Ange Postecoglou defended his decision to substitute Tottenham captain Son Heung-min early in their 4-1 victory over Aston Villa, despite Son’s visible frustration at the move.
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The forward, who recently returned from injury, assisted Brennan Johnson’s equalizer just after the break. However, at the 55th minute, Postecoglou brought on Richarlison in place of Son, a move that left the South Korean visibly dismayed on the bench.
Explaining his strategy, Postecoglou shared with BBC Sport that the substitution was a planned decision aimed at protecting Son from the risk of re-injury.
“He was never going to play more than 55 minutes,” the manager noted, recalling how Son previously suffered an injury after reaching the 60-minute mark in a past game. “He got through unscathed this time, and he made a big contribution with a great ball for our equalizer.”
Despite the captain’s visible frustration, Postecoglou affirmed there was no issue in the dressing room. He said, “No, I didn’t see any difference in Sonny. I’d be surprised if any player likes coming off when they feel alright, but for us, the overall picture is what matters most.”
Tottenham’s change proved fruitful, with Richarlison assisting Dominic Solanke’s third goal before leaving the field due to injury himself. The win propelled Spurs to seventh in the Premier League standings, just two points behind Villa and Arsenal.
Reflecting on the performance, Postecoglou praised his team’s resilience, especially after a physically demanding midweek match, adding, “We have another two or three gears in us, and credit to the players for pushing through.”
