I feel responsible for his sacking — Son on Antonio Conte

Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has issued an apology to former manager Antonio Conte after the Italian’s departure from the club. Tottenham announced on Sunday that Conte had left “by mutual consent,” and they appointed Cristian Stellini as caretaker manager until the end of the season.

Before his departure, Antonio Conte had criticised Tottenham’s players, including Heung-min, labeling them as “selfish” and lacking the ability to “play under pressure.” In response, the South Korean international has expressed regret over his contribution to the team’s performance this season.

“I’m very sorry to him as a player,” Heung-min said on Tuesday, according to Metro UK. “I should’ve shown better sides of me to him and helped the team out more, but I was not able to. Because of that, he ultimately had to shoulder responsibility by leaving, and I feel very responsible for it.”

Heung-min continued, “Because he has the ability and experience, he’ll obtain good results wherever he goes in the next chapter of his journey, and I’ll, of course, support him.”

Conte’s departure from Tottenham has left many fans and analysts speculating about the reasons behind the decision. Some have pointed to tensions between the coach and the club’s board over transfer policy, while others have cited concerns about the team’s performance in the Premier League and other competitions.

Regardless of the reasons, Tottenham will now look to Stellini to guide them through the remainder of the season. The Italian coach has previously worked as an assistant to Antonio Conte at both Chelsea and Inter Milan, and he will be hoping to make a positive impact at Tottenham during his tenure as caretaker manager.