Tottenham struggles as Son Heung-min and Maddison fail to lead in Europa League loss

Now, they even point out the players' mentality.

Tottenham Hotspur lost 0-1 to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 for the 2024-2025 season on the 8th (Korean time) at the AZ Stadion in Alkmaar, Netherlands. Due to disappointing performance, they now need to secure at least a two-goal victory in the second leg.

From the early stages of the match, Tottenham dominated possession and sought attacking opportunities. However, in the 18th minute of the first half, a corner kick situation resulted in Troy Parrott's shot deflecting off Lucas Beriwal's foot, shaking Tottenham's net. Due to an unexpected own goal, Alkmaar took a 1-0 lead.

Trailing 0-1, Tottenham attempted a counterattack but failed to create decisive moments. Son Heung-min and Maddison failed to coordinate effectively, missing out on opportunities, and could not break down the opposing defense effectively. In the 27th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min and Maddison were substituted for Wilson Odover and Dominic Solanke, but with Solanke also substituted due to injury, their attacking power was further weakened. Ultimately, the match ended 0-1.

In this match, Son Heung-min and Maddison displayed performance below expectations. Son Heung-min attempted three shots but finished the match without any on target, recording only one successful dribble, one successful cross, and one touch in the box. Maddison also struggled, with only two touches in the box and seven passes in the attacking area, without creating any opportunities.

After the match, the British media 'Football London' assigned Son Heung-min a team-low rating of 3 points, stating he "failed to demonstrate leadership as captain." Maddison also received a rating of 4 points, along with the assessment that he "lacked creative play throughout the match."

Particularly during the match, communication issues between Son Heung-min and Maddison were pointed out. In the 34th minute of the first half, during a free kick situation, Maddison sent a short pass to Son Heung-min, but Son Heung-min made a ball control error, leading to a missed opportunity. Afterward, a scene captured Maddison expressing discontent toward Son Heung-min, raising questions about team leadership and cohesion.

As Tottenham's struggles continue, pressure is mounting on head coach Postecoglou. 'Football Insider' reported that "Tottenham showcased a fast tempo and strong pressing at the beginning of the season, but ongoing injuries have disrupted their tactics." Additionally, it noted that "Postecoglou, who was once a candidate for Premier League Manager of the Month, currently faces uncertainty regarding his future."

Especially during the match, the lack of communication between Son Heung-min and Maddison was striking. In the 34th minute of the first half, during a free kick situation, Maddison attempted a short pass to Son Heung-min, but Son Heung-min's ball control error caused the opportunity to slip away. Subsequently, a scene was captured showing Maddison expressing discontent toward Son Heung-min, raising questions about teamwork and leadership.

As Tottenham's struggles continue, pressure is escalating on head coach Postecoglou. 'Football Insider' reported that "Tottenham showcased a dynamic and strong pressing in the early part of the season, but a series of injuries have severely disrupted tactical flow." Additionally, it evaluated that "Postecoglou was nominated for Manager of the Month in February, but his future currently seems uncertain."

'Sky Sports' commentator Jamie O'Hara criticized, saying, "Son Heung-min and Maddison failed to play their leadership roles," adding, "They could not take control of the game's flow and their presence completely faded away."

He added, "Tottenham needed to attack aggressively, but both Son Heung-min and Maddison were lethargic. The responsibility for this lies with both the captain and the head coach."

After the match, Son Heung-min stated in an interview with 'TNT Sports', "We were far from the performance we wanted. Everyone's display, including mine, was disappointing." He continued, "Next week’s second leg is one of the most important matches of the season. This defeat should serve as a painful lesson for us," expressing his determination for a comeback.

Son Heung-min said, "We lacked focus significantly in the first half and could not play the game the way we wanted. There is no excuse. However, the current score is just 0-1, and the match is not over yet. We can definitely turn it around," promising strong performance in the second leg.

Tottenham will face Alkmaar in the second leg of the Round of 16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on the 14th. To advance to the quarterfinals, a minimum victory by at least two goals is essential. However, considering the current atmosphere and performance of the team, it is expected to be a challenging task.

Nevertheless, Owen Hargreaves, who previously played for Bayern Munich and Manchester United, defended head coach Postecoglou once again, blaming the players for Tottenham's struggles. He reiterated that it is not the coach's legacy but rather the players' mentality issues that are causing Tottenham's poor form.

Hargreaves stated, "Tottenham players did not give their all in the Alkmaar match. It's sad for coach Postecoglou. The Tottenham players did not approach the Alkmaar match seriously," emphasizing that "if they had attacked aggressively, the outcome would have been different."

In short, the assertion is that Tottenham lost because the players lacked the will to score. This connects to claims that veterans like Son Heung-min and Maddison did not give their all to win. In essence, this interpretation seems to defame players who are performing well in order to defend coach Postecoglou.

[OSEN]