"He means everything to me."
Tottenham Hotspur reported on the 28th (Korean time) through the club's official website an interview with James Maddison (29, Tottenham). Maddison spoke about captain Son Heung-min (33).
The club stated, "Immediately after the final whistle of the UEFA Europa League final held in Bilbao, Spain, Son Heung-min and James Maddison embraced each other on the pitch. Tears welled up in both of their eyes. They finally did it. Son Heung-min lifted the coveted trophy after 10 years at Tottenham. The Europa League trophy was soon in his hands, marking the beginning of a celebration that the Tottenham fans would long remember."
Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United 1-0 on the 25th, held at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, securing the championship.
With this victory, Tottenham lifted a trophy after 17 years since the League Cup in 2008, breaking the drought. At the same time, Son Heung-min also succeeded in claiming a major trophy with his team for the first time in his 15-year professional career. This is the first European tournament victory in an impressive 41 years.
Tottenham took the lead with a decisive goal from Brennan Johnson in the 41st minute of the first half and withstood a strong onslaught from Manchester United until the end. In particular, in the second half, Micky van de Ven made a crucial defensive play on the goal line to save the team.
In the 67th minute, captain Son Heung-min came onto the pitch, replacing Richarlison. Son contributed to the counterattack with aggressive pressing and active movement in the front, and in the 81st minute, he even created a shooting opportunity.
After the final whistle, Son Heung-min wrapped himself in the Taegeukgi and raised the trophy high. Amid the cheers of his teammates, he held the final trophy high in the center, completing the long-awaited winning moment of 'Captain Son.'
Maddison recalled that moment, saying, "After the game, I spent a brief moment with Son Heung-min on the pitch. I conveyed how much I love and respect him. I told him to enjoy this moment to the fullest."
Before suffering a season-ending injury in the first leg of the semifinals against Bodo/Glimt, Maddison played an important role and expressed his particular affection for Son Heung-min. He said, "Son Heung-min is the most wonderful person I've ever met in my life. I truly love him. I was really happy to see him lift the trophy in Bilbao for this club that he loves."
He added, "Having been with this team for 10 years, it was truly touching to share such a moment. This is not just a job; it's a beautifully human scene. He is kind to everyone and always treats my family warmly. He gets along well with my kids. He is truly a wonderful person, and I am so glad he enjoyed that moment."
Earlier on the 27th, Maddison participated in a charity golf tournament, the 'Maddison Invitational,' and added in an interview with Sky Sports, "It's a moment I'll never forget."
He explained, "I couldn't play in the final due to injury, and because of a knee injury, I couldn't run out immediately after the game ended. So the first person I saw when the whistle blew was Son Heung-min. We just hugged each other and started crying like babies."
Maddison said, "I really wanted to convey at that moment what he means to me. He means everything to me. His training attitude and dedication to the team every day are truly amazing. I've only been here for 2 years, but he has grown to be a great player in the Premier League for 10 years. I wanted to express how proud I am to see him win and what he means to me."
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