On the eve of Tottenham Hotspur's upcoming first-round UEFA Cup league stage match at home to Qarabag, captain Son attended a press conference to speak on a number of topics, including the team's goals, fixture challenges, individual contracts and young player development.
Resolutions on the UEFA Cup
Son was outspoken in stating that winning the European trophy is his dream and what the whole team is striving for. He is well aware of the competition and tight schedule of the tournament, but emphasized that the team must be well prepared and take every game seriously. We are looking forward to another big tournament and everyone wants to win it," Sun said. It's tough, but we have to give it our all."
Course Challenges and Race Quality
In response to the current problem of expanding tournaments and intensive fixtures, Sun expressed his concern for the health of players. He believes that too many matches and long-distance travel increase the risk of players' injuries and called for improving the quality of matches rather than the quantity. He emphasized, "There are definitely a lot of matches, but as a football-loving fan, you want to see high-quality matches, not more and more." At the same time, he said players need to look after themselves to reduce the risk of injury.
On contractual status
Speaking about his personal contract, Son said that he is yet to enter into concrete negotiations with the club, but emphasized that he is currently completely focused on the season and the team's performance. He confessed, "At my age, every second is like a goal. Especially this season, we've played a lot of matches and I feel more focused." Son said he will continue to give everything he has for the club until the end of his contract.
Development of young players
Son spoke highly of the young players and said that it was his responsibility as captain and senior to help them grow. He especially mentioned Mikkyei Moore, a talented young teammate, and said he will try his best to provide him with guidance and help. Sun believes that young players need more support and encouragement rather than too much pressure. He encouraged fans and media to enjoy the growing process of young players and believe they will become top players in the future.
Relationship with teammates
Speaking about his relationship with Rodrigo Bentancur, Son expressed his unwavering support for his teammate. He said that although Rodrigo recently suffered a charge from the FA, he believes his teammate will learn from it and move on. Son emphasized, "I love Rodrigo and we have a lot of good memories. He will learn from his mistakes and become stronger." He also called on the outside world to give Rodrigo more understanding and support.
