Son Heungmin, let's all enjoy the championship together
May 22, 2025
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Tottenham won the Europa League (UEL) final 1-0 in the 2024-2025 season against Manchester United at Estadio San Mames in Bilbao, Spain, on the afternoon of the 21st (local time). Son Heung-min was substituted in the 21st minute of the second half and played until the end of the game. He showed his dedication as a captain and led his team to victory.
It was Son's first win as an individual. Since debuting in Hamburg in 2010, Leverkusen and Tottenham. He never won a championship. At least, he has won the national team stage. He once led his juniors to a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Jakarta.
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He won the match and lifted the Europa League trophy. In particular, he was the first to win the trophy as a captain.
I met Son Heung-min in the mixed zone. He said, `I hope we can all enjoy the championship with enthusiasm.' "Thanks to my family, my fans, and other players, I was able to win the championship," he said, turning the ball around.
◇ Q&A with Son Heung-min
-How do I feel about winning
▶I hope we can all enjoy it together."
-I like the winning medal
▶ I got it now. I couldn't get it because there were so many players"
-Bentancourt was the first to come and hug me when it ended.
▶There is no one more (congratulations) than you (Son Heung-min), and he really liked it a lot, but all the players really liked it like it was his job. So I feel even better. Thanks to the players, I was able to feel that I am still an inspiration as a soccer player. It's nice to win, but I feel better with these things.
-I was the main character every time, but today I started as a supporting actor. Wouldn't he have wanted to score a goal and become the main character.
▶Of course, I want to score a goal, but in the end, winning is all important. In a way, winning the players is the biggest goal, so I think everyone has abandoned their personal greed. Same here today, I think I was trying to think more about how the team could win than my personal greed and put it into practice again."
-I think he must have felt a lot of pressure because it was the final match of Lan's European club competition. How did you control your mind?
▶I think I always think I'm the best and I think I can always win the game. Thanks to you, today was a fun day, a happy day, and an unforgettable day.
-Was there any impatience with the foot injury
▶The injury is not complete yet. I came back really fast just for this game and I don't think it's as serious an injury as I thought it would be, but it was definitely not. For me, in a way, I'm very happy to be able to play the most important game in my life today."
-What's your next goal
▶Of course, I think the most important thing is for the national team to go to the World Cup. My goal is to always develop and work with the team and always try to become a player who fights against difficult paths. Once again, I would like to sincerely thank the soccer fans and the Korean people for playing the biggest role in solving the perfect puzzle. Son Heung-min will continue to do his best and bring you joy."
-What happened to you when the game was over?
▶It was an amazing feeling. It really felt like a dream came true. The hard work and dedication I've put into my life has finally paid off. I was really, really happy. I felt like I was the luckiest person and the happiest person in the world.
-How did you feel when you lifted the trophy?
▶It was really heavy. It was very heavy.
-How are you going to celebrate tonight? You've been waiting for a long time. Spurs fans have been waiting for a long time.
▶It's a secret. I'm not going to tell you how to celebrate. I just want to enjoy this moment. We want to enjoy ourselves, and don't get too involved and just watch us enjoy ourselves.
-Please talk about the video. There was a motivational video that I made myself. Tell me what kind of video it was and what it meant.
▶Who said that? Who said that? I don't know who said it. But that's the problem. If you win, you want to say everything. But you have to keep some things a secret. That's meaningful.
By the way, family is really important to me. They are the most important things in my life. He's always been with me since the first day I started playing soccer. Watching the video my family sent me, I was also filled with emotions. So I really wanted to win. Not for myself, but for my family. People may think that the players deserve this trophy, but what really deserves this trophy is my family who sacrificed everything and devoted themselves.
-If you were in the academy right now, how do you think you would motivate your team members as captain when you had a disappointing situation (except selection) like today?
▶Of course, I want to go to the game. But you can't be selfish on a stage like this. You have to think about what your team needs. I was ready. Of course, it was a shame, but the most important thing is that we lifted the trophy. That's all. I thought we could lift the trophy at that moment, and I imagined it being lifted with my own hands.
This is thanks to all the players. It was possible not only because of the players who came in as a substitute, but also because of all the players who did not come to the game but were with us so far. It wasn't easy, but I devoted myself to the team. This victory is the result of all the players together.
-The director made you the captain, and I think your relationship with the director was special. The impact of this season, and what role did you have in the process of winning the trophy, and how much do you want him to stay?
▶Yes, the director won the trophy. You've accomplished something that no one has ever done. Of course, it's not my decision, it's not the players' decision. But we should pay attention to that fact. It's the first win in 17 years, and the coach is the one who lifted the trophy. We'll have to see what happens in the future.
-He said he was looking for the last piece of the puzzle.What did the last piece taste like, what shape, what meaning, and what did it feel like?
▶First of all, I think our fans played the biggest role in making the perfect puzzle, and I don't think I did much.I was able to put together a perfect puzzle thanks to the fans who always supported me in times of trouble, and I can't tell you exactly what kind of puzzle it is, but I would like to say that I am truly grateful to our soccer fans and the Korean people for making the greatest contribution to solving the puzzle. As a Korean, I will continue to do my best to not disappoint you.
-Before this competition, there was a gold medal at the Asian Games in Palembang, Jakarta.What can be said to be more valuable compared to that.
▶It was a very special experience and special feeling, but today is a day that makes me look back on the things that people always pointed out to me. I'm a player who always choose a difficult path and want to do something that others don't do. As a person, I'm very proud, very happy, and I think he made me motivated to develop further in the future.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
