AIMBROAD

Tottenham's Son Heung-min is interviewing with domestic reporters in a joint coverage area after leading the team to victory with the winning goal in an away match against Crystal Palace in the 10th round of the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2023-2024 season at Selhurst Park in London, England early on the 28th (Korea time). London | Correspondent Jang Ji-hoon 

London | Reuters Yonhap News 

London | Reuters Yonhap News 

[Sports Seoul | London = Correspondent Jang Ji-hoon, Reporter Kim Yong-il] "It is more important to sacrifice for the team and play more than individual records."

Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who scored his eighth goal in the league in the 10th round of the English Premier League (EPL) against Crystal Palace in the 2023-2024 season, said this when asked about the competition with Elling Holan (Manchester City).

I felt the dignity of the captain. While "superstar" Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) left for Germany ahead of the opening of this season, Tottenham has had no loss in 10 matches (eight wins, two draws and 26 points) since the opening of the season with the outstanding sense of tactics by coach Angé Postecoglou and new captain Son Heung-min at the center. He is solidifying his position as the leader of the EPL.

Palace kept Tottenham in check by using tougher-than-usual tackles to control forward pressure and back space play, starting with the offense that Tottenham is aiming for. However, Son did not panic as he started as a one-top player. Under the pressure of Palace, he came down to the midfield to open the door for offense, and instilled the spirit with a dedicated defense as he vowed to. Fellows of the team ran as one. 

London | AFP Yonhap News 

London | AFP Yonhap News 

With these efforts, Tottenham finished without a shot in the first half, but led by inducing an own goal from Joel Ward in the eighth minute of the second half. And Son Heung-min scored the winning goal with only one chance given in the 21st minute of the second half. Brennan Johnson, who received a pass from James Maddison between the opponent's defender's crotch, took over and dug into the left side of the penalty arc. Then he connected for Son Heung-min, who jumped in front of the goal, and he kicked it with his left foot.

Tottenham gave a comeback goal to Palace Jordan IU at the end of the second half, but continued its unbeaten streak by no longer allowing a chase.

Son Heung-min's heat map against Palace, which was tracked in real time by soccer AI company Aimbroad. Courtesy | Aimbroad

Even if you look at 'Aim Broad' data that provides digital content based on AI in soccer, there are many traces of Son running not only at the front line, left and right sides but also at the half-line area, sometimes at the end of the game. It makes you feel how much he ran with all his might.

Immediately after the game, Son Heung-min met with local reporters including Sports Seoul and said, "I thought the opponent would be so tough from the first half. But I was curious if he could stop us for 90 minutes," adding, "We asked him to test (in the locker room). I thought there would be a lot of space in the second half, but I think he won by scoring a goal from the opportunity he was given while operating calmly."

London | Reuters Yonhap News

Son, who has scored goals in two consecutive matches, continues to compete for the top scorer with eight goals in the first 10 matches. Son, who became the EPL's top scorer (23 goals) in the 2021-2022 season, is aiming at career high once again. According to the official stat of the EPL, Son attempted 28 shots in 10 matches, and connected half of them with 14 shots on goal. He scored eight of them, accounting for 57 percent of the shots on goal. In the 2021-2022 season, he was the top scorer with 23 goals, accounting for 47 percent (23 goals out of 49). This means that Son's performance is more than "top scorer season" with 30 percent of his entire schedule this season.

However, Son said, "(I am not paying attention to score) at all. I am thinking about how I can help my team more. When I do that, I think goals will naturally follow. Since the players are playing for me and creating opportunities for me, I will consider sacrificing for my team rather than setting personal records."

https://n.news.naver.com/sports/wfootball/article/468/0000995464