Son Heung-min claims ‘I should have shown more’ after struggling for form under Antonio Conte

Son Heung-min revealed he feels responsible for Antonio Conte’s Tottenham exit, claiming that he could have contributed more to the Italian’s ailing Spurs side. 

The South Korean forward has struggled for form this season after winning the golden boot in 2021-22, with only 10 goals and four assists in 37 games across all competitions. 

And he admitted that he ‘couldn’t help the team’ in what has been an up-and-down run of form for the Premier League side, who sit in fourth having played two games more than rivals Newcastle and Liverpool. 

Conte left the club on March 26 after giving a sensational press conference in which he described his players as ‘selfish’ and launched a scathing assessment of Spurs from top to bottom in the wake of a 3-3 draw at Southampton. 

But Son appeared to take much of the blame for his former boss’ departure on his own shoulders in a press conference while on international duty.  

 Former Chelsea boss Conte left Tottenham by mutual consent after just 16 months in the role

The South Korean forward was part of the Spurs side that threw away a 3-1 lead against Southampton

‘I’m very sorry to him,’ he began. ‘He is a World-class manager, we had great journey together, I thank him a lot. I do not know how other players are thinking about him, but I’m sorry to him.”

‘I should have shown more but I couldn’t. I couldn’t help the team and I feel responsible as he left the club.

‘He surely has great ability and experience as a coach and I’m sure he’ll have great success in his other career.’

Former No 2 at Tottenham Cristian Stellini has remained at the club as caretaker, while Conte’s brother Gianluca has followed him out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

Overall during Conte’s tenure in north London, Son managed 30 goals and 12 assists in 69 matches, but the Italian’s second season in charge was one in which the forward failed to shine as brightly as he had the previous year. 

The 53-year-old arrived at Tottenham as one of the most highly-rated managers in Europe, having won league titles with three different sides, but was unable to make it four. 

The explosive conference he gave after his side threw away a 3-1 lead against the Saints proved to be his last act as Tottenham boss, and he swiftly returned home to Italy during the international break. 

Son has been far from his glittering best this term managing just 10 goals and four assists 

Cristian Stellini (left) has been put in temporary charge of the club as Spurs begin search for a new boss

‘They are used to it here,’ fumed Conte after a 3-3 draw at St Mary’s. ‘They don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure. They don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. 

‘I said I wanted to see the fire and I have not seen it. I said that I want to see the fire in their eyes, in their hearts. I want to see the right spirit. Not only in the training session, but on the pitch because it is here you make the difference.

‘Until now, I try to hide the situation but there are 10 games to go and some people think we can fight. Fight for what? With this spirit, this attitude, this commitment? What? For seventh, eighth, 10th place?’.

And although Son seems to have held a good relationship with Conte, others in the side were furious with the outburst. 

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg called on Conte to elaborate after he accused the players of being unprofessional.

‘I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing,’ the Dane said.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has now axed Conte as he looks for a fourth manager in two years

Antonio Conte’s dismissal comes after his rant at his players following a draw at Southampton

Spurs threw away a two-goal lead in the final 13 minutes to draw 3-3 on Saturday afternoon

Though his departure was announced on Sunday, it is thought that his exit was a formality, with reports suggesting that the main reason he remained in the job for several days following his outburst was due to discussions over compensation. 

Conte was under contract until the end of the season, having signed an initial 18-month deal when he took charge in November 2021. 

While the club were seemingly committed to seeing out the season with Conte at the helm, it is thought there was a significant enough threat to their Champions League qualification, which pushed Daniel Levy’s hand. 

The north London outfit will now search for a fourth manager in just two years.