Another major setback has occurred. Tottenham Hotspur has lost Dejan Kulusevski (25).

Tottenham announced on the 15th (Korean time) through the club's official website that "Kulusevski has undergone surgery. We can confirm that he suffered an injury to his right patella during the Premier League match against Crystal Palace last weekend. After receiving additional expert consultation, he underwent surgery today, Wednesday, and will immediately begin rehabilitation with the medical team."

Kulusevski was injured on the 11th during the home match against Palace in Round 36 of the 2024-2025 Premier League season. He started in the match, but after colliding with Marc Guéhi in the 19th minute of the first half, he collapsed, complaining of pain. Ultimately, he left the field, unable to prevent Tottenham's 0-2 loss.

Kulusevski's injury raised further concerns as it had not been long since he returned from a previous injury. Manager Ange Postecoglou noted in a press conference on the 12th that "Kulusevski said his knee was still painful this morning. It appears to be a simple bruise for now, but we will evaluate it after he takes 24 hours of rest." He prayed that there would be no significant issues.

However, the uneasy feeling proved to be accurate. Kulusevski was injured in his patella and underwent surgery, which means he will end the season prematurely. He will not be able to return for Tottenham's final match of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on the 26th.

The biggest problem is the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final. Tottenham will face Manchester United on the 22nd at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, for a one-off match for the 2024-2025 UEL trophy.

For Tottenham, who have already given up on the league, this is a match where they must risk everything. Tottenham has fallen to 17th place in the league, experiencing their worst season. They lost a staggering 20 times by the 36th round, setting the club record for the most losses in a single season since the Premier League's inception. Even looking further back, the last time Tottenham recorded 20 losses in a 38-match setup was in the 1912-1913 season.

However, if they can defeat Manchester United just once, they can achieve a long-awaited trophy and qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 17 years. Tottenham has not lifted a trophy since winning the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season.

Of course, it is the same for Manchester United. Manchester United has fallen into the trap of 17 league losses in a single season for the first time in 51 years, and it is the second time in Premier League history that they have failed to win in seven consecutive league matches. They are in a similar predicament as Tottenham.

Tottenham and Manchester United will face off in what has become known as the 'final battle' in European competitions. The problem is that Tottenham is in an injury crisis. Lucas Moura and vice-captain James Maddison have already ended their seasons with ankle and knee injuries, respectively. They have lost two starting midfielders.

With Kulusevski also gone, the team suffers a critical blow in the midfield. He has been a key player for Tottenham this season, switching between central and wide positions, contributing 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 matches. He was the player who made a difference with aggressive runs and sharp passes, even when Maddison was struggling, but he will be absent during the most crucial moments.

Now, Tottenham's biggest issue is the lack of a player to provide creative passes. With Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, and Pape Sarr to fill the midfield, they are short on substitutes. The burden on Son Heung-min, who must lead the Tottenham attack, has become even heavier.

The British 'Telegraph' also noted that "Kulusevski's injury is a serious loss for Postecoglou. He was Tottenham's best player in the first half of the season." They added, "With both Kulusevski and Maddison missing the final, Postecoglou is in a situation where he must find solutions due to a lack of creativity in the midfield. The only healthy midfielders are Bentancur, Bissouma, and Sarr. Another injury has occurred at the worst possible time."

For Son Heung-min, who dreams of escaping a trophy-less career, this is a nightmarish situation. He will challenge for his first-ever trophy in this final. Son made his professional debut in Hamburg, Germany, in 2010 but has not lifted a trophy in the past 15 years. He has spent 10 years at Tottenham, but his best finish has been second place.

This is Son Heung-min's third appearance in a club competition final. He participated in the UCL final in the 2018-2019 season but dropped his head after losing 0-2 to Liverpool. In the 2020-2021 season, he appeared in the League Cup final but was left in tears after failing to surpass Manchester City, finishing as the runner-up.

Son Heung-min is challenging for his first-ever trophy with 'two chances.' If he steps onto the pitch against Manchester United without major surprises, he will become the first Asian player to play in two European competition finals. So far, only Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min have played in a UCL final. However, this season, Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Mehdi Taremi (Iran) from Inter Milan are also waiting to participate.

Son Heung-min missed a month after collapsing during a match against Frankfurt last month but returned during the Palace match on the 11th. He came on as a substitute in the second half, playing for about 32 minutes, and is expected to play in the upcoming match against Aston Villa on the 17th.

Manager Postecoglou has indicated that there are no issues with Son Heung-min's condition, signaling a green light for his participation in the final. However, with Kulusevski undergoing surgery, a red light has been turned on for Son and Tottenham's quest for victory.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (reprint and redistribution prohibited), Tottenham, B/R Football Social Media.

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