What a performance by Son Heung-min for Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Lilywhites hammered Leicester City 6-2 in North London and despite being a substitute, Son brought the match ball home with him.
That’s because the South Korea international came off the bench to score a stunning 14-minute hat-trick against Brendan Rodgers’s side.
Antonio Conte dropped him from the starting lineup because Son hadn’t scored in Tottenham’s first eight outings of the new campaign.
However, he responded perfectly against the Foxes and Matthew Upson, speaking to BBC Sport, has said that’s exactly the sort of attitude you need.
He said: “What an impact that Son Heung-min has made, he needs to be careful because Antonio Conte might drop him for the next game. This is an example for any player that has been dropped, you don’t mope, you come on to make a point and Son has done that.”
Talent only gets you so far in any walk of life.
You need something else, a certain drive and that, combined with ability, will more times than not lead to excellence.
And the former Bayer Leverkusen attacker, a £22 million signing under Mauricio Pochettino, certainly has the skill and the attitude.
That’s why he’s been such a massive player for every Tottenham manager, whether it’s been Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and now Conte.
The Italian manager dropped him on Saturday and got the appropriate response.
Players with lesser mindsets would’ve sulked and moped, and this is why Son is so very precious.
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