As the UEFA Europa League final, which will determine Tottenham Hotspur's season fate, approaches, there are various opinions among local fans and experts regarding the selection of captain Son Heung-min. In particular, some have suggested that the decision to use Son, who has recently returned, for a full-time role is reminiscent of the '2019 Kane incident.'

Son Heung-min was substituted in the second half during the match against Crystal Palace on 11th (Korean time) of the 2024-2025 Premier League Round 36. It was his return match after more than a month. He had sustained a significant bruise to his foot from a rough tackle by Frankfurt defender Jang Mateo Bahoya during the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals in April, which had sidelined him for an extended period.

The absence of Son Heung-min was significant. He missed both the second leg of the quarterfinals and the two matches against Norway's Bodo/Glimt in the semifinals, as well as four Premier League matches. During this time, coach Ange Postecoglou repeatedly stated that Son was "focusing on recovery" without providing specifics about the injury.

Ultimately, during an official press conference ahead of the away match against Bodo/Glimt on 8th, the coach hinted at Son Heung-min's possible return, making the return scenario start to materialize. After testing his match fitness with a brief substitution against Palace, Son is currently working on raising his physical condition ahead of the Europa League final scheduled for 22nd.

But is it really the right choice to start Son Heung-min on the final stage?

BBC cited a recent fan's opinion, reporting, "Now is the time for Postecoglou to change his existing approach." The fan expressed skepticism about Son's starting in the final.

The fan pointed out, "Son Heung-min has been inconsistent throughout this season. He has not maintained steady performance, and some fans have questioned his leadership as a captain," while expressing concern about him playing his first starting game after returning from injury in the final.

Furthermore, he cited the 2019 UEFA Champions League final as an example. At that time, Harry Kane started immediately after returning from an ankle injury but was instead substituted for Lucas Moura, who scored a dramatic hat-trick against Ajax, leading the team to the final. This raised controversy. The outcome was disastrous; Kane was ineffective, and ultimately Tottenham lost to Liverpool.

The fan added, "Even then, Kane was a symbolic presence for the team, but he was not in a condition to dominate the game. Son Heung-min is in a similar position now," and warned, "If he does not have sufficient physical and mental preparation needed for the final, starting him could be a risky choice."

However, there is also significant opposition to not starting Son Heung-min. Some argue, "As a captain and a veteran with rich experience in big matches, he is a player who must be on the field." One fan said, "He has strong bonds with his teammates and can clearly demonstrate his presence in a crisis situation."

Despite the concerns raised about Son Heung-min's match sense, he plays an important role in the team in aspects beyond the game. Fans believe, "He is an icon of Tottenham and knows better than anyone how desperately the team and fans are longing for success," emphasizing, "If he is prepared to step onto the field, he will surely make a decisive goal to secure the final."

Ultimately, this debate will culminate in coach Postecoglou's judgment. BBC noted, "Postecoglou has often been criticized for his predictable and stubborn tactical management," but added, "For this final, a change may be necessary. Utilizing Son as a joker rather than a starter could be a compromise that meets expectations from both sides."

In fact, Son Heung-min is the type of player who can bring explosive energy into the game in a short time. When the flow of the game stagnates or the momentum is lost in the second half, the introduction of Son exposes the opposing defense to a new threat immediately. This could also be a less physically demanding way for Son himself.

Meanwhile, Tottenham is continuously monitoring Son Heung-min's condition internally. A Tottenham official stated, "Son has shown positive responses in training. However, the timing of his game involvement will be decided based on the team's strategy."

The final will be held at San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, with Manchester United as the opponent. Given that Tottenham must fight for the championship trophy against a big club, they need to maximize every possibility in terms of their lineup.

Ultimately, Son Heung-min's starting status will become a decision that compresses the dilemmas of 'symbolism' versus 'reality,' 'experience' versus 'physical condition.' All spotlight is now on the fingertips of coach Postecoglou.

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