Heung-min Son has opened up about the emotional experience of watching his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, battle relegation last season, while also expressing optimism for the year ahead.
Although Tottenham ended the 2025-26 campaign on a high by securing their Premier League survival on the final day at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the celebration quickly gave way to a sobering realization of how close they came to disaster.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi stressed the need for a major rebuild to prevent a similar struggle in the future, and the near-miss appears to have spurred the club into decisive action in the transfer market.
Son felt a sense of responsibility for Tottenham’s difficulties
For Son, who helped establish Spurs as a Premier League force and left following a Europa League triumph just 12 months ago, watching from afar was a strange and painful experience. Now playing for LAFC, he admitted feeling guilty that he couldn’t assist his former teammates.
Asked how he felt witnessing Spurs’ struggles, the ex-captain told GQ: “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 confident Spurs will improve next season
One silver lining, Son noted, is that the ordeal served as a wake-up call for Tottenham’s leadership about the risks of repeating past mistakes. The club has already signed Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, with reports suggesting further spending as De Zerbi prepares for his first full season in charge.
Son, currently focused on the World Cup with South Korea, believes Spurs will perform much better under De Zerbi.
Asked about the upcoming campaign, the Tottenham legend said: “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.
“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.”
