Son Heung-min Calls For Spurs Improvement Ahead Of Crucial AZ Alkmaar Second Leg

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Tottenham's captain, Son Heung-min, expressed his disappointment after their 1-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League last-16 first leg. The defeat was marked by Lucas Bergvall's own goal, which highlighted Spurs' lacklustre performance. They managed just one shot on target, a statistic only worse in their recent game against Liverpool. Son remarked, "It's nowhere near where we should perform," reflecting on the team's subpar display.

The upcoming second leg in London is crucial for Tottenham's aspirations this season. Son emphasised the importance of improving their performance to keep their hopes alive. "It's a big wake-up call because next week is the biggest game of the season," he stated. The team must overcome the deficit to continue their pursuit of silverware.

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham's manager, shared similar sentiments about the team's struggles. He acknowledged that it was a disappointing night both in terms of result and performance. "We never got a grip on the game," he admitted, noting their inability to control proceedings at any point during the match.

Adding to Spurs' challenges, Rodrigo Bentancur will miss the return leg due to suspension after receiving his third booking of the season. Postecoglou commented on Bentancur's situation: "We were always running the tightrope with him being on yellow cards." This absence poses an additional hurdle for Tottenham as they prepare for the decisive match.

The injury woes continued for Tottenham as Dominic Solanke had to leave the field after just 20 minutes into his return from a seven-week absence. He suffered a knock during stoppage time, raising concerns about his fitness. Postecoglou expressed hope that Solanke's injury isn't severe: "I think it was a knock; hopefully it's nothing too bad."

The upcoming week will be crucial for Spurs as they aim to regroup and address these issues before facing AZ again. With key players missing and performance improvements needed, Tottenham faces an uphill battle in their quest for European success this season.