Son Heung-min won his first Tottenham trophy after nine years of trying and several near misses with the South Korean visibly emotional after finally getting over the line
Tottenham finally got over the line as they claimed Europa League glory
Tottenham finally got over the line as they claimed Europa League glory
Son Heung-min declared himself a "legend" and claimed he was ready to celebrate Tottenham's Europa League victory so hard that he might miss the flight back home. The South Korean finally claimed his first trophy with the club - nine years after joining.
Son began on the bench but came on in the second-half as Tottenham dug in to see off Manchester United in Bilbao. Brennan Johnson's scrappy first-half finish proved to be enough for Ange Postecoglou and co.
The entire squad celebrated long into the night as they ended a trophy drought that had dated back to 2008. Son himself had been part of several impressive Tottenham teams who ultimately failed to deliver.
Son had lost the Champions League final and the Carabao Cup final with the north Londoners. He'd also come up short in numerous semi-finals with the club but eventually got over the line in Europe and he was the man to lift the trophy.
He said: "Let's say I'm a legend. why not? Only today! 17 years nobody has done it, so today let's say with amazing players probably a legend of the club. This is what I've always dreamed for. Today is the day it happened. I am the happiest man in the world. When you look at the whole season there will always be some situation you have a tough time but we as players always stuck together.
"I felt the pressure. I wanted it so badly. The last seven days I was dreaming about this game every night. It finally happened and I can sleep easy now! We can celebrate today so let's just make it one we will never forget and maybe I will miss the flight tomorrow!"
Son's near decade at the club has seen him continue to excel. He sits in the top 10 for all-time appearances and is Tottenham's fifth highest goalscorer in history - and now has a trophy to go next to his name.
Son Heung-Min hoisted the trophy aloft - ending the club's drought (
Image:
Getty Images)
Several of the Tottenham players made reference to their 'Spursy' reputation, but claimed their Europa League success meant they could finally rid of that tag as they produced a streetwise performance to see off a poor United side.
Johnson said: “I’m so happy right now. This season has not been good at all, not one of us players care about that now. This team has not won a trophy for 17 years, it means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered for not winning a trophy. We had to get the first one, I’m so happy. Ever since I came here it has been ‘Tottenham, good team but can’t get it done’, but we got it done."
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