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Son Heung-min’s red card against AFC Bournemouth must inspire Tottenham Hotspur to victory in midweek in the biggest game in their history.
Spurs fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Ajax.
The performance was diabolical; Spurs did not get out of the blocks on the south coast and ended up losing their heads.
Son, after a bodycheck by Jefferson Lerma, was already pent up, looking to make things happen and give Spurs a victory that would have seen them qualify for the Champions League via their league position. He was involved in another scuffle with the midfielder on the ball and attempted to pick the ball up, but seemed to receive a punch to the back. He reacted, pushing Lerma to the ground, and was sent off.
Juan Foyth was given his marching orders in the second half after the tone had been set by the South Korea international.
Son is a player who seems to genuinely love playing for Spurs. He has been in excellent form this season and has scored 20 goals in all competitions. Many fans pinpointed his absence from the first leg against Ajax as the main reason for their defeat. His direct running, his pace on the counter-attack, his finishing ability was sorely missed. He is the club’s most important player when Harry Kane is out of action, as he is now.
But on Saturday, he let himself and his team-mates down. And he’ll know that.
Son apologised to the club’s fans for missing games while on international duty with South Korea. He said, per Goal: “Of course I feel very sorry because I miss already in September [Asian Games].
“I feel sorry for my team-mates, the fans and the coaching staff.”
This is a player who is accustomed to having the weight of an entire country on his shoulders. He routinely steps up to the plate when Spurs need him most and yet, in their hour of need, he was their downfall.
Now, with Ajax looming, and the suspension not extended to European football, Son has the chance to put it right. He must not waste it.
He will be chomping at the bit to get out there in Amsterdam and attempt to take Spurs to the victory they need to reach the final.
They will surely play Barcelona if they get to Madrid – Liverpool lost 3-0 in Camp Nou and a turnaround in the other semi-final would be nothing short of miraculous – and this is perhaps the only chance Spurs will ever have to reach the showpiece final.
With Son motivated and firing, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have every chance.
That red card in Bournemouth could prove to be an unlikely catalyst for yet another glory glory night for Spurs.