Son and Tottenham team-mate issue rallying cry for Postecoglou amid wretched run

09 December 2023 , 22:30

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Son Heung-min has told his Tottenham team-mates that they must start to be more clinical in attack (Image: Prime Video)

Tottenham must start being ruthless - or they'll blow Champions League qualification altogether.

That's the rallying cry of hurting captain Son Heung-min, who has told his team-mates to play with their chest or forget about a top-four finish this season.

"It's tough moments, definitely," said Son after the 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Thursday. "We shouldn't accept this situation because it was not a bad performance, all of the games we're dominating but our mistakes kill the game.

"We can't accept this and obviously me as a first, I take responsibility and the coming game [against Newcastle] is very soon so we have to bounce back and we have to get ready. Everybody has to get their heads up, show a big chest, take the loss and move on."

Spurs have now surrendered the lead in each of their last five Premier League matches - claiming just one point from a possible 15. Unsurprisingly, the barren run began when Tottenham lost dependable duo James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to injury during the 4-1 horror show against Chelsea.

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But Son quickly refuted claims Spurs cannot function in attack without their influential playmaker, who could be sidelined until February, adding: "I know we love Maddison and I know you guys love talking about Maddison, I get that 100 per cent but we are getting in the right positions but we have to be more ruthless.

"We have to be more clinical and before we get the chances, we have always been in the right positions but we have to find the right passes. You don't just create chances, you have to be more clinical. We have to make better decisions and I think these will be key points."

Son swiftly shot down any suggestion Spurs will use last season's 6-1 defeat at Newcastle as inspiration to deliver.he responded when asked if the one-sided beatdown provides extra motivation: "No, it doesn't. Every single Premier League game is huge and makes us motivated, especially Newcastle and the circumstances we're facing at the moment. We just have to do more than what we have done."

It was a disappointing night for both Tottenham and Son Heung-min on Thursday as they were beaten 2-1 by West Ham (PA)

Meanwhile, midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg struggled to stomach the nature of Tottenham's second-half collapse at the hands of the Hammers. The Dane said: "The first half was relatively okay but we didn't get it over the line - we failed to build momentum. We didn't get a goal out of it. It's disappointing to let them into the game like we did. It's devastating."

Much like Son, Hojbjerg has taken comfort in the fact Tottenham have the chance to put things right so quickly when the Magpies visit north London. He continued: "Of course it's not good but luckily we have a quick turnaround and it gives us a chance to get back on top.

"This is what we have to have in mind, to get back to winning games. It's very simple. We'll stay on track and we believe 100 per cent in the situation. We just have to win games."

Ryan Taylor