"The 22nd will be the most important day of my life. I hope it becomes a historic day."
Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) revealed his determination ahead of the UEFA Europa League final. The British Evening Standard reported on the 17th (Korean time) Son's interview, covering the team's final preparations, evaluations of new tactical experiments, and his resolve for the final.
Tottenham will face Manchester United on the 22nd in Bilbao, Spain, in a single match for the UEFA Europa League trophy for the 2024-2025 season. Son Heung-min started in the Premier League 37th round match against Aston Villa on the 17th, marking his return to the starting lineup after about a month and played for 74 minutes, boosting his game sense.
Tottenham delivered a lackluster performance. Many key players, except for Son Heung-min, were excluded from the bench or roster, resulting in a significant number of rotation members being used, and a different defensive counterattacking tactic was deployed. After an early offensive, Tottenham gradually succumbed to Villa's pressure, ultimately collapsing after conceding a goal from Konsa in the 14th minute and a clincher from Kamara in the 28th minute.
Son Heung-min left the field in the 29th minute, together with Sergio Reguilón, while Rodrigo Bentancur and Dominic Solanke were brought in, but it was not enough to turn the flow of the game. In the 42nd minute, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison replaced Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert, but a consolation goal never came.
After the 0-2 defeat, Son Heung-min stated in an interview with the club's official channel, "I feel good. It was a bit tiring since it was my first return match, but I'm fine. I am ready." He emphasized, "The most important thing is for everyone to raise their physical condition for Wednesday. I am ready."
According to the report by the Standard, Son Heung-min shared his struggles during the time he had to watch the team due to injury, stating, "It was really hard. Not being able to play and watching the game is one of the toughest moments for an athlete."
He added, "When it was confirmed that we reached the final, I was so happy to see my teammates smiling and celebrating. They deserve it. But it’s not over yet. We have to achieve something truly great on the 22nd."
In an interview with BBC, he summarized the significance of the final in one sentence: "The 22nd will be the most important day of my life. We are excited and hope to make history."
Son Heung-min showed active movement on the left side during the Villa match. While Tottenham blocked Villa's attacks, several opportunities were created centered around Son Heung-min. Although it remains unconfirmed whether the tactical change on that day was a practical experiment by head coach Ange Postecoglou ahead of the Europa League final, Son Heung-min evaluated it positively.
He said, "Before we conceded a goal, we slightly changed our game plan. But I think we executed it really well. There was dedication, effort, and determination. That is what matters most." Finally, he emphasized, "What we want on the 22nd is only one thing, the result. Everyone must come together and strive towards that goal."
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