In the UK, advice has been given to definitely start 'Captain' Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) in the final.
The UK 'Telegraph' reported on the 20th (Korean time) that 'Tottenham has performed better without Son. However, he must start in the final. While there are opinions that loyal captain Son Heung-min should be excluded from the starting lineup considering his performance and physical condition, we must not overlook his experience and eagerness for victory.'
Tottenham will face Manchester United in the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) final on the 22nd (Korean time) at Estadio San Mames in Bilbao, Spain. The two teams, ranked 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. Tottenham has not reached the top since winning the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season. This time, they must end a 17-year drought.
'Having been through two failures,' Son Heung-min is burning with a desire for victory like no other. He has been a legend since joining Tottenham in 2015, scoring 173 goals in 451 matches, but he has lost both finals he has participated in. He lost 0-2 to Liverpool in the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final and finished as runner-up against Manchester City in the League Cup final in the 2020-2021 season, shedding tears.
For this reason, Son Heung-min has consistently vowed to lift a trophy at Tottenham and be remembered as a legend when he leaves. In a recent interview, he said, 'The biggest reason I stayed at Tottenham is that I wanted to do what others could not achieve. Perhaps that is why I am in this position now. To complete the puzzle, I need the final piece.'
However, Son Heung-min's physical condition is currently not 100%. He has been absent for a month since being substituted in the second half of the first leg of the UEL quarterfinals against Eintracht Frankfurt on the 11th of last month. He has been sidelined recently due to a foot injury, and concerns have been raised about a season-ending injury as the recovery period has continued to be longer than expected.
Fortunately, Son Heung-min successfully returned on time. He came on as a substitute in last week's match against Crystal Palace, playing for about 32 minutes, and returned to the starting lineup against Aston Villa, playing over 70 minutes to raise his match fitness.
After the match against Aston Villa, Son Heung-min said, 'I feel good. I'm a bit tired, but I feel good physically. I'm ready.' He added, 'I was happy to be able to play for 70 minutes today. Last week, I also played for 25 or 30 minutes against Palace. The most important thing is for everyone to maintain their physical condition for Wednesday. I will prepare for Wednesday.'
However, it is uncertain whether Son Heung-min will make it onto the final starting list. This season, he has scored 7 goals and provided 9 assists in 30 Premier League matches, significantly dropping his attacking points compared to previous years. His streak of double-digit league goals for 8 consecutive years is at risk. Overall, he has only scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists in 45 matches this season, which are disappointing stats for Son Heung-min.
Moreover, concerns mount because Son Heung-min has only recently recovered from injury. Although he has played two matches, it cannot be said that he has fully regained his condition. Tottenham has a painful memory of having Harry Kane, who was sidelined due to injury, forced into play during the 2019 UCL final, resulting in a demoralizing defeat.
As a result, there are arguments suggesting that Son Heung-min should start from the bench. The Athletic noted, 'Son Heung-min has been sidelined for over a month due to a foot injury. He was lively in the first half of his first starting return match against Aston Villa. However, he has been sluggish this season and has been slowing down his attacking pace too often. It would be regrettable if Son Heung-min cannot lift a trophy at Tottenham, but emotions should not affect the starting decision.'
Instead, it was suggested that winger Wilson Odobert, born in 2004, should start. The media emphasized, 'The way Odobert or Mathis Tel can exploit Manchester United's center-backs with their speed is very appealing. I recommend Odobert, as he has the dribbling ability to create space for teammates past defenders. This will be very important in the absence of Maddison and Kulusevski.'
However, the Telegraph had a different opinion. It stated, 'Son Heung-min will desperately want to lead Tottenham in Bilbao,' noting that 'Manager Ange Postecoglou may not need to make big decisions 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 performances, Richarlison is likely to take Son Heung-min's place. However, Son Heung-min must have the opportunity to start against Manchester United and etch his name in the club's victory history.'
The Telegraph also mentioned Son Heung-min's long-standing loyalty. It explained, 'Son Heung-min has served Tottenham devotedly for 10 years, won the Premier League's top scorer title, and took over as captain after Hugo Lloris left. However, he still has an unfinished assignment in the final. He is the last Tottenham player to have faced defeat in the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2019, having watched players like Kane, Eric Dier, and Kieran Trippier find success elsewhere. Now, he wants his loyalty to be rewarded.'
In fact, most players who left Tottenham have succeeded in lifting trophies. Kane and Dier have won the Meisterschale (Bundesliga trophy) this season with Bayern Munich alongside Kim Min-jae, while Trippier won La Liga after transferring to Atlético Madrid. Numerous other cases include Lucas Moura, Juan Foyth, Tanguy Ndombele, and Christian Eriksen.
Now, it is truly Son Heung-min's turn. The Telegraph added, 'Just as Kane was worth the gamble six years ago, Son Heung-min is a superstar that Postecoglou needs to believe in. Tottenham is lacking creativity now that Dejan Kulusevski is out, but Son Heung-min can create something out of nothing. He is also the leader Tottenham needs.'
Of course, it is true that it is difficult to choose Son Heung-min based solely on data. According to football statistics provider 'Opta', under Postecoglou’s management, Tottenham has a 40% win rate in the 45 matches Son has played. In contrast, the win rate in the 13 matches he has missed is higher at 53.9%.
Richarlison is the opposite. When he has played this season, Tottenham has a 45.5% win rate, but it dropped to 41.7% in the 36 matches he missed. Additionally, Son Heung-min has only scored 1 goal in his last 17 matches, while Richarlison has scored 4 in the same span. In terms of activity and defensive contributions, Richarlison does not lag behind.
However, when Son Heung-min was out, several key players for Tottenham were also sidelined due to injuries, so simply comparing win rates is not accurate. Furthermore, Richarlison scored most of his goals when he took on the role of a central striker, not as a left winger. Son Heung-min has often shown better performances from the left wing.
The Telegraph also argued that we should not blindly trust data and must choose Son Heung-min. The media reported, 'Son Heung-min appears to be in better condition 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.' Most importantly, he possesses a strong determination not to end his career as a nearly victorious player. He has lost in both the Champions League and League Cup finals with Tottenham and experienced similar pain with the Korean national team.
This could be Son Heung-min's last chance. With his contract at Tottenham expiring in the summer of 2026, his future for the next season is uncertain. Moreover, given that Tottenham is currently in the worst slump, the chance for them to seize another opportunity for victory next season is slim. Tottenham is planning to dismiss manager Postecoglou soon and prepare for a new era.
The Telegraph stated, 'Considering Son Heung-min's age and the upcoming expiration of his contract next season, he acknowledged that the Europa League final could be his last chance at Tottenham. He remarked, 'It feels like an opportunity that won’t come again.' If not now, there may never be another chance. Postecoglou should let his emotions dominate reason and give Son Heung-min the opportunity to be a loyal Tottenham legend.'
Alasdair Gold, a reporter for the UK 'Football London,' shared the same opinion. He stated, 'The aspects we liked in Son Heung-min's performance were very slightly visible in various instances. It wasn’t much, but I could recall Son from the past in his sprints that beat the defense and runs starting from the halfway line,' so he assessed Son Heung-min's condition positively.
Gold continued by stating, 'I have hardly seen him rise in speed this season, which shows that the foot injury has significantly affected him for quite some time. However, there were scenes shaking the opposing defense that day. If that's the case, he should definitely be used on the left wing. A number 10 position would also be good. In any formation, Son Heung-min must be a starter.'
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (no unauthorized reproduction or redistribution), Talking THFC, Tottenham, B/R Football social media.
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