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Son: This could be my last chance to win with Tottenham

Son: This could be my last chance to win with Tottenham

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Son Heung-min has been a runner-up on three occasions with Tottenham, and he knows he may not get too many more shots at a major trophy.

Son Heung-min admits Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United could represent his last chance to win a major trophy with Tottenham.

Spurs and United sit 17th and 16th in the Premier League table respectively, but they will face off in Bilbao for a piece of European silverware and Champions League qualification for 2025-26.

While a return to Europe's premier club competition has been described as a must for United, Spurs' main focus is on ending their long wait for a trophy.

Tottenham last lifted a piece of major silverware 17 years and 86 days prior to Wednesday's final, having beaten Chelsea in the 2008 EFL Cup final under Juande Ramos.

Son has been present for most of that agonising drought, having arrived at the club in 2015. 

The South Korean superstar has lost two finals with Tottenham – in the Champions League in 2019 and the EFL Cup in 2021 – and also finished as a Premier League runner-up in 2016-17. 

Now 32 and just over a year out from the expiration of his contract, Son knows it could be a case of now or never.

"In the future we never know. We might play next year's Champions League... we might play in the final," he told reporters at Tuesday's pre-match press conference.

"We never know, but the chance I have now is real, it's a fact. Tomorrow is a final, a Europa League final. 

"This could be my last chance or there could be another chance, but I just want to concentrate on tomorrow, on winning and lifting the trophy with the boys, celebrating together."

Spurs' most recent European trophy was won 40 years and 363 days prior to Wednesday's final, as they beat Anderlecht on penalties in the 1984 UEFA Cup final.

Asked what it would mean to captain a trophy-winning Tottenham team, Son said: "It would be very special and would be a historic moment. 

"I have been here 10 years and I just want to win the trophy, which nobody has done in the 10 years I have been here.

"Tomorrow is going to be a massive day for the club and the boys, and for me as well."

Son returned from injury to feature in Spurs' last two Premier League games – defeats to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – and the attacker has reassured fans he is now fully fit.

"I'm ready," he said. "Obviously back from injury, it was my first game against Crystal Palace and afterwards I played against Aston Villa. 

"I didn't expect to play that long, but I managed. Physically, I am ready to go. Also, the rest of the boys are ready to go for the biggest game of the season."

Son has played 3,166 minutes in all competitions this season. That is more than he totalled in 2023-24 (2,965) but is also his second-fewest in a single campaign since 2016-17 (2,973).

His 11 goals are his fewest in any season since netting eight times in his first campaign with Spurs in 2015-16, but only in 2020-21 (17) has he bettered this term's tally of 11 assists. 

Son: This could be my last chance to win with Tottenham

Son Heung-min has been a runner-up on three occasions with Tottenham, and he knows he may not get too many more shots at a major trophy.

Son Heung-min admits Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United could represent his last chance to win a major trophy with Tottenham.

Spurs and United sit 17th and 16th in the Premier League table respectively, but they will face off in Bilbao for a piece of European silverware and Champions League qualification for 2025-26.

While a return to Europe's premier club competition has been described as a must for United, Spurs' main focus is on ending their long wait for a trophy.

Tottenham last lifted a piece of major silverware 17 years and 86 days prior to Wednesday's final, having beaten Chelsea in the 2008 EFL Cup final under Juande Ramos.

Son has been present for most of that agonising drought, having arrived at the club in 2015. 

The South Korean superstar has lost two finals with Tottenham – in the Champions League in 2019 and the EFL Cup in 2021 – and also finished as a Premier League runner-up in 2016-17. 

Now 32 and just over a year out from the expiration of his contract, Son knows it could be a case of now or never.

"In the future we never know. We might play next year's Champions League... we might play in the final," he told reporters at Tuesday's pre-match press conference.

"We never know, but the chance I have now is real, it's a fact. Tomorrow is a final, a Europa League final. 

"This could be my last chance or there could be another chance, but I just want to concentrate on tomorrow, on winning and lifting the trophy with the boys, celebrating together."

Spurs' most recent European trophy was won 40 years and 363 days prior to Wednesday's final, as they beat Anderlecht on penalties in the 1984 UEFA Cup final.

Asked what it would mean to captain a trophy-winning Tottenham team, Son said: "It would be very special and would be a historic moment. 

"I have been here 10 years and I just want to win the trophy, which nobody has done in the 10 years I have been here.

"Tomorrow is going to be a massive day for the club and the boys, and for me as well."

Son returned from injury to feature in Spurs' last two Premier League games – defeats to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – and the attacker has reassured fans he is now fully fit.

"I'm ready," he said. "Obviously back from injury, it was my first game against Crystal Palace and afterwards I played against Aston Villa. 

"I didn't expect to play that long, but I managed. Physically, I am ready to go. Also, the rest of the boys are ready to go for the biggest game of the season."

Son has played 3,166 minutes in all competitions this season. That is more than he totalled in 2023-24 (2,965) but is also his second-fewest in a single campaign since 2016-17 (2,973).

His 11 goals are his fewest in any season since netting eight times in his first campaign with Spurs in 2015-16, but only in 2020-21 (17) has he bettered this term's tally of 11 assists. 

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