Heung-Min Son: "We have to show our character again"

Heung-Min Son jetted to the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Monday with a message for fans after our tough loss against Manchester United. “We always come back stronger.”

Sunday’s 1-0 reverse at Wembley completed a spell of 15 matches in 51 days in all competitions between 24 November-13 January.

We won 11 of those matches - scoring 40 goals - and drew against Barcelona at the Nou Camp to clinch a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. We remain third in the Premier League and alive in both domestic cups - we take a 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge as we face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg on 24 January.

In outstanding form with 10 goals in those 15 matches, Sonny’s point is illustrated in that sequence. The loss at Arsenal was followed by seven wins and the draw at the Nou Camp and a setback at home against Wolves prompted three straight wins, a run ended by United on Sunday.

“This is football,” said Sonny, who now has 59 goals in 168 games for us. “We have to learn again and go again, harder and harder. We have to bounce back.

“You know what? We’ve always done it... after losing we always come back stronger than before. Now we have to show our character again.”

Having scored all those goals in the last couple of months, we simply couldn’t find a way past United’s outstanding goalkeeper David de Gea on Sunday.

The Spanish star racked up 11 saves as we peppered the United goal in the second half with Harry Kane, Dele and Toby Alderweireld most notably denied. It was the first time we’d failed to score in 19 matches and only the second time in 33 this season. In the end, United took the spoils thanks to Marcus Rashford’s goal on the break in the first half.

“We played better, dominated the game and created so many chances but if you don’t score, you lose,” said Sonny. “Football is about scoring goals. It’s disappointing, of course. We deserved the three points but sometimes football is like this.”

As for the Asian Cup, Sonny has joined the South Korea squad in time to face China in their third and final group match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (1.30pm UK).

Runners-up last time out in 2015 - Sonny scored in the final but South Korea lost 2-1 after extra time to Australia - South Korea have made a positive start with two wins out of two so far this time around in their group against the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan.

China have also won twice and currently top the group on goal difference. Sonny added: “It’s a big game against China - it's important to be top of the group.”