Criticism toward Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) is intensifying. Even major British outlets have united in saying that it is time for him to be benched.

On the 11th (Korean time), the British 'Telegraph' reported, "Tottenham should exclude Son Heung-min from the starting lineup. After showing poor performance against Frankfurt, it is clear that the explosiveness and scoring sense that made him a Tottenham legend are gone."

On the same day, Tottenham drew 1-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) for the 2024-2025 season held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.

Son Heung-min was, as usual, a starting left-forward in the 4-3-3 formation. However, he could not make a significant impact. He missed a free-kick opportunity with a high cross and saw a sharp shot blocked by the opposing goalkeeper. Eventually, Son was substituted by Mattia Tel in the 34th minute of the second half while the score was still 1-1.

In the UK, harsh criticism was directed at Son Heung-min. 'Football London' noted, "Aside from a good shot early in the second half, he did not meet expectations as a captain," giving him a score of 5. 'Goal.com' stated, "If manager Ange Postecoglou could replay the game, he would have told Son Heung-min not to dribble against defenders (or he should have). He lost the ball too easily and was hardly a threat in decisive areas," giving him a score of 4.

The British public broadcaster 'BBC' also offered a harsh evaluation. The outlet emphasized, "It seems Son Heung-min is no longer an indispensable player for Tottenham Hotspur. Until recently, it was unimaginable to substitute forward Son Heung-min in a situation where Tottenham was chasing a victory. However, he was substituted by teenager Tel in the match against Frankfurt, which the club's announcer called 'the most important match of the season.'"

"The decision of manager Postecoglou to substitute Son Heung-min for Tel was entirely correct. He struggled and was unable to impact the game," the outlet said, adding, "Looking at Son Heung-min this season, he appears neither as fast nor as sharp as before. He can no longer penetrate behind defenses to score, nor can he quickly push the ball an additional half yard (45 cm)."

On this day, Son Heung-min set another record. Now, he is the only player to have played more European matches since Tottenham was founded in 1882. Kinsella reported, "There is no doubt that Son Heung-min is a Tottenham legend. He set the record for his 67th appearance in European competitions, tying with Harry Kane for the most appearances in the club's history."

However, it is now being assessed that the time to part ways is approaching. Kinsella noted, "Unlike Kane, Son Heung-min's influence has weakened as his speed has diminished. He has only scored once in the last 17 matches, and that was a penalty against Bournemouth at home. Son Heung-min seems no longer an indispensable player for Tottenham."

The Telegraph shared a similar sentiment. The outlet stated, "Son Heung-min had a night to forget against Frankfurt and continued his recent poor form," noting, "It was Son Heung-min's typical goal. He broke through on the left side, created space near the box, and took a powerful shot into the opposite corner of the net. It was a beautiful goal right in front of Tottenham fans. But the problem is that the player who scored was not Son Heung-min, but Frankfurt's young forward Hugo Ekitike."

Ironically, Son Heung-min was unable to find the net after being blocked by the opposing goalkeeper in a similar situation. The Telegraph explained, "In the end, a similar opportunity came for Son Heung-min. He attempted a similar destructive shot from the spot where Ekitike shot, but it was not struck cleanly. The shot went into the goal and the opportunity disappeared."

The outlet continued, "Considering Son Heung-min's dedication to Tottenham over the past 10 years, it feels cruel to ask him difficult questions. But reality cannot be avoided. The 32-year-old Son Heung-min is clearly struggling to leave the same strong impression as before. The explosiveness and decisiveness that characterized his career cannot be found now. As a result, his scoring has also declined."

In fact, Son Heung-min has only scored one goal in his last 17 matches across both Tottenham and the national team. In terms of the Premier League, he has not scored any goals from open play since his deflected goal against Arsenal on Jan. 16.

Physical burdens have also been mentioned. The Telegraph noted, "Son Heung-min may simply be tired. Postecoglou's system requires repetitive high-intensity sprints. He has started in 15 of the last 18 matches and participated in two Asian World Cup qualifier matches a few weeks ago. For Son Heung-min, who has averaged 45 matches per season over the last nine years, this is an even tougher time."

One clear thing is that Son Heung-min's importance is gradually declining. The outlet pointed out, "When Postecoglou substituted Son Heung-min with 10 minutes left, the home fans were not surprised at all and did not express dissatisfaction. The assessment that the chances of scoring a goal without Son Heung-min in a situation where Tottenham was seeking the winning goal are greater clearly reflects his abilities."

There are opinions that it is now time for Son Heung-min to make way for younger wingers. Currently, Tottenham has several options available with returning injured players. The Telegraph argued, "Tel can play reliably on the left side, and Wilson Odobert is a natural winger. Richarlison can also play on the left, while young Mikey Moore has dribbling skills that can threaten any defender."

There is an assessment that in the second leg against Frankfurt, where victory is desperately needed, speed is more crucial than Son Heung-min's experience. The outlet stated, "The questions regarding Son Heung-min's eligibility for the starting lineup are becoming increasingly valid. If he participates in the second leg against Frankfurt, it will be due to his scoring record and long experience, not his current form," adding, "Will Son Heung-min's experience really bring victory? Is his status as a legend more important than Odobert's or Tel's agility and speed? For the first time in years, Son Heung-min's position is threatened."

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Sky Sports.

[OSEN]