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An old colleague defended Son Heung-min (32) as the Tottenham captain.
Former England national winger Andrew Townsent (33, Antalya Spor), who played for Tottenham from 2009 to 2016 and worked with Son for nearly six months, mentioned Son Heung-min in an exclusive interview with the British daily 'Mirror' on the 29th (Korea time).
Townsent "Son Heung-min is 32 years old now. Son may fall physically, but Son is still at the top level. Still good at using both feet, showing great skills, and being tricky. When the ball is taken away, he presses like a beast."
Townsent "Son Heung-min is still the same Son Heung-min we knew. "I'm just going through a bad time now, and that's very normal," he said, reiterating that `Son Heung-min is still at a world class level.'
Son Heung-min has seven goals and six assists in 21 games, including the Cup, so far in the 2024-2025 season. With five goals in 15 games in the league, the scoring pace is the lowest except in Tottenham's first season, when it was difficult to adapt.
Currently, three players in Tottenham's squad, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke, are scoring more goals than Son Heung-min.
Son Heung-min is being managed by Tottenham manager Engie Postecoglou in the aftermath of a hamstring injury he suffered during the game in September.
In response, some critics, including former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara, are evaluating that Son Heung-min's era is over. It is also advised that Tottenham should find resources to replace Son Heung-min.
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Earlier this month, when Son Heung-min was in a long silence, O'Hara said on British sports radio 'Talk Sports'"Now, look. I mentioned Son Heung-min a few months ago, or a month ago. 'It was once a world class, but not now. That is the reality,' he said in his past remarks.
Many Spurs fans then criticized Son Heung-min when he said, "'He was a great player for Tottenham, but we need to find a replacement.'" But look. I'm right. He is no longer an outstanding player."
'Son Heung-min can still make threatening scenes, and I know that, too"Ohara is "but obviously it's not what we've seen for the last three or four seasons. It's not a world class anymore. "Can't beat someone, has slowed down, is not sharp..." he said, expressing the opposite of Townsent.
O'Hara confessed in the same broadcast last month that `I like Son Heung-min' and "Son Heung-min in the past was able to dribble through the defense and score a goal. But now it seems like the heyday has passed. I don't think it's the player of the past. We can't take it out because there is no better player than Son Heung-min right now, but we have to find a new left winger. He insisted on the need for a generational change.
In fact, Son Heung-min is done' remarks have been met with great criticism. Fans also criticized O'Hara's remarks, saying, "There is a lack of treatment for legends."
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Townsent seems to have questioned Mohamed Salah about a year ago. I shall have no doubt, but ignoring him might rather help."
He stressed that he could not find any reason to doubt Son Heung-min's performance again, and more so physically.
Son Heung-min, who has been silent for the last two consecutive games, is scheduled to play Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) and the Korean Derby (EPL 19th round) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London at midnight on the 29th.
Son Heung-min has yet to renew his contract with Tottenham ahead of the expiration of his contract in June 2025, leading to rumors of a transfer with various leagues and clubs every day. British public broadcaster 『BBC" reported on the 28th that star players such as Son Heung-min, Salah, and Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) can freely discuss transfer from January next year.
As for Son Heung-min "You may feel it is time to move on for new challenges and honors. Tottenham expected to invoke one-year option to extend contract"With no signs of new contract negotiations so far, the inevitable one-year extension is likely to still leave many questions about his future," it said.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
