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Ange Postecoglou admits that ‘outstanding’ Tottenham player desperately needs a rest but he can’t give him one

Lucas Arnold

Thu 6 February 2025 8:15, UK

After a frantic final few days to the transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur are now gearing up for what is arguably their biggest game of the season against Liverpool.

Ange Postecoglou’s squad has now been boosted by the addition of Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, who players finally give Tottenham a bit of choice.

Tel could make his Tottenham debut in place of Richarlison at Anfield, a big task for the 19-year-old but one he seems equipped to handle.

The Bayern Munich loanee is able to play through the middle or as an inside-forward on the left of an attack, a role currently occupied by Son Heung-min in N17.

Of course, Son hasn’t quite been at his best this season, something Postecoglou seemed to allude to at the tail end of his press conference ahead of Liverpool.

Ange Postecoglou says Son Heung-min really needs a break

Postecoglou praised Son for his ‘outstanding’ work this season, but he then also pointed to the fact that the 32-year-old has been suffering owing to the amount of minutes he’s had to play.

Spurs have endured an unprecedented level of injuries this season, meaning Postecoglou hasn’t been able to rotate his players as much as he may have hoped, leading to his admission that Son has needed a rest.

READ MORE: Johan Lange says what he really wants to happen with Mathys Tel at Tottenham after he signs on loan

Speaking via , Postecoglou said: “Sonny’s been outstanding for us. I’ve said before with Sonny, the extremes we’ve had to put on him this year, it’d be tough for anyone to carry the load he has both from a physical perspective, a mental perspective.

“I think he was unbelievable against Brentford at the weekend but that’s because he only played 45 minutes on Thursday night.

“Now we haven’t been able to do that. If we had the opportunity to give him the rest he needs to be at his best I think we would have seen it, but I think he’s got a real clear focus in his eye that he senses an opportunity for us as a football club, not just for himself, to have success this year.”

Wilson Odobert was meant to share Son Heung-min’s minutes

After recruiting Wilson Odobert at the end of the summer, Postecoglou probably imagined that the youngster could share a lot of the load with Son on the left.

In that respect, Dejan Kulusevski has also looked exhausted at times, a squad that has been run into the ground as a result of their injury crisis.

However, with the players that could still return for Tottenham over the next few weeks, there’s still hope of a positive finish to the season.

And a lot of that hope rides on Spurs’ next two cup fixtures against Liverpool and Aston Villa – two incredibly tough away trips.

But winning away to Brentford and keeping a clean sheet should give Postecoglou’s side confidence, a side who are not down and out just yet.