Tottenham’s Son Heung-min celebrates by taking off his mask after scoring a goal against Crystal Palace on the 5th. News Reuters Yonhap
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min (31) expressed discomfort at the protective face mask. Son Heung-min suffered an orbital bone injury during a match last November and has been playing in a mask since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In an interview with the British Evening Standard published on the 6th (local time), Son Heung-min said, “Of course, there is a difference from running without a mask.”
During the match against Aston Villa at 1, the frustration was particularly great. Son Heung-min said, “I was really frustrated at the time of the Villa match,” and said, “I received the ball, but suddenly I couldn’t see it, so I was angry.” “If I was alone, I would run without a mask, but my parents, family and friends watching in Korea are concerned. Obviously it’s dangerous if there’s an impact on the injured part.’
Regarding taking off his mask and walking on the ground during the game, he explained: “My parents tell me to wear a mask” and “After the Villa game, doctors and physios still say it’s good to wear a mask.” When asked how long he would wear a mask, he replied, “We’ll have to wait and see.”
However, Son Heung-min also scored a goal under difficult circumstances. In the match against Crystal Palace in 5, after a long time since he started scoring, he took off his mask and roared. Son Heung-min said, “I felt sorry for the team, colleagues and fans because the expectations for me had risen” and “the score took the weight off my shoulders.”
Son Heung-min who quenched his thirst for goals challenges to score back-to-back goals against Portsmouth in the round of 16 of the FA Cup at 21:30 on the 7th.
Kim Ji-seop reporter onion@hankookilbo.com
