"Son Heung-min made coach Postecoglou angry."
Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 21st (Korean time) that "Coach Postecoglou is concerned about Son Heung-min, who has left Tottenham," adding that "Postecoglou believes that the future at Tottenham is uncertain and Son Heung-min does not seem ready to offer help since the events that occurred on Thursday."
Furthermore, "Coach Postecoglou could be fired by Daniel Levy if the situation does not change in the coming weeks. Given that Levy does not lack potential candidates to replace him, the Australian's fear of losing his position will only intensify. Mauricio Pochettino could make a surprising return, and Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, and Thomas Frank are potential options," listing the precarious position of Postecoglou alongside candidates for the next manager.
Since joining Tottenham in 2015, he has been a key player for the team. However, this season, Tottenham has fallen to 14th place in the league, experiencing their worst slump. They have been eliminated early from both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, failing to meet the expectations of fans.
Amid this slump, there are questions surrounding Son Heung-min's leadership in the UK, and evaluations suggest that his performance has entered a decline. Additionally, in the extreme view that if coach Ang Postecoglou is dismissed, Son Heung-min bears some responsibility, this has also come to light.
Even some local fans have begun to criticize Son Heung-min.
Tottenham News reported that following the 0-2 defeat to Fulham, "Son Heung-min's popularity is declining, and fans want his contract terminated." Some fans criticized heavily, stating, "He needs to prove himself on the field," and "He shows the same reaction every time they lose."
Son Heung-min has made 448 appearances 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 in the 2021-2022 season, he scored 23 goals in the league without any penalties, becoming the Premier League's top scorer, making him the first Asian player to achieve this record. Furthermore, as the current captain of Tottenham, he showcases both performance and leadership.
Tottenham Hotspur News stated, "In order for coach Postecoglou to keep his position, he needs to start producing results on the field. For this, he needs players, and it seems Son Heung-min is not ready to assist," adding that "Coach Postecoglou is worried about Son Heung-min. There is a high possibility that Son Heung-min's recent remarks have made coach Postecoglou angry."
There is a reason. It is due to Son Heung-min's comments.
Tottenham Hotspur News revealed that "This Korean player recently acknowledged in a press conference (before the South Korea-Oman match) that his physical condition is at its best. He mentioned that the lack of playing time recently is due to coach Postecoglou. Since February 9, he has played only once for 90 minutes at Tottenham," also disclosing Son Heung-min's playing time in February and March.
This season, Tottenham is plunging into the worst situation. They have fallen to 14th place in the Premier League.
They have been eliminated from all competitions. Only the Europa League remains.
Football Insider argued that "If Tottenham does not win the Europa League, they may miss out on qualification for the UEFA Champions League, and Chairman Daniel Levy may rely on Marco Silva (Fulham) or Andoni Iraola (AFC Bournemouth) to prevent further decline in the Premier League rankings."
Despite the criticisms highlighted by British media regarding coach Postecoglou, they are merely making excuses by blaming Son Heung-min. Ultimately, they do not accurately recognize that the problem lies with themselves.
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