If Han Gol Scores Just Once This Weekend, He Will Set a Historic Record as the First Asian Player... Team's Champions League Qualification Also at Stake
"My dad always told me, 'It's good to have big dreams.' My goal is to become the top scorer in the regular league." This was the determination revealed by Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min 11 years ago. Every forward desires this because football is a game where scoring goals is essential to winning.
Son Heung-min has scored double-digit goals for nine seasons in both the German Bundesliga and the English Premier League (EPL). This season, he surpassed 20 goals for the first time in his career. With 21 goals, he is just one goal behind the scoring leader Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, 22 goals). He can make his dream a reality in the final 38th round.
Tottenham will play an away match against Norwich City at Carrow Road in Norwich, UK, on the 22nd at 4 p.m. local time (midnight Sunday Korean time). Son Heung-min has a high chance of scoring. In the first half of the season's home match, he led the team to a 3-0 victory with one goal and one assist.
Norwich has conceded the most goals in the EPL this season (79 goals). Their defense has been weak, allowing sixteen goals in the last six matches (1 draw, 5 losses). Son Heung-min has scored four goals in the last four games. Although he did not score in the previous 37th round match against Burnley, he had scored in the three consecutive matches before that.
Mohamed Salah's condition is the opposite. He was on fire in the first half of the season, scoring in seven consecutive matches. However, since the match against Manchester United on the 20th of last month, he has been quiet. In the match against Aston Villa on the 11th, he even injured his knee. As a result, he could not play in the match against Southampton on the 18th.
Local media such as the Evening Standard predict that Salah will also find it difficult to play in the final match against Wolverhampton. In this case, Son Heung-min only needs to score one goal to become the top scorer. The EPL does not consider other records like playing time if the number of goals is the same. They recognize joint top scorers.
Son Heung-min cannot prioritize his own goals above all else. The upcoming match carries the UEFA Champions League qualification spot for next season, awarded to the top four in the league. Tottenham is currently 4th with 68 points (goal difference +24). They have 2 points more than 5th place Arsenal (66 points, goal difference +9). Due to the large goal difference, even a draw will secure 4th place on their own. Their opponent Norwich is at the bottom (22 points) and has already been relegated.
Son Heung-min said, "Being the top scorer is my long-time dream, but right now, the team's qualification for the Champions League comes first," focusing on team play. To claim the top scorer title, Tottenham must secure victory early. Only then can he comfortably aim for goals, and his teammates can actively support him.
If he achieves both goals, Son Heung-min will become the first Asian to be the top scorer in a major European league. He will also experience the UCL stage again after three seasons since the 2019-2020 season. There is also a strong possibility of winning the 'EPL Player of the Year,' which is equivalent to the league MVP.
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