Can Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) achieve a feat that his 'close friend' Harry Kane (32, Bayern Munich) could not? He is just one step away from leading Tottenham to victory.

The British media 'Bissacker' reported on the 20th (Korean time) that 'Son Heung-min is aiming for a trophy at Tottenham, which Kane also failed at. He could lead Tottenham to its first victory in 17 years.'

The media noted, 'Kane had to leave Tottenham to secure his first career title. However, with the Europa League final awaiting Tottenham, Son Heung-min has the opportunity to end the club's 17-year trophy drought. This is something Kane could not achieve.'

Son Heung-min and Kane shared time at Tottenham from 2015 to 2023. They set a record for the most combined goals in the Premier League, scoring 47 goals together. Son Heung-min was responsible for 24 goals and Kane for 23, earning them the title of 'soul duo.'

However, as Kane left for Bayern in search of a championship trophy in 2023, their partnership came to an end. After much struggle, Kane fulfilled his dream. Though he ended last season without a title again, this season he successfully lifted the Meisterschale (Bundesliga trophy), enjoying his first championship.

Now it's Son Heung-min's turn. Tottenham will face Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final for the 2024-2025 season at the Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, at 4 a.m. on the 22nd. The teams, ranked 17th and 16th in the Premier League, will compete for the European trophy.

This final is an opportunity that both Tottenham and Son Heung-min cannot afford to miss. Since winning the league cup in the 2007-2008 season, Tottenham has never reached the top again. They must break their 17-year title drought this time.

'With two failures,' Son Heung-min has a burning desire for victory. He is a legend who has scored 173 goals in 451 matches since joining Tottenham in 2015, but he has lost in both finals he played. He lost 0-2 to Liverpool in the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final and fell short against Manchester City in the 2020-2021 league cup final, shedding tears.

Bissacker reported, 'Bayern awarded Kane his first title after becoming Bundesliga champions earlier this month. Interestingly, Tottenham is on the verge of achieving the same. They secured a ticket to the final by defeating Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League semifinals. This is only the second time in the tournament's history that two English teams will face each other in the final.'

Son Heung-min is preparing with determination. In a recent interview, he said, 'The main reason I stayed at Tottenham was that I wanted to do what others could not. I have been missing the most important last piece, and I have been trying to find it for the past 10 years. I hope this time I can finally complete the puzzle. We believe we can achieve that.'

On the eve of the final, Son Heung-min stated at an official press conference, 'Both I and the team are ready. This final will be truly special and a historic moment. During my 10 years at Tottenham, no one has lifted a trophy. I also want to win it. It is definitely a very important day for the club, the players, and me.'

Son Heung-min maintains a good relationship with Kane. He said, 'After Kane won, he sent me a text and then called via video. I was really happy to see him so joyful. It felt like family.' He added, 'I hope that positive energy can also support Tottenham. We hope to achieve good results like Kane.'

Bissacker noted, 'After nearly 10 years without a victory, Son Heung-min is now ready to turn the script around. If he plays in the final on Wednesday, he will surpass Hugo Lloris to become Tottenham's third player with the most appearances in European competitions. This will be his 71st appearance, narrowly behind Ben Davies (73) and Kane (76).'

Meanwhile, it remains uncertain whether Son Heung-min will start or come on as a substitute in the second half. He has been sidelined for the past month due to a foot injury and has just returned for the last two matches. Son Heung-min played about 30 minutes in the match against Crystal Palace last week and over 70 minutes in the preceding round against Aston Villa.

'The Athletic' argued that Son Heung-min should not be started based on emotions and advocated for the selection of winger Wilson Odobert, born in 2004. The media stated, 'Odobert's speed, like that of Mathis Tel, would be very attractive in targeting Manchester United's center-backs. I recommend Odobert. He has the dribbling ability to create space for teammates beyond the defense.'

On the other hand, 'The Telegraph' emphasized that head coach Postecoglou must start Son Heung-min. The media noted, 'Tottenham has shown improvement without Son Heung-min. However, he must definitely start in the final. While there are opinions that the loyal captain Son Heung-min should be excluded from the starting lineup considering his performance and fitness, his experience and desire for victory should not be overlooked.'

Additionally, The Telegraph stated, 'Son Heung-min should start the match against Manchester United and have the opportunity to etch his name in the team's title history.' It added, 'Son Heung-min is the superstar that Postecoglou needs to believe in. Tottenham is lacking creativity with Dejan Kulusevski absent, but Son Heung-min is a player who can create something from nothing. He is also the leader that Tottenham needs.'

[Photo] Bissacker, Talking THFC, B/R Football, Sky Sports, Tottenham social media.

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