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Tottenham captain Son Heung-min expressed strong regret over the unexpected replacement.
Tottenham won 4-1 in the 10th round of the English Premier League (EPL) match against Aston Villa in the 2024-2025 season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on the 3rd (Korea time).
Tottenham drew great attention with Son Heung-min's return to the game. Son Heung-min's number of absences increased due to injuries early this season. He played against West Ham three weeks after his injury against Karabakh, but immediately had to leave the ground feeling uncomfortable again. Son Heung-min returned after four games and started against Villa.
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Son Heung-min, who returned from injury, actively led Tottenham's attack from the first half. He showed off his presence with a sharp cross on the left.
Tottenham and Son Heung-min, who finished 0-1 in the first half, pushed the attack hard in the second half. In the fourth minute of the second half, Son Heung-min caught the ball near the left touchline and delivered an accurate cross to his teammates rushing in front of the gate. Son Heung-min's cross passed the goalkeeper and reached Brennan Johnson, who put his foot in front of the goal, and the ball shook the Villa net as it was.
It was an opportunity for Son Heung-min to make his best comeback. At the time of his last return, Son Heung-min also scored against West Ham to announce his return from injury, but with this help, he once again scored an offensive point in his return from injury.
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However, Son Heung-min's performance could not continue. Immediately, coach Enze Postecoglou made an unconventional decision. Coach Postecoglou took Son off the ground with a sudden replacement in the 11th minute of the second half, seven minutes after Son recorded help. Excluding Son Heung-min, he put in Hishali Song.
He looked flustered. Son Heung-min himself reaffirmed the order to replace him as if he was embarrassed by the decision to take out Son Heung-min, who made the team's attack breathless early in the second half. Son Heung-min pointed at himself with his fingers as if he couldn't believe it, and then he was replaced and returned to his seat after a simple hug with Postecoglou.
He was also disappointed when he returned to the bench. Before sitting on the bench, Son Heung-min bit the uniform with his lips with a dissatisfied expression and watched the game with an expression rarely seen from Son Heung-min. I felt sorry because I blew the opportunity to play more after returning. Fortunately, Tottenham scored three more goals after Son Heung-min's replacement, ending the game with a 4-1 victory.
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British media also highlighted Son's complaints. The Sun of the U.K. said, `Son Heung-min was furious after the replacement in the early part of the second half,' adding, `Son Heung-min looked surprised when he was replaced. He walked with difficulty, headed to the bench, and greeted Postecoglou. Afterwards, when he sat down to watch until the end of the game, he appeared to be watching the game by swearing.
The fans were also as surprised as Son Heung-min", "I couldn't believe it," he said, expressing sympathy for Son's actions.
Tottenham, which won a big victory despite Son Heung-min's early replacement, raised its ranking with a victory in the game, and as a result, even Son Heung-min was saved. Tottenham ranked seventh with five wins, one draw and four losses (16 points), and depending on the result of the match against Ipswich, which is in the relegation zone, on the 10th, it will be able to aim for the fourth place.
digh1229@sportschosun.com
