This is a golden opportunity for Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham).

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

The weight of this single line was significant. Not from the team or manager, but the player's own hint at a return makes Son's message a clearer signal. Especially since the league has virtually ended, it was a statement that anyone could interpret as aiming for the Europa League final.

It was the return of Son Heung-min after nearly a month of silence due to injury. He had been sidelined for 7 consecutive official matches since suffering an injury in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals last month. He attempted a return in the second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, but his pain reoccurred, and he has since been separated from the team’s training, undergoing a personal recovery program.

Tottenham achieved a spot in the final without Son. On the 9th, in the second leg of the Europa League semifinals held at Aspmyra Stadium in Bodø, Norway, Tottenham defeated FK Bodø/Glimt 2-0, winning decisively with a total score of 5-1 over the two matches. Now, the final will take place on the 22nd, where they will face Manchester United in Bilbao, Spain. This marks a once-in-a-lifetime stage for Son to vie for his first career trophy.

The possibility of his return has been mentioned multiple times by manager Ange Postecoglou. He noted, "While he is training, team training is still not possible,” indicating a cautious stance, but the emergence of Son's message has significantly increased the probability of his return. The injury information site 'Premier Injuries' has targeted the Crystal Palace match on the 11th as the expected return date for Son, which is 11 days before the final.

Expectations are growing locally as well. Paul O'Keeffe from 'Give Me Sport' reported, "I’ve heard that Son Heung-min will play in the final," while 'Tottenham Hotspur News' emphasized his value as a tactical card, stating, "Son Heung-min is a player capable of creating magical moments."

Of course, risks also exist. The idea of a 'final return' could even be harmful. The current situation is reminiscent of the 2019 Champions League final, in which Tottenham benched Lucas Moura, who dramatically secured the semifinal against AFC Ajax, in favor of the returning Harry Kane. The result was a 0-2 defeat. Kane was ineffective throughout the match, while Moura was in tears. Manager Mauricio Pochettino's choice to rely on 'presence' ultimately proved to be a fatal mistake.

Son Heung-min is different from Kane back then. He is not just a simple ace, but a symbol of the team and a mental leader. His absence has not been as long as Kane’s at the time. However, the risk of starting in the final match after a period of inactivity is high. Factors like tactical flow, physical balance, and match sense can play a significant role beyond the mere act of 'inputting' after returning. This is why playing Son in the Crystal Palace match on the 11th is crucial.

Son Heung-min is a different type of player than Kane. He can be utilized as a substitute in the second half even if he doesn’t start, adding diversity to the attack. Most importantly, he is a captain who can exert his presence "off the field." Experience, dedication, and leadership are weapons that cannot be quantified.

This final holds special significance for Son Heung-min. It is a golden opportunity for him to shed the label of being 'the king without a crown,' as he has never experienced winning a championship. Tottenham, which has suffered without a trophy for an astonishing 17 years since the 2008 League Cup, could also be facing a historic turning point.

In addition, Tottenham will meet Crystal Palace in a home match of the 36th round of the Premier League 2024-2025 season on the 11th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Currently, Tottenham is in 16th place with 38 points (11 wins, 5 draws, 19 losses). If they lose just one more match, it will mark the first time in club history that they record 20 losses since the inception of the Premier League in 1992. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace is in 12th place with 46 points (11 wins, 13 draws, 11 losses).

Ahead of the game, positive news emerged during the pre-match press conference. It was that Son Heung-min might return. Postecoglou stated, "Everyone completed Thursday's match safely. I’m half hopeful that we can have Son play for a few minutes tomorrow. He is the only one who can truly return."

It would be even better if he can regain his match sense through league games rather than returning directly for the final. The Tottenham fan phase 'Hotsup HQ' also noted, "Son could participate in the second half of the Crystal Palace match this weekend. He can start on the bench and come in during the second half to maintain his condition. He also needs to build up his fitness for the match against Villa."

In a way, this is the most promising match for Son Heung-min and Tottenham among all finals. Compared to facing Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final 2018-2019 or Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in past League Cup competitions, the opposition has a relatively similar strength this time.

This season, Tottenham has won 3 matches against Manchester United. They achieved a double in the league and won 4-3 in the cup quarterfinal. They undeniably hold a significant advantage this season. It remains to be seen whether manager Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham can win against Manchester United for Son Heung-min’s sake and claim the trophy.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (No unauthorized reproduction or redistribution), TNT Sports, Son Heung-min, B/R Football, IG Score social media.

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