Tottenham Hotspur finished the 2021/22 campaign in the fourth spot and with that, it has helped them return to the Champions League.
Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham United were the four clubs battling it out for the fourth position, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea comfortably occupying the first three positions in the table.
The Gunners were the favourite to qualify for the Europe’s elite club competition, before losing that spot to Tottenham Hotspur.
The latter’s fortune changed after Antonio Conte arrived at the north London club.
Spurs started the season with Nuno Espírito Santo in charge but sacked him in November 2021. They were eighth when he was replaced by the former Chelsea manager.
Son Heung-min has now revealed his Tottenham teammates weren’t even thinking of the Champions League before Conte’s appointment.
“It’s really important [Champions League]. As a player, I want to do it in a place where players who are good at Champions League soccer are gathered, and it is natural that the players put in a lot of effort,” the forward told Korea’s TV Chosun.
“We talked about this a lot, but before Conte came, I didn’t even think that we could compete in the Champions League. But when the coach came, he held on to the players and filled in the gaps, and I think it was really good to be able to go to the Champions League.”
“What I still remember is that when I came back on the bus after the game, I have a lot of memories on my face. In fact, I have achieved what we wanted, so it is another challenge to show the best in that goal.”
The Korean international became the first Asian to win the Premier League Golden Boot by scoring 23 goals last season. He achieved it by netting twice in the second half of Spurs’ 5-0 win over Norwich City in the final tie of the campaign.
On the personal achievement, Son said: “The most important thing for me was that our team’s biggest goal was to go to the Champions League, and we were winning 2-0 in the first half.”
“That helped the players a lot with their personal greed, so I have to be a little greedier personally after that. It’s hard to believe that the goal I’ve been dreaming of since childhood is unfolding right before my eyes. I think the players helped me a lot, so I was greedy.”
