Fans are increasingly criticizing Son Heung-min (31), who has been silent for the fifth game amid Tottenham’s crushing defeat to Leicester City. Some fans raised their voices that a 20-year-old prospect should be hired instead of Son Heung-min.
On the 12th, the British sports fan site ‘Football Fancast’ insisted on hiring a young blood to replace the sluggish Son Heung-min in an article titled ‘Tottenham may abandon Son Heung-min for Yago Santiago’.
Analyzing the game against Leicester City that day, the media said, “Son Heung-min continued to show poor performance, only one shot and 21 touches on the ball.”
Son Heung-min played full-time as a starter in the 2022-2023 English Premier League round 23 away match against Leicester City held at King Power Stadium in Leicester, England on this day. However, he was unable to increase the attack point, and the team lost 1-4, allowing consecutive goals helplessly even after scoring the opening goal. In a broadcast interview immediately after the game, Son Heung-min said with a gloomy expression, “It is very sad. He didn’t hide his disappointment, saying, “I don’t know what to say.” He continued, “Leicester was very calm and scored in almost every opportunity,” he acknowledged the opponent’s performance.
Amidst the overall sluggishness of the team, Son Heung-min did not show much activity on this day. Son Heung-min scored multiple goals in the 4th round of the English Football Association (FA) Cup against Preston North End last month, but in the league, goal silence continued for the 5th game after round 19 against Crystal Palace early last month. After the opening, the frustrating flow continues to the extent that a goal was scored in 7 league games and then again in 8 games. Son Heung-min, who was the top scorer in the Premier League last season (23 goals and 7 assists), has only scored 4 goals (3 assists) this season.
England’s ‘Football London’ criticized him, saying, “(After the multi-goal), he returned to the hesitant Son Heung-min, unable to do anything.” 스포츠토토
Football Fancast said, “Coach Conte may consider visiting the Tottenham Academy once again to awaken Son Heung-min, who was sluggish in a 1-4 defeat.” The young blood mentioned here is Jago Santiago from Spain. Showing good performance in the Tottenham U-21 team, he also trains with the first team and is about to make his adult stage debut.
Santiago has scored 4 goals and 1 assist in 15 matches for the second team in the Premier League this season. He plays as both flanking striker and second line central striker. The media said, “Santiago has the same goal record as Son Heung-min,” and “he played a decisive role in the recent 2-1 win in the North London derby against Arsenal U-21 team.”
He said, “Son Heung-min’s form is declining and he is getting older. Now is the perfect time for Conte to start including Santiago in his first-team squad to ultimately replace the Korean cult hero.”