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| ▲ In this Reuters photo, shows Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min (29), who is set to start the 2021-2022 season, expressed his determination in preparing for the new season and the overall atmosphere of the team.
"Everyone should be ready for every game, that is so important," Son told Sky Sports on Tuesday (KST).
"There is a chance every game, we know how important that is. If you're not focused, if you're not ready, then every game we are going to struggle," Son said. "That is why, in the pre-season, we are working really hard to try and make it as easy as possible for the coming season."
Tottenham finished seventh place in the 2020-21 season of the English Premier League (EPL) and were eliminated from the UEFA Europa League round of 16.
After Jose Mourinho was sacked in April, Spurs couldn't find a new manager for more than two months, until only last month, Tottenham appointed Nunu Espirito Santo as the new manager amid Harry Kane's transfer rumors.
However, the flow of the pre-season games turned out to be fairly decent.
Tottenham had three wins and two losses out of the five preseason practice games, which Son played in four of them and scored three goals and four assists.
Son Heung-min, who established a new career high with 22 goals and collected 17 assists in 51 official matches last month, also raised expectations for the new season by raising attack points in all of his practice matches.
Son also positively evaluated the impact Espirito Santo has had on the team since being appointed as Spurs boss in July.
"I've really enjoyed [it]. It's been maybe two or three weeks with the new manager, but I have a really good, positive feeling," he said. "I hope we can help the manager and the manager can help us so we can have a close side. I think we are looking positive, he looks positive."
"I think if we have a positive feeling in the changing room and on the pitch, that's so important.," the 29-year-old added. "Sometimes we forget this feeling but I think we have this positive feeling at the moment."
Son Heung-min, who recently signed a new four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur, which will keep the football star in the U.K. until 2025, said, "It was really a big honor playing six years here and they've given me so much and I want to give them so much back. I'm grateful to be here, to honor, to play with this club and another four years - I think we can achieve big things."
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