Despite being at risk of not winning any titles, optimism prevails.

Tottenham Hotspur will face the Netherlands' AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 on the 14th (Korean time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. If they lose, there will be nowhere left to retreat.

The club reported on its official website on the 10th that Son Heung-min emphasized that "only when he and his teammates reflect on themselves can they move in the right direction."

After losing 0-1 in the first leg against AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League and drawing 2-2 at home against AFC Bournemouth in the 28th round of the Premier League, Son Heung-min, unable to hide his disappointment, pointed out through the streaming platform 'SpursPlay' operated by Tottenham that "our game management is too loose. We often lose focus and withdraw from the start, giving control to the opponent."

Son Heung-min continued, "In the first half, the opponent created several good opportunities, but thanks to Guglielmo Vicario's amazing saves, we were able to avoid conceding. However, the 2-2 draw is difficult to accept. We must take all three points at home. We need to reflect on ourselves."

He also stated, "No one can help us in the stadium. The players need to take on more responsibility. We need to become stronger and move forward. We cannot stay in the same place. It is now March. We must continue to push forward," raising awareness among the squad.

Tottenham was eliminated from the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup last month. In the Premier League, they had three consecutive wins but have stumbled with one draw and one loss in the last two matches. They currently sit in 13th place in the league, and the defeat in the first leg of the Europa League was also shocking.

Consequently, manager Ange Postecoglou rested Son Heung-min and James Maddison on the bench in preparation for the second leg against Alkmaar, conserving their stamina.

Son Heung-min was brought on at the start of the second half. Tottenham began their pursuit with a goal from Pape Sarr in the 67th minute, and in the 84th minute, Son Heung-min successfully converted a penalty he won himself, leveling the game at 2-2. This was Son Heung-min's seventh league goal in 55 days since the match against Arsenal on Jan. 15, and it was his first goal in 10 matches including cup competitions.

Including this goal, Son Heung-min has recorded 7 goals and 9 assists in the Premier League this season, totaling 11 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.

After the match, Son Heung-min stated through SpursPlay, "We all need to reflect on ourselves. No one can replace us on the field," and added, "As I always emphasize, the players on the pitch need to take more responsibility. We have repeated many mistakes. Losing focus from the start and chasing the game afterward is not desirable."

However, despite Son Heung-min's strong message, the atmosphere within the Tottenham club is one of not desiring significant change.

According to 'Football London', "If Tottenham wins against Alkmaar, they will gain new momentum in the latter half of the season and maintain competitiveness at least until next month. However, if they lose, it will be virtually the end of the season." The report also stated, "Tottenham is a club where evaluations come from above within the club's leadership, and it is difficult to predict what changes might occur in this situation."

This was an analysis suggesting the possibility of manager Postecoglou's dismissal.

However, Peter O'Rourke, a Tottenham specialist for 'Football Insider,' noted on the 12th, "According to inside sources, Tottenham is unlikely to dismiss manager Postecoglou even if they are eliminated from the Europa League."

He explained, "The match against Alkmaar is crucial for Postecoglou's future. However, this defeat will not immediately lead to a dismissal. Instead, Tottenham plans to conduct a comprehensive evaluation for the 2024-2025 season after the season ends. In particular, injuries to key players will play a role in maintaining trust in Postecoglou."

He added, "Tottenham fans have expressed disappointment with recent results and questioned Postecoglou's tactics. However, the club's leadership remains optimistic that the team will regain competitiveness with the return of key players," conveying the atmosphere within the club.

The second leg against AZ Alkmaar, which could decide Tottenham's fate. Will Son Heung-min's strong message resonate with the players? And can manager Postecoglou overcome the crisis? Attention is focused on this.

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