Tottenham triple blow to Premier League title challenge Ange Postecoglou must urgently address
Tottenham news as manager Ange Postecoglou is set to lose three key players to their international duties in key fixture period
As they approach the second international break, Tottenham is about to suffer a severe triple hammer blow to their hopes of winning the Premier League. For the first time in more than two years, Ange Postecoglou’s team is atop the Premier League after an incredible start to the season.
The club’s identity has undoubtedly undergone a significant transformation since the Australian’s arrival, following their most successful season opener in club history. The team has made the right additions in the summer, with players like Mickey van de Ven, Manor Solomon, and James Maddison all playing major roles in their early league triumphs.
There have been some incredible moments for the club thus far, with their sole loss on penalties against Fulham in the Carabao Cup second round being the only blemish on their flawless record thus far. Following a historically impressive comeback against Sheffield United, there was an entertaining 2-2 draw versus Arsenal in the North London Derby, a fierce rivalry.
Then, at the end of their historic and contentious match, Joel Matip converted Pedro Porro’s cross into the Liverpool goal, seemingly continuing their upward trajectory as of late. All of that, though, might be about to change soon.
Regretfully, Postecoglou is about to lose three of his most valuable players for as long as a month since they are leaving for overseas assignments. Captain Son Heung-Min, who will lead South Korea in the January 2023 Asia Cup, will surely be the worst blow.
The 31-year-old and Maddison, who signed in the summer, have gotten along great so far. They have contributed directly to each other’s goals twice, both of which came in the North London Derby. In addition, the player has taken up the shooting duties from his old teammate Harry Kane, netting six goals in his first eight games, only four short of the ten goals he scored in all of last season.
From January 12, 2024, until February 10, 2024, Son will go to Qatar with Jurgen Klinsmann’s Taegeuk Warriors. During that time, Spurs will play four pre-arranged games against Manchester United, Brentford, Everton, and Brighton. But if the team advances farther in the FA Cup, which happens around that time, the celebrity might miss more.
Postecoglou’s two other key players, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, are both centre midfielders. The former will miss their match against Fulham later this month since he was sent off against Luton Town prior to the international break, which is the first game this season that he has been forced to miss.
It somewhat obscures how excellent Bissouma has been this season, given the Spurs’ early success has been largely attributed to his build-up play and defensive instincts. Postecoglou’s midfield is moulded by his connection with Sarr, and with both players out of the Africa Cup of Nations, there will be significant issues about how to recreate their incredible success.
Sarr is coming to his second AFCON tournament, having already won the competition in his first attempt back in 2021 when Senegal lifted the title for the first time. Sarr will be joining Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson in the Senegal camp. After just playing 12 minutes in his debut tournament, he will aim to have a better experience this time around. His strong performances for Spurs throughout the year have elevated him higher up the national setup hierarchy.
The competition is scheduled to run concurrently with the Asia Cup, beginning in the Ivory Coast on January 13, 2024, and ending on February 11, 2024. This implies that both players may miss the same games as Son, which would be concerning considering their present injury status.
Postecoglou will undoubtedly be considering this already and will do his best to handle it like he handles so many other issues that come his way. It remains to be seen if he will have the players and the facilities necessary to accomplish this.
