‘Happy guy’ Son is one of the best in top flight, says Vertonghen
Jan Vertonghen hailed Son Heungmin as one of the best players in the Premier League after the Tottenham Hotspur forward continued his spectacular run of scoring form in Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Son has scored in four consecutive matches since returning from the Asian Cup in January, helping to fill the gap left by injuries to Harry Kane and Dele Alli. In his past 12 matches for Spurs, the 26-year-old has scored 11 times.
“I have played with some great players and against some great players, and Sonny is special,” said Vertonghen, who created Son’s goal on Wednesday and then scored the second as Tottenham took a commanding first-leg lead over the Bundesliga leaders.
“He is so humble and I think you underestimate that because of the work he puts in. Then his quality – outstanding left foot, right foot. He can play striker, left wing, right wing, he can play as a 10, he played as a wing-back. He’s an outstanding player. I am not going to say he is at the level of whoever, but he’s one of the best in the Premier League.”
Asked if he had seen Son without his trademark grin, Vertonghen added: “I have seen him stop smiling – I’m not going to say when! But no, he’s a very happy guy. He’s so loved in the dressing room.”
The defender said his club’s Champions League experiences over the past few seasons under Mauricio Pochettino helped the team to stay calm after struggling against Dortmund in the first half at Wembley. “It’s four years in a row now we are in the Champions League,” Vertonghen said. “Games like last year, against Real Madrid and Juventus, they help us so much with the experience.
“Dortmund were the better side in the first half but [we] said, ‘OK, big second half for us to come and let’s push’ – and that’s what we did.”