Although Son Heung-min (33) stands out at Tottenham, there is a strong sense that he is receiving unusually heavy criticism, possibly due to the team's performance.
On the 18th (Korea time), the soccer statistics outlet Squawka announced the top 10 players who created the most big chances directly leading to goals in the 2024-2025 English Premier League (EPL).
As a result, Son created 16 big chances, placing him in 4th, which is 5 behind Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), who is in 1st with 21. In 2nd place (19), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea) are tied.
Behind Son are Declan Rice (Arsenal) with 15, Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) with 14, Luca Digne, Youri Tielemans (both Aston Villa) with, Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) with 13, and Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) with 12.
These numbers show how much creativity Son provides and contributes to the attack at Tottenham. Although Son is active as a winger or forward, this suggests that he is also taking on the responsibilities of a central midfielder who lacks creativity.
Despite this effort, Son is experiencing some ups and downs this season. He is facing criticism from some experts and fans, which seems unjust. Nevertheless, the records only highlight Son's unique presence at Tottenham.
It also suggests that instead of primarily contributing with goals, Son is transforming into the key playmaker responsible for the overall attacking flow of the team.
Despite being 4th in big chances, Tottenham's poor performance may suggest that his teammates’ finishing ability is lacking. This means that even with good passes, they are unable to capitalize effectively.
Ultimately, Tottenham's poor performance this season cannot be attributed solely to Son Heung-min but rather indicates issues with the overall balance and tactical sophistication of the team. While he demonstrates his class and dedication, the burden on the team is growing heavier for Son.
Tottenham News, which covers Tottenham's updates, reported that some fans are pouring out strong criticism, stating, "He needs to prove his skills on the pitch," and noted, "Son's popularity is declining, and fans want his contract to be terminated."
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