Patrice Evra has expressed how he is ‘so happy’ for Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, after he helped South Korea reach the last-16 of the Qatar World Cup on Friday.
The former Manchester United defender shared how Son has ‘personality’ and how Asian players ‘never moan’ and are a manager’s dream given how they follow instructions to a tee, as he told Vibe with Five.
The Tottenham 30-year-old has struggled for large parts of this season, but when it mattered most, he found that magic for his country.
In the dying moments of South Korea’s crucial showdown against already-qualified Portugal on Friday, Paulo Bento’s side needed one more goal for the win, as Son’s darting run up the pitch was followed up by a well-timed and brilliantly-weighted through ball, which found the on-rushing Wolves forward, Hwang Hee-chan, who booked his nation’s ticket into the next round.
This delighted former France defender Patrice Evra, who spoke highly about the Spurs superstar and his nation booking a last-16 ticket against Brazil.
“Ji-Sung Park never showed his emotion,” said Evra. “Then he send me a picture and it was like he was still playing. It was amazing how happy he was. I was so happy for the Korean players.
“Even a special mention to Son. He played with that broken face and he put a mask on. He did everything for his country, and then qualify for the next stage.
“The Asian players, they have got that discipline. You are going to tell them to run 15k, then they are going to run 15k. I think, for a manager, the Asian players are the best because they are so humble. They never moan and they have got personality, like Son. But they are going to do the job.”
SON FINDING HIS TOUCH
Those were positive signs for Tottenham because they have been crying out for Son to re-find his old form.
Aside from the versatile forward’s hat-trick against Leicester City, he hasn’t cooked like he was cooking during his Golden Boot win last season.
But perhaps a strong World Cup, added with some goalscoring form, he can then transcend that back onto the domestic stage when Premier League football returns on Boxing Day.
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