Captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham) has disappeared. Tottenham fans are also greatly concerned about Son Heung-min's stability.
Tottenham Hotspur will play the first leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League semifinals against the Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt on May 2 (Korean time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. They need to achieve a favorable result in the home leg to increase their chances of advancing to the final.
Currently, Tottenham's only focus is winning the Europa League. They are in 16th place in the Premier League, with 19 losses out of 34 matches, tying the record for the most losses in the club's history since the PL began.
In this situation, the absence of captain Son Heung-min has become a critical weakness both tactically and atmospherically. Since his injury in the match against Frankfurt on 11th, Son Heung-min has been absent in four consecutive matches, including league and cup competitions.
In the first-team open training video released on the 30th, he was nowhere to be seen. While most players were sharpening their skills with drills and mini-games, Son Heung-min did not participate.
Manager Ange Postecoglou cautiously mentioned Son Heung-min's physical condition in an interview, stating that it may be difficult for him to play in the first leg, but a return for the second leg could be possible.
Son Heung-min has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in the league and Europa League this season, playing a key role as the team's main attacker. However, he has been excluded from the squad recently due to pain and condition difficulties after his injury.
The Tottenham fan community Spursweb reported on the 30th that "Tottenham fans have raised their voices in agreement ahead of the Europa League first leg against Bodo/Glimt."
It continued, "Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou stated that Son Heung-min's participation in the first leg is uncertain. In this situation, fans are demanding that he be excluded from the squad to avoid further injuries."
Son Heung-min's prolonged absence could significantly increase distrust in Tottenham's medical team. Sports rehabilitation expert Dr. Razpal Brar warned, "Foot injuries have complex characteristics. The recovery speed depends on the treatment methods."
Son Heung-min's absence is also significantly impacting Tottenham's attack. Substitute Mathys Tel has not met expectations, while Richarlison has not shown much presence in the left forward position. Dejan Kulusevski's performance has also been inconsistent after returning from injury.
Sports Mole pointed out, "Tel started in place of Son Heung-min in four matches but scored only one goal. He has failed to contribute goals or assists in the last three matches." Timo Werner is unavailable due to a long-term injury, and Mikey Moore is excluded from the Europa League registration list, limiting the options.
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