International manager hints that Tottenham star is playing through pain

Speaking to the press after his South Korea side defeated Singapore 5-0, Jurgen Klinsmann revealed how angry he was to see Heung-min Son affected by a dangerous challenge during the game.

Heung-min Son suffered a drastic dip in form for the 2022/23 campaign, which was later revealed to be largely down to the fact he was carrying an injury all season.

Luckily, this season, Son has been firing on all cylinders. He has eight goals in the first 12 games of the Premier League campaign (Transfermarkt) and the Spurs skipper looks far more like his old self again.

It seems he has carried that good form over into the international break, after he scored a long-range, stunning curled effort for South Korea in their emphatic win over Singapore this week.

However, there were concerns when Son went to the ground at one stage and limped off the pitch. He did, however, return and complete the full 90 minutes.

Klinsmann comments on Heung-min Son

While Son himself has insisted he is not injured after the game, his national team manager, Jurgen Klinsmann, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the tackle that put his player at risk.

Klinsmann said (via Nate): “It was a foul that didn’t need to be committed in a situation where we were leading by a large score. I felt very angry at that moment.”

However, Klinsmann did explain that small injuries are a normal part of the game now: “It is rare for any player to play a game with 100% physical condition. It is the player’s responsibility to play while enduring or managing pain.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I agree it was a reckless and needless challenge on Son, and I really hope he is OK after that one. He sounds like he is. That said, I’m not sure I agree with Klinsmann’s comments after about players having to endure the pain – if a player is injured, they need to be rested.

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