Tottenham captain Heung-min Son has called on supporters and the club to come together behind Ange Postecoglou.
After Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City, a visibly furious Postecoglou claimed the build-up to the game had shown the foundations at Spurs were more “fragile” than he realised — in an apparent criticism of fans who were conflicted about his side winning the game.
The result ensured that City will pip Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal to the title if they win at home against West Ham on Sunday, while it also ended Tottenham’s hopes of a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League.
Despite the setback, Son remains optimistic about the future under Postecoglou and says he is “all in” on him. But he has urged club, players and fans to unite behind the Australian head coach.
“We should understand it’s the gaffer’s first year and he brought so much positivity and different football,” Son told Standard Sport.
“I know it’s early to say, but we’ve got to do so much better for next season, because I still believe he can bring so much success to the club.
“I’m all in. I’m loving the way he wants to play. It’s the first time I’ve experienced it.
“Everybody — the club, the players, also the fans — everybody has to step up, because we have to be all together in this. He’s definitely shown he can bring success to the club.”
In a subdued and tense atmosphere on Tuesday, Spurs produced one of their most committed performances since November against City, but went down to two second-half goals from Erling Haaland.
Postecoglou also hinted afterwards at his concerns about the internal culture of the club, suggesting the fragility he mentioned was “outside [the club], inside, everywhere”.
Son said: “As players, we all wanted to do our best for the club and for us [against City].
“We really didn’t care about anything else. We only concentrated on what’s best for us, for the team.
“The players, the staff who have had so many sessions, so many games, so much travelling, we just wanted to do the best for them. We didn’t want to do anything else.”
In a moment that Arsenal fans are likely to replay as frequently as anything from their own season, Son raced clear in the 85th minute, but his low shot was saved by City substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
He’s definitely shown he can bring success to the club
Moments later, Haaland scored his second goal of the night, from the penalty spot, leaving City within touching distance of a record-breaking fourth straight title.
“I’m also human,” said Son. “The keeper made a really good decision and made himself really big.
“But I take the responsibility not to score that big chance for the team, because the team was working really hard and trying to get a good result.”
Spurs travel to already-relegated Sheffield United on the final day, with a point enough to secure a fifth-placed finish and Europa League qualification for next season.
