Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) came on as a substitute in the second half and did his best, but could not prevent the team's defeat. As a result, some Tottenham fans are raising criticism and accountability toward him, causing controversy.

Tottenham lost 0-2 to Fulham in an away game of the Premier League Round 29 for the 2024-2025 season at Craven Cottage in London, England, on the 16th (Korean time).

Due to this loss, Tottenham, which has not won in their last three league matches, has dropped to 14th place with 34 points (10 wins, 4 draws, 15 losses), and the gap with the relegation zone is narrowing.

Head Coach Ange Postecoglou implemented a significant rotation by giving rest to key players who played the full 90 minutes in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 second leg (3-1 win). Key players like Son Heung-min, James Maddison, and Mickey van de Ven started on the bench, while Matheus Cunha and Dominic Solanke started the game. Tottenham failed to find an attacking breakthrough throughout the first half and did not record a single accurate shot.

As the second half began, Son Heung-min was brought on in hopes of turning the game around, but his crosses and free kicks did not lead to consolidation with his teammates. Eventually, in the 78th minute, Rodrigo Muniz scored the opening goal, and in the 88th minute, Ryan Sessegnon added another goal, sealing a 2-0 victory for Fulham.

Son Heung-min recorded 1 shot, 3 chance creations, 4 successful crosses (4/8), and 2 successful ball contests (2/4) in the match.

After the match, Son Heung-min expressed disappointment by covering his face with his jersey. Some Tottenham fans criticized even this gesture, pouring negative reactions toward him. The British media 'Tottenham News' reported, "Son Heung-min's popularity is declining, and fans want his contract terminated." Some fans expressed strong criticism, saying, "He must prove himself on the field" and "He shows the same reaction every time we lose."

Son Heung-min is a representative player who has dedicated himself to Tottenham for the past 10 years. Despite being the captain, many feel it is excessive to place too much responsibility on an individual while the team continues to underperform. In fact, 'Footmob' rated Son Heung-min at 6.5, while 'Tottenham News' gave him the highest score on the team of 7, stating he "provided quality in the attacking line."

In this match, Head Coach Ange Postecoglou's tactical choices are also under scrutiny. Even with an international break approaching, he excluded key players, including Son Heung-min, from the starting lineup. Tottenham, without Son Heung-min, displayed a lackluster performance in attack, and while Son did his best after being substituted in, it was insufficient to prevent the overall decline in team performance.

After the match, Coach Postecoglou also could not escape the intense criticism from fans. During the process of heading toward the tunnel after the match, a fan yelled, "XX, what is this?", and the coach was seen reacting, leading to a heated exchange. Signs of this confusion are also evident within the Tottenham squad.

Some fans and media suggest that Son Heung-min should lead the team more as a captain. They particularly noted that Son did not intervene during the altercation between Mathis Tel and fans after the match. 'Tottenham Hotspur News' pointed out, "Son Heung-min should have taken Tel to the locker room," highlighting a lack of leadership. However, the claim that one individual should be solely responsible for unexpected situations in a match seems to be an excessive criticism.

Son Heung-min is not just a team captain; he is also an individual player. Placing excessive responsibility on a specific player when the entire team is underperforming is not logically sound. Tottenham's issues stem not from one individual player but from overall team operations and declining performance.

The controversy surrounding Tottenham and Son Heung-min is intensifying due to this loss against Fulham. Son Heung-min did his best in the match, and the excessive criticism from some fans towards him is unjust. To overcome Tottenham's struggles, discussions should focus on improving the overall tactical issues rather than shifting blame onto specific players.

[OSEN = Jung Seung-woo, Reporter]