the need to accept reality. Another fan, 'Richard,' suggested that he should step down from the captaincy.

There was also an opinion that he should be utilized as a bench resource. A fan named 'Ren' said, "No one disputes that Heung-min Son was once a great player. However, he is no longer showing his best form. It's now time for him to help the team from the bench." Another fan, 'Lori,' mentioned, "Heung-min Son is more suitable for a role that impacts tired defenses as a substitute in the second half. Younger talents like Matthijs de Ligt or Wilson Odobert should step up first."

Criticism of tactical utilization also emerged. A fan with the nickname 'Charlie' emphasized that "Son's speed has decreased compared to before. Coach Postecoglou isn't utilizing Son effectively."

On the same day, during the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal match against Eintracht Frankfurt (1-1 draw) held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Son showed a disappointing performance. He started the match but did not score any attacking points. He played for 80 minutes. His free-kick went wide, and a crucial shot was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 35th minute of the second half, he was substituted for on-loan player Matthijs de Ligt.

Local media evaluations were sobering. 'Football London' rated Son 5 points, stating, "Other than a shot early in the second half, there was no impressive performance as captain." 'Goal.com' rated him 4 points, saying, "Son often lost the ball during dribble attempts. There were no threatening scenes."

BBC journalist Nizar Kinsella also provided a sharp evaluation, stating, "Son is no longer an irreplaceable presence at Tottenham. His influence has undoubtedly diminished compared to the past."

He continued, "Until recently, it was hard to imagine Son being substituted. However, the scene of him being substituted in the Frankfurt match illustrates that his status has changed. Son is not as fast as he used to be. His movements penetrating defensive spaces and ball touches have decreased."

This season, Son has only managed 7 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League amid declining fitness and tactical constraints. Tottenham has suffered 16 losses in 31 league matches, experiencing the worst season since 1977. Both fans and local media acknowledge that Son is a symbol of the team, but there is a prevailing view that a role redefinition or preparations for parting ways are necessary.

One clear fact is that even if Son leaves the team without a trophy, he will forever be a legend in Tottenham's history. Since moving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, he has made 451 appearances, scoring 173 goals and providing 96 assists.

On the 12th, before the match against Wolverhampton in the 2024-2025 English Premier League season, Coach Postecoglou attended a pre-match press conference and received questions about 'how important Heung-min Son is both on and off the field, and what impact he has on the team.'

He said, "Son still has a tremendous impact on us both on and off the field. He works hard for the team. In last night's home match against Frankfurt in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals (1-1 draw), he played an important role in creating many opportunities for us. He moved very systematically alongside the other two players in Chonbang. I believe we executed the tactics we planned well. Heung-min Son is truly essential in everything we are doing right now."

He also received a question: 'These days, Heung-min Son's performance hasn’t been great. Do you think he can still take on the leadership role on the field? Or is he more reliant on players like Cristian Romero or Rodrigo Bentancur?'

He responded, "I think it's both. Heung-min Son is definitely the leader of the team on and off the field. But part of that process is allowing other players to grow. I've seen a lot of that this year. Last night, Rodrigo Bentancur coordinated the entire match well, showing an impressive performance. Romero always exerts a significant presence on our team. Earlier in the season, Dejan Kulusevski had played a central role, and in recent weeks, James Maddison has also started taking on his role. It’s essential that leadership isn't concentrated on one person, but distributed among multiple players. This team still has many young players who lack experience, and it’s often their first time facing such situations. Leaders who can guide those players are absolutely necessary."

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