Ange Postecoglou makes ‘different’ Son Heung-min admission ahead of Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou accepts that the departure of Harry Kane has allowed others such as Son Heung-min to flourish this season.
Kane, the club’s all-time record goalscorer with 280 goals in 435 appearances, joined Bayern Munich in a reported £86.4million (€100m) deal in August [BBC Sport].
After struggling for form last season, Son in particular has stepped up in Kane’s absence by scoring seven goals and assisting another in nine Premier League appearances, helping fire Spurs top of the table.
While Postecoglou does not necessarily agree with the rhetoric that Tottenham are a better side without Kane, the Australian acknowledged that having the likes of Son, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson has changed the dynamic of his attack.
“I’m not into this commentary that we’re a better team without Harry because the last game Harry played for us, he did alright in our system when he scored four goals [against Shakhtar Donetsk],” Postecoglou told reporters on Thursday (26 October), as quoted by football.london.
“It’s fair to say we would have been able to squeeze him in somewhere – and I’m being sarcastic there – but him not being there just allows us to bring different individuals into the team and they change the dynamic.
“Again, while the way I want my teams to play has a really clear structure, what I try to do is create a balanced squad where individuals can change the dynamics of it.
“Having Sonny as our nine is different from having Harry or even Richarlison as our nine. Having Deki (Kulusevski) as a winger or having Brennan Johnson as a winger changes it even if the structure is the same.
“Not having Harry there does change us as a team because we’re using different individuals, but if Harry was still here the structure would be the same and we’d have the same fundamentals of trying to dominate opposition, press the opposition, all those kind of things would still be there.”
Former Spurs right-back Alan Hutton told Tottenham News:
“Tottenham would still want [a new striker], but Son’s form has softened the blow,” Hutton said.
“The biggest thing for me is Maddison coming in and how he’s playing. We saw him being able to play up front and we know he can score goals.
“[Son’s] never going to be Harry Kane but you know he gives you something a little bit different – he’s got that pace to burn, he can score a goal.”
Hutton also spoke about whether Spurs can continue their form. He said: “It’s an interesting one and I think that’s the question everyone will be asking, how long do they keep it up?
“The big thing for me is can [Postecoglou] add in January? Can he go and get another number nine who’s going to go and score you goals so you’ve got different options?
“I think that’s probably the missing piece if they want to actually go and challenge but their start has been quite incredible.”
In other Tottenham news, Son will be looking to build on his impressive record when Spurs travel to Crystal Palace on Friday (27 October).