Ange Postecoglou admits Tottenham will miss Son Heung-min's leadership

12/14/2023 Soccer

Ange Postecoglou admits Tottenham will miss Son Heung-min’s leadership when he leaves for the Asian Cup, as he reveals the club are ‘still working’ on finalising a departure date for their talisman ahead of the tournament

  • Son Heung-min is set to join up with South Korea to play in the Asian Cup
  • Ange Postecoglou believes his side will miss Son’s leadership qualities
  • Man City MUST win before going to ‘pointless FIFA jamboree’ – It’s All Kicking Off

Tottenham are trying to the make the most of Son Heung-min before he departs for the Asian Cup, with Ange Postecoglou aware that his leadership as well as his goals will be missed.

Son contributed one goal and two assists in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Newcastle which halted his team’s winless run in the Premier League. Yet there is talk of the club captain flying to Abu Dhabi to join South Korea’s camp after Tottenham face Bournemouth on December 31.

The fixture list shows the 31-year-old would miss the FA Cup third-round visit of Burnley, potentially a fourth-round tie, and several Premier League games including Manchester United at Old Trafford. Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are also set to compete at the Africa Cup of Nations for Mali and Senegal respectively over this winter period.

Postecoglou is already dealing with a long list of injuries and with these impending absentees to follow, the Spurs boss said ahead of facing Nottingham Forest on Friday night: ‘For the foreseeable future, it’s where we’re going to be.

‘Nothing’s surprised me about Sonny. I’ve known him for a long time. The only new thing for him is that he’s taken over in a leadership role here. He’s taken to that well. 

Ange Postecoglou believes Son Heung-min’s leadership qualities will be missed when he goes to the Asian Cup

Postecoglou revealed the club are still working on finalising a departure date for Son to join up with South Korea

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‘All those players will be a big loss for us. But that’s been the story of our season. We’ve had to cope without significant players.’

Postecoglou appreciates the importance of the Asian Cup, having won it with Australia in 2015. On when Son will depart, he said: ‘We’re still working on that.’

On his squad strength, the Spurs boss added: ‘That’s dependent on where we’re at from a squad perspective. 

‘Eight guys out, at least seven won’t be back for a little while, you’re left with a fairly thin squad where you can’t rotate players. The way we play is physically and mentally demanding.’

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Postecoglou watched the Champions League matches in midweek and said that is where Tottenham need to be – testing themselves against the best of the best.

‘I watched it all,’ he said. ‘European football in general, that’s where you want to be, involved in those games. You’re playing different countries, different conditions, different styles. 

‘It’s something this football club should be a part of. Not being part of it this year has hurt us. Hopefully we’ll be back in it next year.’


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