Son Heung-min reflects on 'toughest week' after Asian Cup exit

Son made his return to club football after the 2023 Asian Cup when he came off the bench in the second half of Tottenham Hotspurs’ Premier League match against Brighton on Feb. 10. Upon coming on, Son was met with warm reception from the Spurs fans as they stood up and clapped their returning captain.

The 31-year-old star repaid their reception by providing the match-winning assist for striker Brennan Johnson in added time to earn Spurs a 2-1 victory.

Son Heung-min (number 7) is subbed in in Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Brighton on Feb. 10, 2024. Photo by Reuters

After the game, Son expressed his gratitude to the fans for helping him overcome a difficult Asian Cup tournament.

"Thank you, it is a huge honor to be getting such reception. I had been through probably the toughest week of my life, but you made me very happy again and lifted me up," Son said in an interview with Tottenham Hotspurs.

"This is a moment I will never forget in my life until I die."

South Korea’s 2023 Asian Cup campaign was largely disappointing. Despite advancing to the semifinal, the team still came under heavy criticism for their lackluster and incohesive performances. Most of the goals came from their stars’ moments of individual brilliance, and they only managed one win in official time throughout the entire tournament.

Son Heung-min holds his head after South Korea lost 0-2 to Jordan in the Asian Cup semifinal in Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar, Feb. 6, 2024. Photo by Reuters

The troubles did not end there for South Korea, as the aftermath of their campaign has been filled with controversies. The brawl between Son and Lee Kang-in at a pre-match dinner, which resulted in a finger dislocation for the former, and the sacking of coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Friday have angered the fans and thrown the team in a turmoil.

Disciplinary actions against Son and Lee after their bust-up have also been discussed, and both players are likely to miss South Korea’s two games against Thailand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup second qualifier in March.