‘Not pleasant’ – Heung-min Son did not like what opposition players said about him

Son Heung-min has admitted that he used what the Chinese players and media said about him pre-match as extra motivation to prove a point on the pitch.

South Korea emerged from Shenzhen with a 3-0 win in the World Cup qualifier yesterday, with Son netting a first-half brace while Jeong Seung-Hyeon put the icing on the cake for the away side in the dying stages of the game.

The Tottenham man gave his team the lead from the penalty spot on 11 minutes before producing an uncharacteristically brilliant header just before half-time to put Jurgen Klinsmann’s side 2-0 up.

One could tell from the 31-year-old’s body language that he was really up for the game, with the South Korean captain celebrating his first goal by shushing the Chinese crowd.

Son has now explained that he was keen to prove a point on the pitch as he felt there was a lack of respect in the way the Chinese players were speaking about him before the game.

Heung-min Son wanted more respect from his rivals

He said (via Sungmo Lee): “Honestly when I heard they (China team and media) were saying they know how to stop me, and they don’t care about me, it was not pleasant.

“When I play football, I respect all players, so about those comments on me, as the captain of the team, I think to show what I can do on the pitch was the right way.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The last thing that you want to do to world-class players like Son is to rile him up before a game. Just ask Pep Guardiola about his ‘Harry Kane team’ comment, which was followed by Son netting thrice in the two legs of the Champions League quarterfinal to knock Manchester City out.

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