▲ Mark Dos Santos gave an interview that made Son Heung‑min's goal drought sound like the player's fault. At a pregame press conference ahead of the Minnesota match, he said, We have never deployed Son as a midfielder. We've always used him as a No. 9 or a false 9, drawing a line under claims that he had pushed Son into a midfield role. 
▲ LAFC coach Mark Dos Santos
[SPOTV News = Cho Yong‑un] LAFC coach Mark Dos Santos has been busy addressing Son Heung‑min's (34) unusually long scoring drought.
LAFC travel to Minnesota United for Round 10 of the 2026 MLS season at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 26; kickoff is listed as 5:45 a.m. Korea Standard Time. LAFC sit third in the Western Conference, while Minnesota are fourth, giving the matchup added significance.
In a short press‑conference clip released a day before the game, Dos Santos was blunt: there is no tactical issue behind Son's slump. Son has gone eight league matches without a goal, and in the previous outing against the Colorado Rapids he didn't register a single shot — an unusually quiet night for the forward.
That statement, however, clashes with what local reporters and analysts have observed. Several outlets question Son's tendency to drop into the second line and prioritize ball distribution over threatening the final third.
Even accounting for Son's unselfish play and the assists he has produced, critics say asking him to perform like an attacking central midfielder is excessive. After all, he delivered 12 goals in 13 matches after joining late last season. Many wonder why LAFC aren't using him more consistently as a center forward or in his familiar wide role.
▲ Son briefly flashed his class. In stoppage time he deceived opponents with a no‑look pass that created a chance for Jacob Shaffelburg. The play resulted in an opponent handball and a penalty was awarded.
Compounding concerns, Denis Bouanga has failed to record a shot on target in three straight games, which reinforces the argument that role distribution is the issue. Given Bouanga is the club's all‑time leading scorer with 110 goals, the pair's simultaneous dip suggests tactical factors may be at play.
On the debate over whether Son has been converted into a midfielder, Dos Santos was categorical: we have never used him as a midfielder.
Dos Santos said Son has been used as a No. 9 or a false 9. While he sometimes drops deep, that's movement between the lines, not an assignment to a midfield role. The coach suggested Son's deeper positioning can appear midfielder‑like but is ultimately the player's choice on the pitch.
Asked how the club plans to fix the issue, Dos Santos stressed support around Son when he receives the ball is key. We're trying to address that, he said, and will create more attacking options to improve link‑up play.
The real test will be how quickly LAFC diagnose and correct the slump caused by the tactical separation between Son and Bouanga. Without proactive adjustments from the coach, analysts warn LAFC's attack could struggle to regain its edge.
▲ Son Heung‑min ⓒ Yonhap News/AFP
