Sonny: “I want this season to be better”

Heung-Min Son won’t forget last season in a hurry. The good news for all of us is that he wants to better it in 2019/20.

Sonny’s impact was felt far and wide as he clocked up the miles in 2018/19. He switched Russia and the World Cup in June for Indonesia in September, where he helped South Korea win the Asian Games. In January, it was the UAE and the Asia Cup, where Korea reached the quarter-finals. The Taegeuk Warriors also remained unbeaten in home friendlies in September, October, March and finally June, 2019 – after Sonny had appeared in the Champions League Final.

Despite the travelling and pressure to deliver for his national team, Sonny still featured in 51 of our 58 games in all competitions, notching up another 20-goal season. His performances helped us to a place in the top four again, the Champions League Final and semi-finals of the League Cup and took him to a clean sweep of Club awards at the end of the season.

“Everyone had a crazy season and for me, it’s one that you don’t get to experience very many times,” reflected Sonny during a rare quiet moment on our tour of Asia.

“I enjoyed it. Yes, it was crazy but I loved every minute. I learned many things. I won a tournament, lost a tournament, won games, lost games, highs and lows, so many things.

“I was also away so many times and I felt that pain because I wasn’t there for the team and they needed me. Actually, they played better without me!

“It was a positive season for me, growing as a player, growing as a human. The team all grew together as well. It was special for me. I had a fantastic time, my favourite season so far. Hopefully next season will then be my favourite. We work so hard and the players know what we have to do.”

It was put to Sonny that perhaps 2019/20 could be viewed as a ‘normal’ season for him – albeit with World Cup qualifiers against the likes of Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Lebanon and North Korea on the horizon - and not forgetting he's suspended for the first two matches after his red card at Bournemouth at the end of last term.

“Yes, my head will be freer than last season, so I will be even more focussed,” he added. “I can’t wait. Even when I was on my break in the summer, I worked really hard. Mentally, I was always here.

“I want this season to be better than last season. That will be difficult but I will try my best. I just want to pay back the fans for their support.”