A harsh criticism has been directed at Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham). However, his return to the field is welcome news.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 0-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the 36th round of the 2024-2025 Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on the 11th.

The demoralizing defeat in the league match shortly after securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League final and tying the record for the most losses in a season since the inception of the Premier League at 20 losses was an additional blow. Tottenham remained at 38 points (11 wins, 5 draws, 20 losses) and fell to 17th place.

Tottenham fell behind after conceding the first goal to Eberechi Eze in the first 45 minutes and collapsed again shortly after the start of the second half, allowing another goal to Eze, ending the match 0-2.

Son Heung-min, who was substituted in the 13th minute of the second half, played his comeback match. He made several attempts to shoot but did not convert any into a goal. He also took a shot inside the box in the 44th minute, but it was blocked by the defense, failing to ignite a spark of revival.

As a result, Tottenham recorded its 20th league defeat of the season without earning any points. Despite Son Heung-min's return, the offensive power did not improve. Tottenham aims to bounce back in the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United on the 22nd.

After the match, the British outlet 'Football London' rated the Tottenham players. Son Heung-min received a score of 5.

In this match, Son Heung-min played for about 32 minutes, recorded one shot, a passing accuracy of 86% (6/7), four touches in the opponent's box, and two passes in the attacking area. Given that his playing time was not long and this was his first match back from injury, he struggled to show a sharp appearance.

Football London noted, "Although he returned from injury, he did not receive many balls since he played centrally. Apart from a chance created by Mathys Tel, there were no significant opportunities."

Another British outlet, 'Evening Standard,' also gave him a score of 5. The outlet stated, "Returning after a lengthy injury absence, he added a welcome presence to the team. His appearance excited home fans, but his match sharpness was still lacking. In one crucial situation, he should have passed to Mikey Moore but hesitated in a good opportunity."

Regardless of Son Heung-min's performance, his return to the field is welcome news. This was an opportunity to regain match fitness ahead of the UEFA Europa League final scheduled for the 22nd.

Additionally, Tottenham has a league match against Aston Villa scheduled for the 17th, which could allow him to increase his playing time. Regardless of Son Heung-min's performance, his participation is a positive development.

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