Son Heung-min: I am responsible for Antonio Conte’s departure

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur

FOOTBALL Son Heung-min: I am responsible for Antonio Conte’s departure

PREMIER LEAGUE Son Heung-min: I am responsible for Antonio Conte’s departure

Stephen Oladehinde • 19:16 - 28.03.2023

Tottenham forward Son Heung min has claimed he is one of the reasons Antonio Conte was relieved of his duties by the Tottenham board.

Antonio Conte was sacked on Sunday night after the former Tottenham manager criticised his players following a draw at St. Mary’s stadium against Southampton. 

After failing to match his outstanding performance from the previous season, Son Heung-min has acknowledged that he feels responsible for Antonio Conte's departure from Tottenham Hotspur. 

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Son instrumental in Tottenham’s champions league qualification

Son helped Spurs under Conte reach the Champions League last year with 23 goals and the Premier League's Golden Boot. Nonetheless, the South Korean international has only scored six goals in the League this season as of Sunday night, when Conte's departure was formally confirmed after the Italian had criticised his players during the 3-3 draw with Southampton.

Son has made it plain that he has no animosity toward his former head coach, despite reports that some players were offended by Conte's remarks.

Speaking in an interview after South Korea’s defeat to Uruguay on Tuesday, Son said: “I’m very sorry to him [Conte]. He is a world-class manager, we had a great journey together, I thank him a lot. I do not know how other players are thinking about him, but I’m sorry to him.

“I should have shown more, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t help the team and I feel responsible as he left the club. He surely has great ability and experience as a coach and I’m sure he’ll have great success in his other career.”

Tottenham in search for a new manager

As the board searches for a new manager to replace Conte, interim manager Cristian Stellini is now in charge of the coaching duties at Tottenham.

Next Monday, Tottenham will visit Everton, a team that faces relegation, under an interim manager and Son has come out to say, “Coming back to Spurs, I wish to finish the rest of the season in a great way with my team-mates, for our club.”

Tottenham's first pick to permanently replace Conte is Julian Nagelsmann, and it's been reported that his representative was in London this week. But, it's unclear whether the visit had anything to do with Spurs or the German.

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Tags:
Southampton Tottenham Hotspur Antonio Conte Uruguay Cristian Stellini Everton Germany Julian Nagelsmann