Korean Netizens React Strongly to Son Heung-min’s Emotional Interview After Tottenham’s Europa League Win
On May 21, Son Heung-min led Tottenham Hotspur to a historic 1–0 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final held at San Mamés Barria in Bilbao, Spain. This win marked their first European title in 41 years, marking a landmark achievement for the club and Son as captain.
Emotional Message to Korean Fans
In a post-match interview with SPOTV, Son Heung-min expressed heartfelt gratitude to Korean supporters watching in the early hours. He said, “Thanks to your support, cheers, and love, we completed the perfect puzzle.” Overcome with emotion, Son added, “There are people who like me and those who dislike me. To those who like me, I’m sorry it took so long to achieve this. To those who dislike me, I hope this win might make you feel even a little fondness for me.“
Leadership Through Challenges and Criticism
Named Korea’s most influential sports star for eight consecutive years by Gallup Korea, Son Heung-min has faced intense scrutiny during Tottenham‘s challenging recent seasons. Since being named captain, he endured criticism amid Tottenham‘s drop to 17th place in the Premier League and disappointing performances with the Korean national team.
Despite these hardships, Son Heung-min remained proud of his heritage, stating, “I’m proud to be born Korean,” and pledged to keep working hard to bring joy to his fans. His leadership helped unite Tottenham through a tough season and ultimately guided the team to a landmark victory.
Off-Field Controversy and Public Reaction
Amid celebrations, Son Heung-min is also facing a high-profile blackmail scandal. Both suspects were arrested, and while police confirmed the pregnancy and abortion, paternity remains unverified. This scandal has sparked mixed reactions among Korean netizens.
Online reactions vary widely:
- The vibe of this interview feels less like a sports player and more like an idol survival show… Congrats on the career milestone though lol, but it’s not even a national team match.
- You’d think he played a big role in winning the trophy, but he was injured and out of form, barely contributing to the victory.
- Honestly, I feel uncomfortable even congratulating him for the win, but I guess it’s something worth celebrating—just doing it with a bit of mixed feelings. But this? LOL… like, what, did he just single-handedly raise the nation’s honor or something?
- You must be talking about those football fans who mocked and hated because of the trophy drought. Congrats to Tottenham on their win, and congratulations to Son Heung-min on the victory too!
Despite the mixed reactions and off-field controversies, Son Heung-min’s leadership and perseverance have undeniably etched his name into Tottenham Hotspur‘s history.
