It is expected that Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) will be seen on the stage of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final. He has finally declared his return.
On the 9th (Korean time), Son Heung-min shared an image commemorating Tottenham's advancement to the UEL final on his social media, leaving a short message: "Good morning and see you soon on the pitch."
Although it was a short line, it was something many Tottenham fans and domestic soccer fans had been waiting for nearly a month. Since it was Son Heung-min himself who directly suggested that he would soon return after shaking off his injury, participation in the UEL final match against Manchester United on the 22nd is all but confirmed.
Son Heung-min did not play a single game after being substituted around the 80th minute in the UEL quarterfinal second leg against Frankfurt on the 11th of last month. It appears that he has been out due to an unspecified foot injury, missing all of the last seven matches, including the tournament semifinals against Bodo/Glimt.
Nevertheless, Son Heung-min has not fully recovered yet. Fortunately, he is able to partially conduct individual training again, but the exact return date is not known. Some have even raised concerns that he might be out for the season. Earlier, Tottenham News worried that Son Heung-min might have already played his last match in a Tottenham uniform.
Fortunately, Son Heung-min's condition has gradually improved. Coach Ange Postecoglou explained in a press conference before the match against Bodo that "Son Heung-min is still in recovery. He is doing individual training, but he has not returned to team training. There is a possibility of returning this weekend, but he will not accompany the team for the away game against Bodo. Son Heung-min himself is pushing hard for his return."
There were also high hopes that Son Heung-min would be able to return in time if Tottenham overcame Bodo to reach the final. Paul O’Kiffe, a journalist well-versed in Tottenham's internal news, also claimed that if Tottenham reached the final stage, they would be with Son Heung-min by then.
Tottenham achieved a place in the final even in the absence of captain Son Heung-min. On the 9th, they defeated Bodo 2-0 in the UEL semifinals second leg held at Asmira Stadion in Norway, winning decisively with a total score of 5-1 over the two legs.
Now, Tottenham's final opponent is Premier League rival Manchester United. The final between the two teams will be held in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd. This is a once-in-a-lifetime stage for Son Heung-min, who can fight for his first trophy.
If Son Heung-min returns, it will be like gaining a thousand troops for Tottenham. Over the past month, Richarlison, Mathis Tel, and Wilson Odobert, who have played as left wingers in his absence, have all fallen short of filling his void. With vice-captain James Maddison also out for the season due to a knee injury, Son Heung-min's leadership and experience are especially needed.
Tottenham News also noted that "Son Heung-min must return for the final. He has proven to be a strong player in big matches for years," adding that "Son Heung-min has struggled this season, but he is the player who records goals and assists in the biggest games. He can be the difference-maker against Manchester United. Even if he does not start and comes on as a substitute, he can change the course of the match."
Furthermore, Tottenham News argued that Son Heung-min should rest and preserve his body until the final. The media stated that "currently, Tottenham has nothing to achieve in the Premier League, so there is no reason to put Son Heung-min at risk in the remaining matches. They must aim for his return in the final. He should be given limited time to fully exert his influence in the match against Manchester United. Amid speculation about Son Heung-min's future with Tottenham, if he leaves the team this summer, it could be a perfect farewell."
The most ideal scenario is for Tottenham to have Son Heung-min come on as a substitute in the match against Aston Villa on the 17th to regain match fitness, and then show 100% readiness against Manchester United. "Hotspur HQ" also pointed out that "Son Heung-min could see action in the second half of this weekend's match against Crystal Palace. He could start on the bench and come on in the second half to maintain his condition. He also needs to ramp up his fitness for the Villa match."
Expectations are rising as Son Heung-min has said he wants to meet on the pitch soon. The Tottenham fan community "Spurs Web" reported that "Son Heung-min sent a message to Tottenham fans ahead of the final. He showed that he is right behind the Tottenham team. This hints that Son Heung-min's return, who has not played since April, is highly likely."
The media added, "Coach Postecoglou has already made it clear that captain Son Heung-min did not accompany the team for the away game against Bodo, but he could participate in the league match against Palace on Sunday. He said that Son Heung-min could play for a few minutes this weekend. It has now been confirmed that Son Heung-min will recover his condition in time for the UEFA Europa League final."
However, if Son Heung-min rushes back, the image of a "return for the final" could become harmful instead. In fact, Tottenham fielded Harry Kane, who was out due to injury, as a starter in the UEFA Champions League final of the 2018-2019 season. However, Kane struggled throughout the match, and Tottenham lost 2-0. Moura, who made a miraculous hat-trick in the second leg of the semifinal against Ajax, shed tears after coming on as a substitute.
Ultimately, it is important for Son Heung-min to get his condition back to normal before the final. He has a golden opportunity to win the title, having suffered two final defeats before, and he is expected to be highly motivated. Even if Son Heung-min is just sitting on the bench, he can be a significant asset to Tottenham.
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), TNT Sports, Son Heung-min, Tottenham, Mirror, ESPN FC, B/R Football social media.
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