"Son Heung-min made Manager Postecoglou angry."
Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 21st (Korean time) that "Manager Postecoglou is concerned about Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham," stating that "Postecoglou's future at Tottenham is uncertain, and it seems that Son Heung-min is not ready to provide help following what happened on Thursday."
It continued, "If the situation does not change in the coming weeks, Manager Postecoglou could be fired by Daniel Levy. The Australian’s fear of stepping down from his position will be heightened by the fact that there is no shortage of potential candidates to replace him at Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino could make an astonishing return, and Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, and Thomas Frank are mentioned as potential options," further highlighting Postecoglou's precarious position along with listing potential successors.
Since joining Tottenham in 2015, he has become a key player for the team. However, this season, Tottenham has fallen to 14th place in the league, experiencing its worst slump. They have already been eliminated early from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, failing to meet fan expectations.
Amid this slump, there are growing questions regarding Son Heung-min's leadership, and assessments are emerging that his performance has entered a downward trend. Furthermore, there are somewhat extreme claims that if Manager Ange Postecoglou is dismissed, Son Heung-min will bear some responsibility.
Some local fans are even criticizing Son Heung-min.
Tottenham News reported after the 0-2 defeat to Fulham that "Son Heung-min's popularity is declining, and fans want his contract terminated." Some fans strongly criticized him, saying, "He needs to prove himself on the field," and "He reacts the same way every time there's a loss."
Son Heung-min has played 448 matches for Tottenham, scoring 173 goals and providing 95 assists, establishing himself as a club legend. Since joining in the 2015-2016 season, he has recorded double-digit goals for nine consecutive seasons and scored 23 goals without a penalty in the 2021-2022 season, becoming the top scorer in the Premier League and setting a record as the first Asian player to achieve this. Additionally, he is currently demonstrating both performance and leadership as the captain of Tottenham.
Tottenham Hotspur News noted that "Manager Postecoglou must begin to achieve results on the field to keep his position. For that, he needs players, but it seems Son Heung-min is not ready to help." It also claimed, "Manager Postecoglou is worried about Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min's recent comments likely made Manager Postecoglou angry."
There is a reason behind this: Son Heung-min's remarks.
Tottenham Hotspur News revealed that "This Korean player recently acknowledged in a press conference (before the match against Oman) that his physical condition is at its best. He stated that a lack of playing time recently is due to Manager Postecoglou. He has played a full 90 minutes only once since February 9."
This season, Tottenham is heading towards its worst situation, having dropped to 14th place in the Premier League.
Football Insider stated, "If Tottenham does not win in the Europa League, they risk losing their spot in the UEFA Champions League, and Chairman Daniel Levy may rely on Marco Silva (Fulham) or Andoni Iraola (AFC Bournemouth) to prevent a decline in the Premier League rankings," advocating for a change in management.
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