"There is no player besides Bruno Fernandes who could be included in the Tottenham best 11 along with Son Heung-min."
Son Heung-min will face Manchester United in the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League final, which will take place on the 22nd (Korean time) in Bilbao, Spain. He returned to play on the 11th against Crystal Palace after about a month and is expected to enhance his match readiness further in the league match against Aston Villa.
As Son Heung-min said, "This time is really different," this final is especially significant for him. Since leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2015 and donning the Tottenham jersey, he has played 451 games, scoring 173 goals and becoming one of the top scorers in the club's history. However, his trophy cabinet remains empty.
The Champions League final in 2019 against Liverpool and the League Cup final in 2021 against Manchester City both ended in disappointment. For Son Heung-min, who led an era alongside Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane, 'the championship trophy' has been the only deficiency and the last puzzle piece.
According to several British local media outlets, including 'The Guardian' and 'The Independent,' Son Heung-min noted during the final media day, "The way I am now is the result of enduring only for that one thing (the championship). To complete the puzzle, all the pieces are necessary. I have been running to find the last piece over the past 10 years. This time, I want to find that piece."
Tottenham has underperformed this season in the Premier League, falling to 17th place, but has shown a completely different performance on the European stage. They defeated AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt, and FK Bodo/Glimt in succession and secured victories against Manchester United in all three seasonal matches.
Son Heung-min stated, "I want this trophy more than anyone else. It's not just me; countless fans are cheering for us with the same desire. I want to prepare well and achieve this."
Meanwhile, shortly after his return from the match against Crystal Palace, Son Heung-min conveyed a message to the fans, saying, "I always say I'm fine. That's so the people who trust and support me can watch the games without worry." It has been reported that the process of accelerating his return involved cooperation between his personal trainer and the club's medical staff.
In some ways, this might be the last chance for Son Heung-min to break free from his trophy-less status. Along with Son Heung-min aiming for a last dance, the opponent appears relatively manageable compared to past matchups. Both Liverpool and Manchester City boasted top-tier strength, but interestingly, Manchester United, the opponent in this Europa League, is also recording its worst slump in the league.
Manchester United and Tottenham have both struggled in the league, sitting 16th and 17th, respectively. Given the circumstances, both teams are eager for the Europa victory. Son Heung-min watched his close friend and long-time teammate Harry Kane win the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. He remarked, "I video-called Kane, and seeing his smile genuinely made me happy. I want to achieve good results with the positive energy he gave me."
Every game has had its significance. However, Son Heung-min said this final feels "like an opportunity that may not come again." He feels more than ever that he is close to winning. Ultimately, what he desires most is clearly the championship.
Manager Postecoglou is well aware of Son Heung-min's desire to win. Last August, Son Heung-min expressed, "I still do not think of myself as a legend of this team. I have said that I want to win something with Tottenham. If that happens, I could be very happy to be called a legend."
Manager Postecoglou stated, "I am glad that Son Heung-min can play. He has been a significant driving force for us this season. He understands better than anyone else what role a trophy plays for this team and himself."
He added, "Because Son Heung-min has an incredible career that every player would crave for, except for the trophy. He knows how important winning is for the club and himself. That is why it's a good thing that he can return to play again."
Meanwhile, ahead of this match, a Manchester United legend expressed complaints. The claim was that Manchester United's strength is evidently weaker compared to Tottenham. Gary Neville said, "The only player among Manchester United who could be considered for Tottenham's best 11 is Bruno Fernandes. To be precise, besides him, there is not a player from Manchester United who could be in Tottenham's best 11," and added, "Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, and Destiny Udogie all have higher quality than Manchester United players."
Neville sighed, stating, "Only Fernandes can be considered a part of Tottenham's main squad among Manchester United players. Frankly, there are no quality players among Manchester United. The goalkeeper situation is half and half, because I do not like either Guglielmo Vicario or André Onana. Nevertheless, Tottenham players are superior to Manchester United players."
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