Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) is coming back.

On the 9th (Korean time), Son shared a post about reaching the UEFA Europa League final on his social media story, leaving a short message: "Good morning and see you soon on the pitch."

The weight of this single sentence was not insignificant. The message from Son Heung-min is accepted as a more definitive signal since it was the player, not the team or the coach, who hinted at his return. Especially as the league is effectively over, it was a remark that everyone could sense was aimed at the Europa League final.

This was the appearance of Son Heung-min, who had remained silent for nearly a month after his injury. He had been absent from official matches for seven consecutive games since injuring himself in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals last month. He attempted a return in the second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt but experienced a recurrence of pain and has since been following an individual recovery program separated from team training.

Tottenham reached the final without Son Heung-min. On the 9th, in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinal held at Aspmyra Stadion in Bodø, Norway, Tottenham defeated FK Bodø/Glimt 2-0, winning decisively with an aggregate score of 5-1. Now, the final will take place on the 22nd, where they will face Manchester United in Bilbao, Spain. This means that Son Heung-min will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for his first trophy.

In some ways, this is the match with the highest chance of winning among all finals for both Son Heung-min and Tottenham. Unlike facing Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final or Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in a previous League Cup competition, their opponent this time is relatively evenly matched.

The possibility of his return has been mentioned several times by manager Ange Postecoglou. He said, "I’m training, but it’s still not possible for me to participate in team training," taking a cautious stance. However, with the emergence of Son Heung-min's message, the likelihood of his return has increased significantly. Injury information site 'Premier Injury' has designated the match against Crystal Palace on the 11th as Son's expected return, which is 11 days before the final.

Expectations on the ground are also rising. Paul O'Keefe of 'Give Me Sport' reported, "I heard that Son Heung-min will participate in the final," and 'Tottenham Hotspur News' emphasized his value as a tactical card, referring to him as "a player capable of creating magical moments."

Of course, there are risks involved. The image of 'returning for the final' could actually be a double-edged sword. The current situation evokes memories of the 2019 Champions League final, where Tottenham sidelined Lucas Moura, who dramatically led them to the semifinals against AFC Ajax, and fielded Harry Kane, who returned from injury, as a starter. The result was a crushing 0-2 defeat. Kane was ineffective throughout the match, while Moura was in tears. Mauricio Pochettino's reliance on 'presence' ultimately became a fatal misstep.

Son Heung-min is different from Kane at that time. He is not just an ace but the symbol and mental leader of the team. His absence did not last as long as Kane's. However, fielding a player returning from a significant absence in the final as a starter is risky. Tactical flow, physical balance, and match rhythm mean that inserting him instead of just returning could introduce another variable. That is why his participation in the Crystal Palace match on the 11th is necessary.

Son Heung-min is a different type of player than Kane. Even if he doesn’t start, he can be utilized as a substitute in the second half and can add diversity to the attack. Most importantly, he is a captain who can exert influence even 'off the pitch.' Experience, dedication, and leadership are weapons that cannot be evaluated by numbers.

This final holds special meaning for Son Heung-min. For him, who has never experienced victory, this presents a golden opportunity to shed the label of 'the king of no titles.' It could also serve as a historic turning point for Tottenham, which has suffered without a trophy for 17 years since winning the League Cup in 2008.

Moreover, the opponent is somewhat manageable. In fact, Tottenham has faced Manchester United three times this season and won all three matches (3-0 in the league, 1-0, and 4-3 in the League Cup). Manchester United is one of the teams against which they have the best record since manager Ange Postecoglou took over. Attention is focused on whether Son Heung-min can defeat Manchester United and lift the trophy.

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