Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) may miss the first leg of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) semifinals due to a foot injury, prompting some fans to argue that he should be given ample rest. This comes from a place of care.
Tottenham will play two legs against Bodø/Glimt in Norway on May 2 and 9 (Korean time) in the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) semifinals.
It is unclear whether Son Heung-min will be able to participate in the first leg. He sustained a foot injury during the first leg of the UEL quarterfinals against Frankfurt (Germany) on the 11th. Since then, he has consecutively missed three official matches. Additionally, he could not play in the English Premier League (EPL) match against Liverpool on the 28th.
Son Heung-min briefly returned to team training but has missed four consecutive matches since the league's 32nd round against Wolverhampton on the 13th. Manager Ange Postecoglou explained, "Son Heung-min lightly bumped his foot. We did not field him for caution."
After losing 1-5 in the EPL 34th round away game against Liverpool, manager Postecoglou told the BBC, "We are doing our best to have Son Heung-min ready for the first leg of the UEL on the 2nd of next month. However, the situation is precarious."
He added that while participation in the first leg may be difficult, he could be ready (to participate) for the second leg on May 9.
In a situation where Tottenham's league performance has sharply declined, they are betting everything on winning the UEL. Following the heavy defeat to Liverpool, Tottenham has dropped to 16th place in the league (11 wins, 4 draws, 19 losses).
Manager Postecoglou's comments about Son Heung-min's participation in the first leg being 'precarious' are increasing concerns among Tottenham fans.
Son Heung-min has recorded 11 goals and 12 assists in 43 official matches this season. In the four matches he has missed recently, Tottenham has only secured 1 win and 3 losses, leading to poor performance. His absence is directly linked to the decline in the team's performance.
However, fans are considering Son Heung-min's physical condition first.
The Tottenham fan site 'SpursWeb' hinted on the 30th that "some Tottenham fans are demanding Son Heung-min's exclusion from the first leg roster to avoid a more serious injury."
Meanwhile, the fact that the opposing team Bodø/Glimt is suffering from a loss of players is positive for Tottenham. Bodø/Glimt is expected to miss six first-team players due to accumulated yellow cards and injuries. Considered the weakest among the UEL semifinal teams, Bodø/Glimt's absence of key players compounds their troubles.
[Photo] Son Heung-min ©Gettyimages (reprint and redistribution prohibited)
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