Ange Postecoglou reveals why Heung-min Son had to come off early
Tottenham pulled off a remarkable 4-1 victory over Aston Villa but it featured a curious substitution as Ange Postecoglou chose to withdraw Heung-min Son around the hour mark, despite his pivotal role in the comeback.
Tottenham’s resurgence and the road to a commanding win
Tottenham’s encounter with Aston Villa initially seemed to follow a frustratingly familiar script, with Spurs struggling to break down a resilient Villa defence in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Despite pressing high and controlling much of the possession, Spurs found few openings, reduced mainly to crosses and cutbacks that failed to truly test Emiliano Martinez, Villa’s imposing goalkeeper.
Villa, meanwhile, capitalised on Tottenham’s defensive lapses from a corner, with Morgan Rogers latching onto a chaotic rebound to give the visitors a lead just after the half-hour mark.
Tottenham went into the break trailing 1-0, their attacking intent unconverted, and with just a 0.2 expected goals (xG) tally to show against Villa’s 1.3, the Spurs faithful were left wondering if their team could mount a meaningful response in the second half.
Yet, whatever adjustments Postecoglou made at halftime worked to perfection. Spurs came out revitalised, embracing their wide players with increased purpose, a shift that paid off just four minutes into the second half as Brennan Johnson tapped in from Son’s precise cross. The equaliser sparked life into Tottenham.
However, moments after the equalizer, Son Heung Min the creator of the goal was signalled to come off. This was a move that surprised many even the Korean winger.
Ange explains his decision on Son’s substitution
In a post-match interview, Ange Postecoglou shed light on his rationale behind substituting Son after his assist for the first Tottenham goal.
Speaking to football.london he said: “He was never going to play more than that today because, obviously he had an injury, came back and last time it was around the 60-minute mark where he kind of got fatigued last time. So he was never going to play more than sort of 55/60 minutes irrespective of how the game was going.
“The great thing was that he made a pretty important contribution, before that, the great ball in for our first goal and we got our equaliser. So, you know, again, we got more battles ahead and we’re going to need him. So he was never going to play more than that.”
When pressed further on whether Son’s reaction to the substitution was a concern, Postecoglou dismissed any notion of unrest. The Tottenham boss commented: “No, no, no, I didn’t see any difference in Sonny.
“I’d be surprised if any player likes coming off and they’re feeling all right. But no, no, I didn’t need to discuss it with him. And you know, like I said, for us, what’s more important is the overall picture.”
The bigger picture: injuries and tactical depth
The match highlighted Postecoglou’s careful management of his players’ fitness, particularly with a key figure like Son, who has been instrumental in Tottenham’s campaign so far. Faced with a packed schedule and increasing injury concerns, Postecoglou seems determined to conserve the squad’s energy for the challenges ahead.
It’s going to be a long season, and we’re going to need the entire squad if we’re to push for a top-four finish or even aim for silverware. The substitutes coming off the bench and making an impact was really needed today – long may it continue.
The post Ange Postecoglou reveals why Heung-min Son had to come off early appeared first on Spurs Web.