How Heung-min Son became a player who matters (a lot) at Tottenham again

By TD

Published now, Updated now

Heung-min Son. MATTHEW CHILDS / REUTERS

Repositioned as a center forward for several matches, the South Korean continues to score goals with Spurs. He could shine again this Saturday (6:30 p.m.), against Liverpool FC.

«He was exceptional as a leader and as a player.» These praises come from Ange Postecoglou, the new coach of Tottenham Hotspur. And they concern Heung-min Son (31), who gave his team, thanks to a double, the point of the draw at the Emirates Stadium, against Arsenal FC, last Sunday (2-2). What is all the more remarkable is that the South Korean played as a center forward, a position he knows (a little) having already played there a few times during his career but which It’s not the one where he has the most references (left winger). He could also be lined up there again this Saturday (6:30 p.m.), during the clash of the 7th day of the Premier League, against Liverpool FC.

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A beneficial repositioning…

It was not the first time this season that the FC Seoul-trained striker started up front. The Greek technician decided on this repositioning at the beginning of September. A choice that proved…immediately effective. Indeed, in three matches played in this new costume, the former Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg SV player scored these first five goals of the 2023-2024 financial year, with a decisive hat-trick against Burnley FC (2-5 )…and therefore a double against the runner-up of Manchester City during the previous year. He is one of the main elements of Spurs’ good results (4th with 14 points).

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Suffice to say that in this new position, Heung-min Son is finding color again. Because last season, very difficult for Tottenham Hotspur, the South Korean international did not live up to expectations…and his standards. In 36 Premier League matches, he had scored “only” ten goals and provided six assists. That is to say, in just six league matches in 2023-2024, he has already reached half of his total achievements of 2022-2023. “He thinks first about what is best for the team. He puts himself in this position and he has the quality to finish. I am very happy for him», Explained Ange Postecoglou, after the draw against Arsenal FC.

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SEE ALSO – Heung-min Son’s goals against Liverpool FC

…but unexpected

This repositioning was (probably) not planned. Following the departure of Harry Kane to FC Bayern Munich in mid-August, the technical coach hoped to be able to secure the services of a high-level center forward to replace him. However, despite several leads (Randal Kolo-Muami, Romelu Lukaku etc.), no “big” scorer has joined the northern suburbs of London. This absence of a leading recruit explains, at least in part, the change of position of the Spurs captain. Moreover, we can note that he was placed in the axis…from the end of the summer transfer window.

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And if his adaptation was so rapid, it is because his qualities of speed, deep calls, percussion and finishing correspond exactly to the game advocated by Ange Postecoglou. “There are some very good footballers at this club and I think they have the ability to play the way this team needs to set up. Sonny [Heung-min Son, ndlr]whether he plays in the center or on the wing, he has all the characteristics – he can play in any system – but the way we play, he is ideal“, he clarified. Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC has been warned. But will that be enough to contain the South Korean, who has already scored five times against the Reds in his career?