LONDON – Ange Postecoglou has expressed concerns about the workload of Tottenham forward Son Heung-Min, stating that it is not sustainable for him to play in every match this season. Postecoglou revealed that Son has already played more than initially planned in the opening weeks of the campaign.
During Spurs’ Europa League victory over Qarabag on Thursday, Son was forced off the pitch in the 71st minute due to “fatigue in his hamstring.” As a result, he is now doubtful for their upcoming match against Manchester United.
Since joining Tottenham in 2015, Son has made 415 appearances across all competitions and has featured in every game this season. The 32-year-old recently spoke out against the demanding schedule faced by elite footballers, highlighting the risk of injury.
Postecoglou acknowledged that he had intended to ease Son’s workload at the start of the season but was unable to do so due to injuries suffered by other players. The coach emphasized that while Son always wants to play, they need to be sensible and mindful of managing his minutes.
Postecoglou dismissed any concerns about Son’s age affecting his ability to handle a heavy workload. Instead, he attributed it more to modern football’s fixture overload and stressed the responsibility of clubs like Tottenham to protect their players.
Regarding international duty with South Korea, Postecoglou stated that he would never ask Son to retire from representing his country. He believes such decisions should be left up to the player themselves as they know what is best for their career and personal fulfillment.
Postecoglou expressed his desire not only for success on a club level but also for players like Son to have no regrets when looking back on their careers.
