"Son Heung-min must start in the final."
Captain Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) will he be able to bring his first trophy with his own hands?
Tottenham will face Manchester United in the final of the 2024-2025 season UEFA Europa League (UEL) on the 22nd (Korea time) at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain. The two teams, placed 17th and 16th in the Premier League, will compete for the European competition trophy.
This final is an opportunity that cannot be missed for both Tottenham and Son Heung-min. Since winning the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season, Tottenham has not reached the top just once. This time, they must break the 17-year drought without a trophy.
The 'two-time failure' Son Heung-min is burning with the desire to win more than anyone else. He is a legend with 173 goals in 451 appearances since joining Tottenham in 2015, but he has lost in both finals he has reached.
In a recent interview, Son Heung-min also noted, "The biggest reason I stayed at Tottenham is that I wanted to achieve what others could not. That is probably why I am in this position now. To complete the puzzle, I need the last piece. "
However, there have been various opinions regarding Son Heung-min's starting appearance. He was substituted in the second half of the first leg of the UEL quarterfinal against Eintracht Frankfurt on the 11th of last month and missed a month. He was away from the field due to a foot injury until recently, and concerns over being out for the season arose as the recovery period continued longer than expected.
Fortunately, Son Heung-min successfully returned on time. He was substituted in the second half of the match against Crystal Palace last week and played for about 32 minutes, then returned to the starting lineup against Aston Villa, playing more than 70 minutes to increase his match fitness.
After the match against Villa, Son Heung-min said, "I feel good. I'm a little tired, but physically I feel good. I'm ready." He added, "I was glad to be able to play 70 minutes today. I also played 25 minutes and 30 minutes against Palace last week. The most important thing is that everyone maintains their physical condition for Wednesday. I will prepare for Wednesday."
However, there are arguments that Son Heung-min should start on the bench. The Athletic noted, "Son Heung-min has been absent for more than a month due to a foot injury. He was active in the first half of his first start return match against Aston Villa, but his performance this season has been poor and has often slowed down the attack," recommending that quick-footed Wilson Odobert be used as a left winger.
Matt Law, a journalist from the British Telegraph, had a different opinion. He said, "Tottenham performed better without Son Heung-min. However, he must start in the final. While there are opinions suggesting excluding the loyal captain Son Heung-min from the starting lineup considering performance and physical condition, his experience and desire for victory must not be overlooked."
Law also remarked, "Son Heung-min will desperately want to lead Tottenham in Bilbao," adding, "Ange Postecoglou does not need to make a big decision in the final, but he may need to focus and give Son Heung-min a chance to become a true legend. Based on this season's data and recent performance, Richarlison is likely to take Son Heung-min's place. However, Son Heung-min must have the opportunity to start against Manchester United and add his name to the team’s winning legacy."
Law also mentioned Son Heung-min's long-standing loyalty. He explained, "Son Heung-min has dedicated himself to Tottenham for 10 years, becoming the Premier League's top scorer and taking over as captain after Hugo Lloris left. However, he still has unfinished tasks in the final. He is the last Tottenham player to experience defeat in the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool, watching players like Harry Kane, Eric Dier, and Kieran Trippier succeed elsewhere. Now, he hopes his loyalty will be rewarded."
He continued, "Just as Kane was worth betting on six years ago, Son Heung-min is a superstar that Postecoglou must believe in. Tottenham lacks creativity with Dejan Kulusevski absent, but Son Heung-min is a player who can create something from nothing. He is also a leader that Tottenham needs."
However, it's true that just looking at the data makes it difficult to choose Son Heung-min readily. According to the football statistics outlet Opta, under Postecoglou's management, Tottenham recorded a win rate of 40% in the 45 matches Son Heung-min played. In contrast, they had a higher win rate of 53.9% in the 13 matches he missed.
Richarlison is the opposite. Tottenham's win rate when he played this season was 45.5%, but it dropped to 41.7% in the 36 matches he did not play. Additionally, Son Heung-min has scored only 1 goal in his last 17 matches, while Richarlison recorded 4 goals in the same span. Richarlison also shows no disadvantage in terms of activity and defensive involvement.
Nevertheless, Law's opinion did not change. He stated, "Son Heung-min appears to be in better condition before the final than Kane was six years ago. There were positive signs at Villa Park. He looked faster and sharper than before and almost scored a goal," emphasizing, "Above all, Son Heung-min has a strong determination not to end his career without winning. He has faced defeats in both the Champions League and League Cup finals with Tottenham and similar pains with the South Korean national team."
Law also reiterated, "Considering Son Heung-min's age and his contract expiring next season, the Europa League final could be his last chance at Tottenham. He noted, 'It feels like an opportunity that may never come again.' This situation may be one of those 'now or never' scenarios. Postecoglou must let his heart rule over reason and give Son Heung-min the opportunity to become a loyal Tottenham legend."
Alasdair Gold, a journalist from the British Football London, shared a similar opinion. He stated, "We saw just a hint of that performance we loved from Son Heung-min in his recent matches. It wasn't much, but there were glimpses of his old self in sprints that beat the defense and runs that started from the halfway line," positively evaluating Son Heung-min's condition.
Gold added, "We rarely saw moments where he raised his speed this season, which indicates the foot injury has had a significant impact for a long time. Still, there were moments when he shook off the opposing defense on that day. If that's the case, then he should definitely be utilized on the left wing. Otherwise, the No. 10 position would also be good. In any formation, Son Heung-min must be a starter. "
Currently, Tottenham is missing not only Kulusevski but also James Maddison due to injuries. There is a lack of players who can provide creative passes from the second line to the front line. If Son Heung-min, who is leading the team in assists again this season, shows his true abilities, it could greatly contribute to Tottenham's victory.
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