Son Heung-min Shows Lasting Leadership by Comforting Tottenham After Super Cup Loss

Although Son Heung-min has departed for the United States, his presence as Tottenham’s former captain continues to resonate with the team.

On August 14 (Korean time), Son Heung-min—now of LAFC—took to his social media to express his pride in his former teammates, writing, “I’m really proud of you all. Don't be too disappointed—a good time will soon come.”

Earlier that day, Son’s former club, Tottenham Hotspur, suffered a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Super Cup, falling in a penalty shootout after a dramatic match.

Tottenham appeared to have control in the first half, with goals from Micky van de Ven and newly appointed captain Cristian Romero giving them the edge. Even as the game progressed, Tottenham maintained momentum until Lee Kang-in was introduced for PSG. With a powerful left-footed strike from distance, Lee changed the tide, breathing new energy into the French squad.

Despite the loss, Tottenham players received higher average ratings than their opponents. The BBC named Micky van de Ven, who scored the opening goal, as the match’s Man of the Match, awarding him a score of 7.38. Captain Cristian Romero also earned an impressive 7.36, the second-highest in the match.

Nonetheless, these efforts were overshadowed by the absence of the trophy, leaving the Tottenham players visibly disheartened.

After the game, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank reflected, “Our defending, pressure, and balance were nearly perfect. Set pieces were excellent and posed a real threat. Still, I want to strengthen the squad, and we’re working toward that.”

Amid the disappointment, it was Son Heung-min, the former captain, who stepped in to offer reassurance. Via his SNS post, Son encouraged his old team: “Let’s stay positive and look forward to another big season. I’m still thinking of you, my Tottenham family,” closing with the heartfelt rallying cry, “COYS (Come On You Spurs).”

Even after his departure, Son’s influence remains deeply embedded at Tottenham. Recently, he sent words of encouragement to close friend James Maddison, who is recovering from knee surgery, saying, “I don’t even know what to say. I hope you recover soon and return stronger than ever.”

Son Heung-min spent ten years at Tottenham, making 454 appearances and scoring 173 goals before transferring to Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC on August 7.

Tottenham will kick off their Premier League campaign against Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 16.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=MHN DB, Son Heung-min SNS, Yonhap News