The wind is blowing. A golden opportunity for victory is arriving for Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham), who has been struggling with lethargy. Tottenham's opponent, Bodo/Glimt (Norway), has seen its strength diminish.

The Tottenham fan community, Spurs Web, reported on the 24th (Korea time) that "Bodo has suffered 'four significant blows' to its squad ahead of the semifinals against Tottenham. With major player suspensions and new injuries, the squad has weakened before the first leg against Tottenham."

Tottenham will face Bodo on May 2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for the first leg of the 2024-2025 UEL semifinals. For Tottenham, winning at home first is crucial before heading to the away leg. Winning the UEL is Tottenham's last hope this season.

In fact, Tottenham is currently in 16th place in the Premier League, and there is a significant possibility that they will finish the season in 17th place. They have already lost 18 times in 33 games. If they lose two more times in the remaining five matches, they will achieve the unprecedented feat of 20 losses in a single league season since the Premier League's inception. However, if they rise to the top in the UEL, they can break a 17-year trophy drought since the 2007-2008 season.

It is also a precious opportunity for Son Heung-min to win. He has spent 10 years at Tottenham but has yet to win a club trophy. Son has challenged for honors multiple times with Tottenham but has always finished as the runner-up. In the 2016-2017 season, he finished second behind Chelsea, and during the 2018-2019 season, when they reached the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final for the first time in the club's history, they could not surpass Liverpool.

To challenge for victory once again, Tottenham must first overcome Bodo. Objectively, Tottenham is significantly stronger. Compared to Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao on the opposite side of the bracket, Bodo is the weakest team. Bodo's advance to the UEL semifinals, having defeated Lazio in the quarterfinals, was an upset in itself.

Moreover, Bodo is facing a severe crisis as key players are at risk of missing out. Team captain Patrick Berg, midfielder Håkon Evjen, and forward Andreas Helmersson, who scored against Lazio, have all confirmed absences for the first leg against Tottenham. Berg and Evjen received suspensions due to accumulation of yellow cards in the tense penalty shootout against Lazio, while Helmersson is also out due to a red card suspension.

To make matters worse, starting winger Ole Blomberg has also fallen to injury. He started in the match against Molde FK on the 22nd but left the field just 15 minutes into the game due to injury. Blomberg was carried off on a stretcher after being stepped on the ankle by an opponent, and post-match photos captured him leaving on crutches.

For Bodo manager Kjetil Knutsen, this is a significant blow. The extent of Blomberg's injury is not yet clear, but his participation against Tottenham is now uncertain. Spurs Web noted, "Bodo is suffering from injuries and suspensions ahead of the clash against Tottenham. They know that if they win three more times, they will win the UEL. They may already have gained timely momentum ahead of the first leg."

However, Tottenham also has its concerns. It is uncertain whether captain Son Heung-min can return in time. He has missed the last three matches due to a foot injury, and his return timeline is still unknown. The schedule is tight as well. Tottenham must face Liverpool away on the 28th, followed by another away match against West Ham on May 4.

Spurs Web reported, "Bodo will not play any domestic matches during the week leading up to the second leg of the UEL semifinals. Due to changes in the league match schedule, they have a slight advantage in terms of scheduling over Tottenham, who will face Liverpool and West Ham between the two matches against Bodo."

But that's just an excuse. Manager Ange Postecoglou has declared an all-in approach for the Europa League, essentially resting key players in league matches. The wind is blowing for victory, and it remains to be seen whether Son Heung-min can lift the trophy and end the frustrating drought of victories.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (no unauthorized reproduction or redistribution)

[OSEN]