Golden Boot contender Heung-min Son expresses frustration at being substituted but remains focused on Spurs’ top-four ambitions.

Heung-min Son has labelled Tottenham’s hectic schedule as “madness” while admitting his frustration at being substituted in Thursday’s 3-0 derby victory over Arsenal, despite his 21st goal of the season narrowing the gap to Mohamed Salah at the top of the Premier League scoring chart.

Son’s impressive strike helped Spurs move within a point of their fourth-placed rivals, but the South Korean forward has little time to dwell on the victory, with Tottenham set to face Burnley in their final home game of the season on Sunday. The match will kick off at 12:00 PM, offering little time for recovery following the intense midweek win.

Reflecting on the packed schedule, Son said: “Looking at the timetable, it’s madness. Playing Thursday night and then Sunday with such an early kick-off is a quick turnaround. We have to do everything we can to recover—good food, sleep, and be ready to go again.”

While Son admitted that a later kick-off on Sunday would have been preferable, he remains focused on making the most of the situation: “If you win the early kick-off, it’s always good. It feels like you wake up and go straight into the game. But Thursday to Sunday is a really quick turnaround. This is the schedule, and we need to adapt and be ready for every situation.”

Despite the packed schedule, Son’s commitment to recovery remains a priority, especially regarding sleep: “I’ll try my best to sleep. But if I struggle, there’s not much I can do. I just have to recover as best as I can, and sleep is crucial for me.”

Son also spoke about his frustration at being substituted in the 70th minute of the Arsenal match, as Antonio Conte opted to rest him ahead of the Burnley fixture. “I’m always not happy when I come off because I love playing football and want to help the team,” he said. “At the moment, you feel frustrated, but I understand why. We have a quick game on Sunday, and it’s for the team’s benefit. I can’t promise I’ll score, but I’ll always do my best.”

Should Spurs win against Burnley, they will leapfrog Arsenal in the race for fourth place, increasing the pressure on their North London rivals, who face Newcastle on Monday.

Although he is chasing the Golden Boot, Son insists that finishing in the top four is his primary goal. “It would be nice to win the Golden Boot, but the most important thing is finishing in the top four,” he stated. “Against Arsenal, we played fantastically, and I’m really proud of the lads. If we qualify for the Champions League and I don’t score again, I’ll be more than happy.”

Son also praised manager Antonio Conte, acknowledging his immense impact on the club: “Before he arrived, we didn’t believe we could get into the Champions League spots. He’s brought incredible passion, energy, and positivity to the team. We have just 10 more days, and we have to give everything we have.”

The final push for Champions League qualification will be difficult, but Son is focused on securing that elusive fourth place. “It’s been tough, especially with the competition for the title and top four in the Premier League. Every game is a battle, but we just want to make sure we qualify for the Champions League.”