Son Heung-min on Conte's rant, why he didn't have surgery sooner and Postecoglou's role for him

For Son Heung-min last season was a painful one in every respect as he was unable to reproduce the form for Tottenham that brought him the Premier League Golden Boot in the previous campaign.

It was only after the season finished that it was discovered that the 31-year-old South Korean star had been playing for much of the season with a problem that required him to have surgery for a sports hernia after the final match of the season at Leeds United. Son had been looking to keep the problem quiet but he ended up having to speak about it back in his homeland.

Now fully fit but yet to play a pre-season match after Spurs' friendly against Leicester in Thailand was washed out, Son looks happy again with a new head coach in the shape of Ange Postecoglou.

«They were really tough moments. I’m the type who is always hiding the pain. I really didn’t want it to come out officially that I had an operation but I feel good, feel fresh. I feel a new man,» said Son during the club's summer tour.

«Last season, the whole season in pain. It was incredible. I can’t even think about the pain, you know. Now I feel really good, fresh. The physios are still working on it because it has only been a week, 10 days so I’m looking forward to being in good shape. I’m ready to rock 'n' roll.»

He added: "[Last season] I was in pain every single moment, literally. It sounds weird but every turn, running, stopping, passing, kicking, it affected everything. It was strange because in normal life, doing no exercise, it felt fine so I went on the pitch excited because I didn’t have pain when I was walking. As soon as I was on the pitch for a warm up I would be frustrated because the pain is there, every action, turning, passing, kicking… finally I made the