Face masks are having a bigger impact on performance than I thought.
Son Heung-min is the top scorer in the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2021-22 season. At that time, Son Heung-min boasted strong and accurate kicking power based on his fast speed. Above all, his ability to use both feet freely stood out. Last season, Son Heung-min scored 23 goals in the league alone, and his value increased even more as Mohamed Salah, who was the top scorer with him, scored 5 goals from penalties.
However, this season is going through a terrible slump. He did not score in the league except for a hat-trick against Leicester City. To make matters worse, with the World Cup a month away, he suffered a serious orbital fracture in the match against Marseille in the European Football Federation (UFEA) Champions League 스포츠토토 (UCL) group stage. So, Son Heung-min also failed to score a single goal in four matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He himself is frustrated with his game. Son Heung-min replied, “It’s definitely not the same as when I played without a mask. My eyesight is still good, but when the ball comes to me, I sometimes get annoyed because I can’t see the ball because of the mask. I don’t really care, but I’m not in the best condition.”
“I was really frustrated because I couldn’t see the ball after receiving the ball in the Villa match. I was just angry. If I were alone, of course I would play without a mask, but my parents, my family, friends, and people watching in Korea are all worried. Another injury. If you get hit, it’s obviously dangerous,” he added.
Still, he is looking for a turnaround after tasting the goal against Crystal Palace for the first time in a long time. Heung-Min Son received Harry Kane’s long pass and calmly scored the team’s fourth goal in front of the goal. It is the 4th goal in the league and the 6th goal of the season.
How frustrating it must have been, Son Heung-min even held a ceremony by throwing a mask after scoring against Palace last time. It seems that the mask is having a big impact on the game to the extent that the scene of taking off the mask was captured during a frustrating game against Villa before that.