​Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min attended a press conference

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min attended a press conference ahead of their UEFA Europa League group stage match against Qarabag.



You are one of the few players remaining from the Champions League final squad. How determined are you to lead Tottenham to win a European trophy? 
“Yes, it’s a dream. There’s no hiding that; it’s our goal. Clearly, we’re looking forward to another significant event, and everyone wants to win it. It will be tough, with fierce competition and many matches in a packed schedule, which makes it even harder. We need to be prepared and take this tournament seriously, as it’s a major competition.”

With the increased scale of the tournaments, is there a risk of a decline in match quality due to the number of games players have to participate in?
“Many players have spoken out about this, and it’s important to voice the right concerns. Sometimes, players need to be the main figures to address these issues. There will definitely be a lot of matches, and as a football fan, you want to see high-quality games, not just more of them. You don’t want to see players struggling with injuries; no one wants that. With so many matches and travel, we need to take care of ourselves, which can be difficult at times. If you’re not prepared mentally and physically, the risk of injury increases. We’re not robots; we need to look after ourselves, reduce the number of matches, and aim to improve match quality.”

But what about the events you wouldn’t want to participate in?  
“Don’t get me wrong; we love playing football. That’s obvious. But the travel is tiring, and there are too many matches. It’s not just about playing; it’s about preparation, both mentally and physically, which takes a lot of work. The key is that the number of matches has increased. For example, Manchester City played two matches on Sunday and Tuesday, which seems rigid; you could easily move Tuesday’s match to Wednesday. That’s what we’re trying to address. Everyone is at a higher risk of injury, which is normal and unfair. Rodri is right; we can play 50 to 60 matches, but not over 70—that’s unfair.”

Will you consider a strike? 
“You want to reach the finals and play many matches; that’s a different situation. But the platform (format) is designed for more games, which is detrimental to player welfare. That’s what we’re saying. What we can do is definitely change it, ensuring that players are looked after in a good way.”

Is it the players' responsibility to solve this issue?  
“Absolutely not. When the schedule comes out, players have to play. There’s a lot going on with the FA and FIFA, and everyone needs to take this matter very seriously. It’s not casual, nor is it enough for a few players to just speak up. There are too many matches; what you want to see is improved match quality, high-quality games with top players participating—that should be our goal. Sometimes fewer matches can lead to injuries, but with more travel and matches, the likelihood of injury increases.”

What’s the latest on your contract situation?  
“We haven’t discussed anything yet. For me, it’s clear; I’m very focused this season. At my age, every second feels like a goal. Especially this season, with so many matches, I feel more focused. I’m completely focused on the present and this season. I just want to win something for everyone at this club, for these players, for everyone. As for the future, you never know what will happen, but I will ensure I give everything for this club. I’ve given everything for nearly ten years, so let’s see what happens. I still have a contract with the club, and that’s the most important thing. While I have a contract, I just want to give my all.”

How do young players today compare to when you were young?
“When you’re young, you don’t realize the responsibility you have. But when you’re the oldest player in the team and see the younger guys, you just want to help them understand what it means to play in the Premier League or at big clubs. Ten years change a lot. I just want to be a good friend, a good teammate, and show that I’m doing the right things on and off the pitch. It takes a lot of responsibility, but it’s also rewarding; we have some incredible players. Ten years go by so fast, and sometimes that makes me a bit sad. But what can I say? Do the right thing and set a good example as a top professional for every young player.”

Speaking of young players, you have a talented young teammate in Mikey Moore. Fans are hoping to see him play tomorrow. If he continues to work hard, how great can he become? As captain and winger, do you feel responsible for helping and guiding him? 
“Yes, he’s a great kid. It’s clear; he came through the youth academy. As a club, we take care of him more. Everyone welcomes and looks after him, including me, because he’s a lovely kid who trains hard every day. It’s not easy to break into the first team at his age; sometimes he can be shy. But he shows great determination and works hard, which is very important to me. When you see a young player working hard in the first team, you want to help them. When I was younger, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who now coaches at Manchester United, helped me a lot during my time at Hamburg. Now I want to be that kind of person for him. Since we play similar positions, I can talk to him about certain things, and I’m always happy to give him advice. Mikey often comes to me with questions, which is great. I enjoy communicating with him; he’s a wonderful kid, and I’m confident he can become an outstanding player. There’s no doubt about it because he has incredible qualities. As we always say about young players, don’t put too much pressure on him. Let’s enjoy his growth and progress every day and every season. As fans and supporters, we should enjoy watching him play, and I think he’ll become one of the top players.”

This summer, when I spoke with Dejan Kulusevski, he mentioned that he had to adjust his play style as a winger under Ange Postecoglou, as he is now a midfielder. As a winger, have you also had to adjust? Because like Dejan, you prefer to cut inside, while Ange prefers wingers who can stretch the width?  
“No, I think it all depends on the coach’s tactical system, and then you have to adapt, which is very, very important. But that doesn’t mean I have to stay in the wide areas all the time. In the last match, there were times I cut inside and made those runs when Dom (Solanke) went deeper, pulling the center-backs out, so I could exploit that space. It really depends on the situation. Dejan is someone who prefers to stay more central, and he handles the ball well when he receives it with his back to the opponent. That’s his style, and he’s great. So far this season, he has performed excellently. One thing that not everyone talks about is Dejan’s incredible work rate. He’s everywhere on the pitch; do you know that? I think people don’t always see that, but he really works hard. When I look at all the data, I’m sometimes shocked, you know? It feels like he’s always running. I think all the players appreciate his contributions, and with his ability on the ball, there’s no doubt he can excel in any position. As a coach, I believe he can perform well wherever he’s placed. So yes, his performance has been nothing short of amazing.”

I want to ask, after everything that happened this summer, what is your relationship like with Rodrigo Bentancur? And what is your reaction to the FA's charges against him?  
“Currently, the FA is handling this matter, so I can’t say much about it. But I love Rodrigo; I love him. We have many beautiful memories. We played together since he joined, and afterward, he apologized to us directly during our vacation. I was at home and didn’t even realize what had happened. He sent me a long message, and you could feel it was from the heart. When we returned to training for pre-season, he genuinely felt very sorry, almost to the point of tears. He apologized publicly and privately; I think he truly regrets it. We’re all human, and we all make mistakes, but we learn from them. I love Rodrigo; I love him. He knows he made a mistake, but I’m completely fine with it. As teammates, as friends, as brothers, we’ll move forward together. We can only wait for the FA’s decision during the process; I can’t say much more. But one thing is clear: I love Rodrigo, so there’s nothing more to say.”