"The grass condition wasn't good either..." Son Heung-min completely allayed concerns: "I was worried about the World Cup pain." LAFC manager praises him highly

*This content was translated by AI.

The coach also expressed admiration for the complete revival of the key striker. Marc Dos Santos, LAFC manager, highly praised Son Heung-min (34), the team's star goalscorer.

On the 2nd (Korean time), LAFC secured a 1-1 draw in an away match against Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, during the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season.

According to LAFC's official channel, Manager Dos Santos said in a post-match press conference: "We struggled to adapt to the grass in the first 15 minutes after kickoff. It felt like the players couldn't play comfortably, and we saw scenes where the ball didn't move forward." He added, "We had a tough match, struggling to break free from pressure against an opponent that aggressively pressed like us."

Regarding the team's opening goal of the day, Manager Dos Santos praised the chemistry between Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga. Son Heung-min scored his fourth league goal in the 37th minute of the first half with a spectacular turning shot. Manager Dos Santos noted, "A wonderful play emerged between Denny (Bouanga) and Sonny (Son Heung-min), creating an excellent goal," highlighting Son Heung-min's outstanding performance that demonstrated exceptional decision-making even during difficult moments.

However, he added, "The ball kept stopping due to the newly laid grass condition." He explained, "It was a grass condition where players like Bouanga and Son Heung-min, who prefer turning and accelerating to penetrate forward spaces, found it hard to their strengths. When they tried to turn and move out, the ball was left behind, making attacks less smooth."

He expressed regret over the result of a 1-1 draw after leading 1-0 but conceding an equalizer. Manager Dos Santos stated, "Obviously, since we were leading 1-0, I feel we missed the opportunity to earn three points," but added, "However, considering we have achieved four wins and one draw in our last five matches even under strong opponent pressure, I believe this is a good start."

Earlier, when Son Heung-min returned to the national team on the 17th of last month, Manager Dos Santos closely monitored his psychological state and showed deep affection. Regarding Son Heung-min, who experienced the disappointment of elimination in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, Manager Dos Santos had previously emphasized: "Since Son Heung-min loves his country and wanted to achieve good results at the World Cup, he may not have been able to completely let go emotionally. However, a manager's role is to help key players regain confidence in their club team and contribute to the team."

In response to the trust of the head coach, Son Heung-min has fully activated his revival after the World Cup break, meeting expectations. Having completely shaken off the disappointment of World Cup group stage elimination, Son Heung-min has shown explosive performance, scoring in all four matches since returning to the regular season, establishing himself as a core figure in LAFC's attack.

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*This content was translated by AI.