Tottenham have lost 19 of their last 40 games, and there is mounting pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou to turn things around after the defeat to Chelsea. Ahead of this weekend's London derby, former Spurs midfielder Victor Wanyama, in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport, discussed the team’s mindset, emphasizing the importance of treating every game as crucial and viewing the upcoming fixture as an opportunity to get back on track. This time, Telecom Asia Sport interviewed captain Son Heung-min, who, despite scoring in the game, shared his disappointment over the defeat to their London rivals.
READ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VICTOR WANYAMA
The North London club have scored 31 league goals—only Chelsea, who beat them 4-3 and sit second in the league table, have scored more. Yet, despite their attacking prowess, they remain stuck in 11th place on the league table. One player who has struggled to find his best form is captain Son Heung-min.
For me, this is so painful at the moment. As captain, I have to take the most responsibility. In fact, I think it’s unacceptable for me to miss the opportunity I missed in the game.
I want to say that I am sorry to have disappointed the fans. This is a tough moment for us. Some will say you grow more from moments like this, but right now, I feel responsible for the defeat.
Son has had to adapt his game to help the team, and for some fans, this is starting to take a toll on his performance. Under Postecoglou, Spurs have been encouraged to hug the touchline, with Son playing a more traditional winger role, which has impacted his goal tally. This season, he has scored only five goals in the league—his lowest tally to start a campaign in the last three years.
Given the burden of responsibility, it’s difficult for Son to accept how the season is unfolding. Postecoglou has vowed to turn things around, but if he is to keep his job, his 32-year-old captain will need to be one of the players leading the charge.
I think I’m one of the most experienced players in the team, and that’s why, in critical moments like this, I have to be there, making the difference. I think most of my teammates did well, but we have to be better. We have a lot of injuries, and I pray that we get players back soon, especially with the number of games we have. But beyond the injuries, we have to be more efficient and take more responsibility for our actions.
Tottenham will now turn their attention to their Europa League match against Rangers midweek, before traveling to Southampton next weekend. There is a need to return to winning ways and build momentum, not only for the team but also for Postecoglou to keep his role as manager.
When asked about the distractions surrounding the team, Postecoglou said in the press conference that all he could do was focus on his job and find ways to help lift a squad missing several key players.
Every time it has seemed like we’re on solid footing, something has come along to impede our progress. That’s just the way our season has gone so far. It was the same last year. It’s not like this is unusual territory for me since I’ve been here. Ultimately, my role now is to focus on the things I can control and keep preparing the team the best I can to keep progressing as a football team and turn our season around.
