Tottenham captain Son Heung-min (33) ignited his determination for his first victory.
Son will face Manchester United in the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) final at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, at 4 a.m. on the 22nd (Korean time).
This is a golden opportunity for Son. Since joining Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) in the summer of 2015, Son has established himself as a legend at Tottenham. However, he has never lifted a trophy. He faced disappointment in the 2019 Champions League and the 2021 League Cup finals.
According to global media outlet ESPN, Son emphasized at an official press conference held on the 21st ahead of the final against Manchester United, "Nobody knows what the future holds. I might play in the Champions League next year, or I could reach another final. But this opportunity is real, and it's genuine."
He continued, "The fact that it is the Europa League final is undeniable. I am not thinking about anything else," adding, "This might be my last chance, or it might not. But right now, I want to focus on tomorrow, win, and lift the trophy with my teammates."
Son also expressed his gratitude toward Korean fans, saying, "The fans always support us, whether it's morning or night. I am truly grateful for that," and he noted, "This time, I want to give them something back."
He continued, "I want to present smiles, trophies, and an unforgettable historic moment tomorrow. I hope to enjoy and celebrate together with the fans," also smiling as he mentioned his recent foot injury, "Now my physical condition is completely fine."
In particular, Son remarked that Harry Kane (32, Bayern Munich), who is a former teammate and a colleague of Kim Min-jae (29), who won his first trophy by reaching the top of the Bundesliga, will be watching the final, stating, "He will be the biggest fan of Tottenham."
Like Son, Kane also followed a similar path. Joining the Tottenham youth team at the age of 11, Kane became a symbol for the team. However, he left for Bayern Munich in pursuit of a trophy in 2023, and finally achieved that dream this season.
Son, who shares the record for the most combined goals in the Premier League with Kane, said, "As everyone knows, Kane is my best friend," adding, "It was a great honor to play alongside him. When he lifted his first trophy, we talked about trophies."
He added, "Kane is currently on vacation, so he doesn't need to send me a message. I am just focusing on the game tomorrow with my teammates, and I am sure Kane will be the most passionate fan of Tottenham tomorrow. I am convinced he will support us from his vacation."
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