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| Two of the leading Korean football strikers Son Heung-min and Hwang Eui-jo met side by side (provided by the Korea Football Association) © News 1 |
Two men of the same age who were born in 1992, representing Korean football, faced the match side by side.
This is the story of Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), who wants to leave this season as a’career high’ season rather than just’incredibly early’.
For both players, the flow so far has been excellent. But if you don’t stop here and go a little further, it can be remembered as a very meaningful season.
We’re already tired of having a great season, but thanks to a great run, the desired hills are close by. It’s difficult, but if you go a little further, you can write a new history. They themselves know this very well. That is why now as we are toward the end of the season is an important’game.’
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| Son Heung-min wants to make the best season once again © AFP=News1 |
◇ Prepare for Son Heung-min’s February,’Career High’
Son Heung-min had a better start than ever at the beginning of this season. In the EPL, he scored ‘4 goals in 1 match’ in the second round of Southampton, and then attacked consecutively, including two goals and one help against Manchester United in the fourth round, one goal and one help against West Ham United in the fifth round, and one goal against Burnley in the sixth round. Flew fluttering while recording points.
Even in difficult games such as Manchester City in the 9th round and Arsenal in the 11th round, the scoring cannon was operated without any doubt. Son Heung-min’s name was always at the top of the league’s early scoring rankings.
It wasn’t just that there were many attack points. Together with Harry Kane, he boasted a fantastic breath and left a strong impact on European football. It was praised by European media as’the best duo of this season’ and decorated the main EPL official website every day.
‘Momentum’ was also good, which could not contain all of them with excellent stats. Every time I went to the game, I was overflowing with confidence that I would do something. With this trend on his back, Son Heung-min was one of the best strikers in the league, maintaining the top score in the league until January.
It is only recently that this trend has been somewhat entangled. In January, there was an abnormality in Son Heung-min’s scoring and team’s rise.
Son Heung-min was unable to operate the scorer for more than a month after the England Football League Cup (Carabao Cup) Brentport match on January 5 (Korean time) until the West Bromwich Albion (WBA) round 23 on February 7th. When I recall the best pace in the beginning, it was a strangely long sluggishness. Even Kane was left for a while due to injuries, and Tottenham lost his power and lost his third straight league title.
Fortunately, in February, the situation improved a little. He broke the scoreless chain through the WBA game on February 7 mentioned, and did not score a goal in the FA Cup Round of 16 Everton, which was played on the 11th, but a quick flank break and 2 assists came out.
Son Heung-min is recording 29 attack points (17 goals and 12 assists) this season, including the record against Everton. One less than his 30 most attack points in his club’s career. If you go a little further, you can change the’career high’ season. If you are going to write a new one, you need to go beyond it.
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| Son Heung-min is showing good performances such as winning the Puskas Award. © AFP=News1 |
So it is important from now on. In fact, it is not as easy as it is to say to keep your best shape all season. The important thing is how to minimize the time of sluggishness. After having tasted the goal again, the team must regain the form of a good time after hitting it at this time of losing streak.
Whenever you catch the ball, you must remember the confidence that made you expect something, and you must actively utilize the combination with Kane, who showed strength even in the concentration of the opponent.
Be careful with injuries. Just around this time last season, Son Heung-min suffered an arm injury when raising the stock price with three consecutive goals. After that, Son Heung-min took 2 weeks off, and after returning, he finished with 2 goals in 9 matches. There was no momentum at the end of the most important season. It should not be repeated.
Son Heung-min interviewed with “I want to be a player who can maintain this form throughout the season” even when he shows good appearance at the beginning of this season. Son Heung-min, who has a passion for competition and cold reflection, already knows what to do for the rest of the season.
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| Hwang’s mission this season is to become the best striker in Bordeaux. © AFP=News1 |
◇ Hwang Ui-jo’s February, become the best striker in the team
Hwang Eui-jo was the opposite of Son Heung-min. Unlike Son Heung-min, who went well from the beginning, it did not show a sense of presence for a long time after the opening.
In fact, the expectations of domestic and foreign media for Hwang Eui-jo this season were quite high. Because last season wasn’t bad. Last season, which was the debut season in Europe, needed adaptation, and there was also a variable in which the league ended early due to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) when the water rose and scored consecutive goals. Nevertheless, he left a not bad record of 6 goals and 2 help.
Therefore, I expected to show a better appearance this season. It was also encouraging that Jean-Louis Gassett was newly appointed instead of former coach Paulo Soja, who used Hwang Eui-jo as a flanking striker.
However, Hwang Eui-jo has no more seat than last season. The new coach of Gasset used Hwang Eui-jo as the one-top striker, but he could not live up to expectations. There were many games that ended without being able to shoot a proper shot because of the sluggish team.
Eventually, he was pushed back as a flanking striker. Even though it wasn’t injured, there was a game that kept the bench. It was a long sluggish enough to say that entering the French stage itself might be remembered as a failure.
However, Hwang Eui-jo made a rebound point on his own. In the 15th round of Saint-Etienne, where he played on the top again, he made the first goal. Starting from this goal, the flow completely went. In the 21st round, he scored multi-goals against Angers, catching up with the record 6 goals and 2 assists from last season. Now,’career high’ is a separate concept.
In fact, Hwang’s goal is not to create a’career high’ season. In the case of Son Heung-min, his past record was excellent enough to make it meaningful to set a new record. So, breaking this once more and going further has a big symbol. On the other hand, Hwang Eui-jo is now a player in his second season in Europe. If you make a better attack point than the debut season, it’s a praiseworthy thing, but it’s hard to put a big meaning.
The real value Hwang Eui-jo wants to have through this season is to’raise position within the team’. I’m not just talking about the time to play. When the team was difficult or when a goal was needed, Hwang Eui-jo would rather be replaced. There were times when he was asked to defend more than attack. Hwang Ui-jo-ro, who has always finished with his former team and the Korean national team, hurts his pride.
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| Hwang Eui-jo hasn’t yet played full-time in League 1 this season. © AFP=News1 |
So, it is very encouraging that Hwang Eui-jo recently started as a one-top striker and scored goals whenever the team needs it.
Hwang Eui-jo is scoring six goals in both last season and this season, but the meaning is a little different. Last season, he wasn’t ahead compared to other players, including Jimmy Brian (7 goals) and Nicolas de Privil (6 goals).
However, this season is the sole leader in scoring within the team. Last season’s top scorer, Brian, has just one goal, and Remy Odin is following Hwang Eui-jo with four goals. Josh Maza, whose positions overlap as Hwang Eui-jo got the top, left on loan at all. When a team needs a goal, it is said that Hwang Eui-jo is becoming the most promising option in Bordeaux.
Of course, it is not yet in perfect position. Just looking at the most recent league game. After scoring a goal against Breathtois, it was replaced soon after. He hasn’t even played full-time in the league yet.
So, Hwang Eui-jo must go further. After last season of adaptation, Bordeaux’s best offensive option this season should definitely take root.
To do that, first of all, you need to concentrate on not missing a goal. It may sound like a natural story, but recently Hwang Eui-jo misses a chance equal to a goal. If you want to be recognized by your co-workers, you have to finish it without missing an easy opportunity.
The second is to create a goal that wins the team. Bordeaux is ranked 10th in the French League 1 with 9 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses (32 points). The only difference is 6 points from Stade Ren, who is ranked 5th, who is recording 10-8 draws and 5 losses (38 points). This means that the team is going through an important match in every game. In this case, if you score the winning goal, the impact and value will increase.
The stats are also important, but the position and stature within the team are values that Hwang Eui-jo must acquire for his career in Bordeaux as well as in Europe. Now is the game.