Son Heung-min declares readiness for UEL final against Manchester United

Now all preparations are complete. 'Captain' Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) focuses all his attention on the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final, which carries the weight of his first-ever championship. He is expected to aim directly at the Manchester United goal despite concerns about injury.

Tottenham announced on the 17th (Korea time) through the club website, "Son Heung-min played 74 minutes in Friday's match against Aston Villa. After that, he said he felt 'good' ahead of the UEL final against Manchester United on Wednesday night in Bilbao."

Tottenham added, "Captain Son Heung-min returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the first leg of the UEL quarterfinals against Eintracht Frankfurt on April 10. He missed 7 matches in the last month due to a foot injury, and last week he came back to play for 30 minutes against Crystal Palace."

Tottenham will face Premier League rival Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final for the 2024-2025 season, taking place at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd. Although both teams are struggling in the Premier League, ranking 17th and 16th respectively, they will meet at the highest level in European competitions.

Son Heung-min recently left the pitch due to a foot injury, but fortunately, he successfully returned on time. He came on as a substitute in the Palace match last week, playing for about 32 minutes, and improved his match fitness by starting in the Villa game.

After the Villa game, Son Heung-min said, "I feel good. I'm a bit tired, but physically I feel great. I am ready." He added, "It was nice to play for 70 minutes today. Last week I played 25 and 30 minutes against Palace. The most important thing is that everyone maintains their condition for Wednesday. We will prepare for Wednesday." He emphasized his determination for the final.

However, Tottenham suffered a 0-2 defeat to Villa. Son Heung-min commented, "I think we performed really well until we allowed the goals. Those are the details that change the game. Villa Park is never an easy place to come to, but it was all about commitment, effort, and running hard. That's important, but I am disappointed with the result."

He also admitted the feelings of just watching his teammates for a month as captain. Son Heung-min said, "It was really difficult not being able to participate and just watching. Not actually being there is one of the tough moments. The young players have done really amazing things. I was very happy because their efforts paid off, and I was really glad to see them celebrating. They deserved it."

But Tottenham cannot smile yet. They must win the most important final and lift the trophy to end the worst season on a high note.

Son Heung-min also remarked, "There's still work to be done. To achieve that, we need to accomplish something big on Wednesday. We believe we can do it." He continued, "As I mentioned, our goal is to achieve results on Wednesday. From now on, let’s all gather with one aim on Wednesday to make that happen," requesting unconditional support.

Tottenham also pointed out, "Son Heung-min particularly showed explosive performances on the left side during the first half against Villa. He was sharp." They stated, "Now all eyes are focused on Son Heung-min, who has spent 10 years at Tottenham, and Bilbao. He has played 453 matches in all competitions while wearing the Tottenham jersey and has participated in 70 European matches, showing he is ready to fulfill his role."

In fact, it was uncertain whether Son Heung-min would start against Manchester United. Concerns over his condition led to voices suggesting he should start from the bench locally in the UK. However, Son Heung-min washed away the concerns by stating that he felt good after playing over 70 minutes in the Villa match. Unless something unexpected happens, he is expected to be included in the starting lineup for the final.

For Tottenham, Son Heung-min's starting appearance can be a tremendous boost. He has been a key attacker leading Tottenham's offense for the past 10 years, in addition to being an experienced veteran and team captain. He has also performed numerous times in important matches.

Moreover, Tottenham's squad is not complete. Following Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski is also out for the season. There is a lack of players to provide creative passes to the front line. Son Heung-min's performance is desperately needed, as he has been responsible for the most assists in Tottenham in both last season and this season.

Son Heung-min is burning with the desire to win more than anyone else. He joined Tottenham in 2015 and has scored 173 goals in 451 matches, yet he has never lifted a championship trophy. He reached the finals twice before but ended up as a runner-up each time. This may be the perfect opportunity—and last chance—to break his winless streak.

Son Heung-min described this winning opportunity as the 'last piece of the puzzle.' He emphasized, "This time is definitely different. I have prepared for this moment over the past 10 years." Now, the only thing that can save Tottenham, who have dropped to 17th in the Premier League, and Son Heung-min, who has been without a title for 15 years, is the UEL championship trophy.

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