Son Heung-min targets first career trophy in Europa League final against Manchester United

Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) aims for his first career trophy.

Global media outlet ESPN reported on the 18th (Korean time) that "Son Heung-min said the Europa League final will be 'the most important day of my life.' He is working hard for Tottenham to finish the difficult season holding a trophy."

Tottenham will face Premier League rival Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final for the 2024-2025 season, to be held at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd. The two teams are mired in poor form, sitting 17th and 16th in the Premier League, but they will meet at the highest level of European competitions.

Son Heung-min has also completed all preparations. Tottenham announced through the club's website that "Son Heung-min played 74 minutes in the match against Aston Villa on Friday. He then stated, 'I feel good' ahead of the Europa League 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 UEFA Europa League quarterfinal against Eintracht Frankfurt on April 10. He missed seven matches due to a foot injury, and returned to play 30 minutes against Crystal Palace last week."

Fortunately, Son Heung-min is primed for the final. He had recently left the pitch due to a foot injury that was not precisely detailed. As the recovery period unexpectedly extended, concerns about a season-ending injury were raised.

However, Son Heung-min successfully returned on time. He came off the bench in the second half against Palace last week, playing for about 32 minutes, and in the Villa match, he made a starting return to regain his match fitness. If all goes well, he seems likely to start in the final unless something unexpected occurs.

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

However, Tottenham suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Villa. Son Heung-min remarked, "I thought we did really well until we allowed the goal. That’s the detail that changes the game. Villa Park is not a place you can come easily, but it was all about commitment, effort, and running hard. That’s important, but I was disappointed by the result."

Tottenham is enduring its worst season. Up to the 37th round in the Premier League, they have lost an astonishing 21 times, setting a record for the most losses since the inception of the Premier League. A new low point record for points has already been confirmed. If they lose in the final match against Brighton & Hove Albion, they will tie the record for the most losses in a single season in club history within the 42-match format.

Ultimately, the only thing that can save Tottenham and Son Heung-min is the UEFA Europa League trophy. He stated, "We still have work to do. To achieve that, we need to do big things on Wednesday. We believe we can do it," adding, "As I said, our goal is to get results on Wednesday. From now on, let’s gather with one goal in mind so that this can be accomplished on Wednesday," pledging to win.

Following the defeat to Villa, Son Heung-min also noted in an interview with the BBC, "It's a very disappointing result and a very poor season. But in the end, we can win a trophy. That’s what we are all looking for," focusing all attention on the final.

He also expressed, "Wednesday (against Manchester United) will be the biggest day of my life. It will feel really good. We will be excited. I hope we can make history."

It's an opportunity that cannot be missed for both Tottenham and Son Heung-min. Tottenham has not claimed a top title since winning the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season. This time, they must break a 17-year streak without a trophy.

Son Heung-min, who has the desire to win more than anyone else, is also driven. He is a legend who has scored 173 goals in 451 appearances since joining Tottenham in 2015, but he has never lifted a trophy. He has reached the final two times but ended up as a runner-up on both occasions.

Son Heung-min described the chance of winning this time as the 'final piece of the puzzle.' He emphasized, "This time is definitely different. I have been preparing for this moment for the last 10 years." Son Heung-min has previously expressed a desire to win at Tottenham and leave as a legend.

If Son Heung-min can start against Manchester United, it will be a significant boost for Tottenham. He is a key forward who has led Tottenham's attack for the past 10 years and is an experienced veteran and team captain. He has previously excelled in important matches. Especially as Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski are all out for the season, Son Heung-min's performance, as the player with the most assists for Tottenham, is crucial.

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