Even after performing a performance worthy of applause… Why did Son Heung-min bow his head in a “unfortunate situation”?

As captain, Son Heung-min took responsibility for the team’s defeat and apologized. Reuters = Yonhap News

“Everyone should feel greater responsibility. I would like to say I am sorry for this result.”

Son Heung-min (32), captain of Tottenham in the English Premier League (EPL), who gave up his first win to promoted team Ipswich Town, took responsibility for the disappointing result and publicly apologized.

According to Football London, Son Heung-min said after losing 1-2 in the 2024-25 season EPL 11th round home game against Ipswich held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England on the 11th (Korean time), “It is a very disappointing result. There is a better result.” “I have to show my performance,” he said regretfully. Son Heung-min also said, “The opponent scored two goals. We had several opportunities to score before conceding,” and “We did not score and easily gave up two goals. It is important to protect the penalty box at home, but it was a very unfortunate situation.” “He said.

Son Heung-min’s individual performance deserved applause. He started as a left-wing striker and played all 90 minutes in the first and second halves in a three-top role with Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson. It was even more meaningful because it was his first full-time appearance after returning from injury. Son Heung-min made his comeback after 4 games as a starter in the EPL 8th round match against West Ham on the 19th of last month, but after the game, thigh pain recurred and he took a break again.

Son Heung-min returned to the 10th round match against Aston Villa on the 3rd, and following the UEFA Europa League away match against Galatasaray (Turkiye) on the 8th, he started three consecutive games to this day. He was substituted in the 11th minute of the second half against Aston Villa (4-1 win), and played only 45 minutes in the first half against Galatasaray (2-3 loss). Son Heung-min, who has recorded 3 goals and 3 assists in the EPL this season, showed light movement for the first time in a while.

Although he failed to increase his attack points, he recorded 4 shots and 2 key passes thanks to his trademark brilliant dribbling breakthrough. However, due to Son Heung-min’s performance, Tottenham missed out on victory against a weak team. Ipswich fell to the second division as well as the third division after the 2001-02 season, but since returning to the first division after 22 years, they have not achieved a single win with 5 draws and 5 losses until the 10th round.

Son Heung-min said through Spurs Play, the club’s official channel, “We can be a really strong team. Everyone saw that in games like Manchester City and Aston Villa. Even when we played against Ipswich, we were a team like Aston Villa.” “We have to come out strong as if we were against , and it’s the same type of game.” He added, “Everyone needs to follow more discipline. Once the (team-level) plan is set, everyone can follow it. That’s the main way for us to become stronger, and I hope we come back stronger after the international break.” .