Son Heung-min chasing 1st trophy as ‘final piece’ of puzzle

About to take his third crack at winning his first trophy in Europe, Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean captain Son Heung-min said Monday he wants to grab that final piece of the puzzle that he’s been chasing for a decade.

Son spoke to South Korean media Monday at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre in north London, where Spurs have been preparing for the final of the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United. The match kicks off at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, at 9 p.m. on May 21 (4 a.m. on May 22, South Korean time).

It will be Son’s third final with Tottenham. They were the runners-up at both the 2019 UEFA Champions League and the 2021 English Football League (EFL) Cup. Spurs have not lifted any trophy since winning the 2008 EFL Cup.

Son, who left Bayer Leverkusen in Germany to join Spurs in August 2015, said he has stayed put with the north London club for all these years because he still has unfinished business.

“I am here mainly because I want to accomplish things that others have not been able to,” Son said. “To complete the puzzle, you need every piece. Ultimately, I think the most important final piece is still missing. I think I’ve been chasing that piece for 10 years and I’d love to finish that puzzle this time.”

Son said he believes he has learned his lessons from the losses in the finals of the 2019 Champions League and the 2021 EFL Cup.

“We have a much different squad now than we did back then, but I think it will be important for me and others with previous experience to share that with our teammates. I really want to win. And there are fans out there who really want us to win, too. If we prepare ourselves well, then we can accomplish our goal.”

Son said every match is special to him but this particular mach against Manchester United will take on extra significance.

“I think this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something I may never have again,” Son, 32, said. “I think the entire focus has to be on that match. I have to get really locked in and prepare my body for that occasion. I hope I won’t have regrets afterward. When I return to Korea after the season, I’d like to give my Korean fans and our Tottenham supporters the biggest smile I can bring.”

Son said he hopes to feed off the positive energy from his former Tottenham teammate and close friend Harry Kane, who finally earned his first trophy this season by helping his new club, Bayern Munich, to the Bundesliga title in Germany.

“I was really pleased to see him so happy. He is a great friend and we accomplished so much together. I was really happy for him,” Son said of his video call with Kane. “Hopefully, Kane will send us some positive energy and cheer us on, and help us get good results, too.”

Son missed seven straight matches this spring with a foot injury before returning to action on Sunday against Crystal Palace. At the Europa League, he did not play in the second leg of the quarterfinals and missed both legs of the semifinals.

But barring another injury over the next week or so, Son should be available for the final.

“You can count in one hand the number of times a football player takes the field in full health,” Son said. “Rather than talk about my injury, I think it’s better to discuss how I should prepare for the next match. Instead of dwelling on bad things from the past, I should stay optimistic and think about good things that will happen in the future.”