Captain Heung-Min Son spoke to the media at our press conference at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Wednesday night’s showpiece UEFA Europa League Final against Manchester United.
Sat alongside Pedro Porro at the top table, here’s a look at some of the things the forward had to say as we edge closer to this huge game...
Sonny on the chance to win silverware after 10 years here
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“It will be very special and it will be obviously a historic moment. I’ve been here 10 years and I just want to win the trophy which nobody has done while I’ve been here during those 10 years. Tomorrow is going to be a massive day for obviously the club first of all, and for the boys and obviously for me as well.”
Sonny on the players’ recent barbeque at the Training Centre
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“It was very important that everybody was together, having a good time, spending time together and just talking about their lives and it felt like we were getting even closer, you know, but I mean, especially this season, which has been such a tough season, we’ve been always together, we stuck together and that’s why we are here. I think there’s one last step left, so we’ve got to make it.”
Sonny on the support of fans in Korea during the early hours
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“I really appreciate that they are supporting me or us, in the morning, in the night-time, late night time or early night time. They are always here and they’re always supporting us and as I say all the time, I want to give them something back and tomorrow I hope I can give some of them my smile and then the trophy and a historic moment that we’ll never forget. I hope we can enjoy it together and celebrate it together.”
“I’m ready. I’m obviously back from injury and it was my first game against Crystal Palace and then I played against Villa around 70 minutes, I didn’t expect to play that long but I was managing to play. Physically I’m ready, ready to go, and also the boys are ready to go for the biggest game of the season.”
Sonny on starting the Champions League Final in 2019 and what he can take from that painful experience
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“Ben Davies is still here as well, so don’t forget about his commitment and his work rate. It’s going to be a huge, huge moment for both of us and also for the boys if we win it. As we always say, the first step is going to be really hard, but if you win that trophy, we can change the mentality, we can change the history and hopefully we can continue to compete for another trophy.”
Sonny on whether he’s spoken to Harry Kane after his Bundesliga title victory with Bayern Munich
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“Obviously, everybody knows that Harry is my best mate and also it was a huge honour playing alongside him, but after he won the first title, we had a chat about his trophy, but yes, I mean, he’s already on holiday, so he won’t want to text me! He doesn’t have to text me, so I just concentrate on myself with the boys and obviously Harry will be the biggest Spurs fan tomorrow. I’m definitely sure that he’ll be supporting us from holiday.”
Sonny on the importance of avoiding a bad start like in 2019
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“I still don’t think it was handball! We can’t change it. Every game is the same, the first 15 minutes are hugely important to get a game tempo, game rhythm, it’s hugely important. I will especially mention to the boys that it’s important we start well to get our confidence.”
“Obviously it is special. It doesn’t matter who we play against, it is a special stage, a special tournament and to reach the final, it has never been free. It’s going to be a special game, a very tough game, a difficult game but we just have to do our things, concentrate on ourselves and we’ll see what happens.”
Sonny on whether he must take this chance to win something at this stage of his Spurs career
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“The future, we never know. We might play next year in the Champions League or we might play, I don’t know, we might play in a final. We never know, obviously. The chance that I have now is real. It is a fact, tomorrow is a final and the Europa League final. Let’s just say that I’m not thinking about anything else. This could be my last chance or another chance, but I just want to concentrate on tomorrow, concentrate on winning and lifting the trophy with the boys and celebrate together.”
Sonny on the differences to 2019 and the Champions League Final
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“Six years ago, I played my first final at professional level and it was very nervous moments and very exciting moments. But I was very nervous and couldn’t believe I was in the Champions League Final. Six years after, obviously, I’m a grown man and experienced and I just want to prepare in my way, calm. There have been changes, so many years, so many different players, and also my role has changed from just a player to the captain of this Club, leader of the boys and I just want to help the boys to lift it together. That is my dream. Tomorrow, I hope we can make a historic day that I will never forget.”
Sonny on whether he can focus on Europe despite our Premier League form
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“Yes, in the league, definitely where we are now obviously is unacceptable but I don’t want to think about now that things are not good. It is not the right time to think about it. As I said in previous press conferences, we are here and reaching the final, you have to beat some good teams as well. You have to travel to away games, you have to make difficult games, you have to be disciplined and you have to have belief in yourself, which we did and that’s why we are in the final. We can change the bad season in the league with a trophy and Spurs are just missing the trophy. Some seasons we have been outstanding, we have been in the Champions League, we were finishing second but still we were missing something. This year we can change that, so tomorrow, I hope we can change that.”
Sonny on what he has said to the less-experienced members of the squad
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“I don’t need to motivate them because it’s a final and everybody will know how important that is. Everybody will be there to get excited. It will be just telling them we need to be together, to stay calm, to do the right things and the game will be in our hands. Obviously I still haven’t talked to the boys to get more motivation, but I will definitely talk to the boys about my experience, about my real experiences and we will see what is going to happen. I hope tomorrow is a fun day.”
Watch | Sonny and Pedro Porro's press conference in Bilbao
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