Ange Postecoglou says one Tottenham leader ‘stood up’ this week
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou praised Heung-min Son’s leadership and resilience as the club captain delivered a vital performance against Hoffenheim.
Tottenham’s turbulent run of form
Recent weeks have been challenging for Tottenham Hotspur under Ange Postecoglou, with the North London side enduring two back-to-back defeats.
A crushing loss to local rivals Arsenal was compounded by a shock defeat at the hands of Everton, a side languishing in 16th place.
As criticism mounted, pressure was growing for a statement performance from Postecoglou’s men.
The next opportunity came in the form of a Europa League clash against Hoffenheim, where Tottenham’s travelling squad faced a German side eager to capitalise on Spurs’ inconsistent form.
Despite a less-than-polished showing, Tottenham managed a 3-2 victory. Goals from James Maddison and a match-winning brace from Heung-min Son secured the win.
Heung-min Son’s response to critics: Ange Postecoglou reacts
Son’s decisive contribution stood out amidst the collective effort, and Postecoglou’s remarks following the match provided deeper insight into the significance of the performance, particularly from the South Korean captain.
It was clear the victory, while narrow, represented much more than three points for the team and the manager.
He told football.london: “I thought he really stood up today. We needed him to. Him, Madders, Rodri, Benny, a lot of our other players, it’s not just Lucas, Archie, Radu and our young players.
“We also have to factor into it that Richy is just coming back from injury. There is a whole range of things we are dealing with out there. It can be easy, particularly away in Europe, to get swept away.
“I thought Sonny led from the front tonight with his football but also with his general actions and most importantly the goals. Look, we are all copping stick at the moment.
“That is the nature of the beast. What we do, as footballers and managers, we are all in the firing line at the moment. Whether it is warranted or not, you have to stand up and reply to it in the proper way. I thought he did that tonight.”
Son’s form and the challenge ahead
Son’s brace in the Europa League has now taken his goal contribution tally to 17 goal involvements in 28 matches.
The South Korean has netted ten goals and provided seven assists, with three of those goals coming in the Europa League.
Next up for Son is a Premier League clash against Leicester City, a side he has historically enjoyed playing against. With ten goals and five assists in previous meetings, Son’s record against the Foxes suggests he could be the decisive factor once again.
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