Heung-min Son has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of watching his former club Tottenham Hotspur fight for Premier League survival last season, while backing them to bounce back strongly in the campaign ahead.
Spurs secured their top-flight status on the final day of the 2025-26 season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the drama of their escape quickly highlighted just how perilously close they had come to the unthinkable. Manager Roberto De Zerbi immediately called for a significant overhaul of the squad to ensure the club never finds itself in a similar position again — a message the board appears to have taken seriously, with Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi already through the door and further additions reportedly in the pipeline.
Son felt personally implicated in Spurs’ struggles
For Son — who played a central role in making Spurs a consistent Premier League force and departed on a high after their Europa League triumph a year ago — watching the club suffer from thousands of miles away in Los Angeles proved deeply uncomfortable. The South Korean, now turning out for LAFC, admitted he was plagued by a sense of guilt that he could no longer be there to help his former teammates.
Speaking to GQ, the ex-Spurs captain described how difficult the season was to follow: “Every week was painful to watch, and it was especially sad because last year we lifted an amazing trophy. It feels a little bit like it’s my fault, like they are having a tough time and like I was just running away from it. So it was really painful to watch that.”
Son backs Spurs to rediscover their best under De Zerbi
Despite the pain, Son acknowledged there was at least one positive to take from the ordeal — it appears to have served as a genuine wake-up call for the club’s hierarchy about the dangers of complacency. With De Zerbi now set for his first full pre-season at the helm, Son is confident the foundations are in place for a much-improved campaign.
Currently on international duty with South Korea ahead of the World Cup, the Spurs legend was upbeat when asked about the season to come: “A new manager, a good preseason, add some new players, and I think they can find a better position and get back up top where they belong.”
Son made clear that his affection for the club has not dimmed despite his move across the Atlantic. “As a Spurs fan, I have to keep giving the biggest support I have from the other side of the world. We just have to shout, ‘Come on you Spurs!’ as much as we can. I still love them. They’re a big part of my heart and I wish them all the best. Next season will be better for sure.”
