Son Heung-min claims ‘I should have shown more’ after struggling for form under Antonio Conte

Son Heung-min has revealed that he feels responsible for Antonio Conte’s departure from Tottenham, claiming he could have contributed more to the Italian’s ailing Spurs side.

The South Korean striker has struggled to regain his form this season after winning the golden boot in 2021-22, racking up just 10 goals and four assists in 37 appearances in all competitions.

And he admitted he “couldn’t help the team” in what has been an up-and-down run for the Premier League side, which sits in fourth place having played two more games than rivals Newcastle and Liverpool.

Conte left the club on March 26 after giving a sensational press conference in which he described his players as ‘selfish’ and delivered a scathing top-down assessment of Spurs after a 3-3 draw at Southampton.

But Son appeared to take much of the blame for his former boss’s departure on his own shoulders at a news conference while on international duty.

Former Chelsea boss Conte has left Tottenham by mutual consent after just 16 months in charge.

The South Korean striker was part of the Spurs side that blew a 3-1 lead against Southampton

‘I feel so sorry for him’ he started. ‘He is a world class manager, we had a great journey together, I thank him very much. I don’t know how other players are thinking of him, but I feel sorry for him.”

I should have shown more, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t help the team and I feel responsible for his departure from the club.

“He surely has great ability and experience as a coach and I am sure he will have great success in his other career.”

Former Tottenham number 2 Cristian Stellini has remained at the club on a caretaker basis, while Conte’s brother Gianluca has followed him out of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Overall, during Conte’s tenure in north London, Son managed 30 goals and 12 assists in 69 games, but the Italian’s second season in charge was one in which the striker didn’t shine quite as brightly as the year before.

The explosive lecture he delivered after his team blew a 3-1 lead against the Saints turned out to be his last act as Tottenham manager, and he promptly returned to Italy during the international break.

Son has been far from his brilliant prime this term, managing just 10 goals and four assists.

Cristian Stellini (left) has been put in temporary charge of the club as Spurs begin their search for a new boss.

“They’re used to it here,” Conte said after a 3-3 draw at St Mary’s. They don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure. They don’t want to play under stress. It’s easy this way. The story of Tottenham is this.

‘I said I wanted to see the fire and I haven’t seen it. I said I want to see the fire in their eyes, in their hearts. I want to see the right spirit. Not only in training, but on the field because here the difference is made.

‘Until now, I try to hide the situation, but there are 10 games left and some people think we can fight. Fight for what? With this spirit, this attitude, this commitment? That? For seventh, eighth, tenth place?’

And while Son appears to have had a good relationship with Conte, others in the side were furious at the outburst.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg asked Conte to elaborate after he accused the players of not being professionals.

‘I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to explain how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing,” said the Dane.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has now fired Conte as he searches for a fourth manager in two years.

Antonio Conte’s sacking comes after he went on a tirade with his players following a draw at Southampton.

Spurs blew a two-goal lead in the final 13 minutes to tie 3-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Although her departure was announced on Sunday, her departure is believed to have been a formality, with reports suggesting that the main reason she stayed on the job for several days after her outburst was due to compensation discussions.

Conte was under contract until the end of the season, having signed an initial 18-month deal when he took over in November 2021.

While the club were ostensibly committed to finishing the season with Conte in the lead, it is believed there was a significant enough threat to their Champions League qualification, pushing the hand of Daniel Levy.

The north London outfit will now be looking for a fourth manager in just two years.