Tottenham Without Son in Season-Defining Clash

By Jack Burford at Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt

Tottenham Hotspur are destined to reach the Europa League semi-finals, they will have to do so without captain and often star player Heung-min Son.

The South Korean forward missed Tottenham’s 4-2 loss at Molineux on Sunday due to a foot injury and has not recovered in time for this evening’s quarter-final tie against Frankfurt.

Speaking to English media, Postecoglou said: "Sonny didn’t travel in the end. He’s the only one who misses out," he said. "He has been battling with this foot problem for a few weeks now and he’s managed through it, but it’s gotten too painful over the last few days."

When asked how that will affect his side’s chances, Postecoglou said: “It’s a blow but it’s consistent with everything else that’s happened this year, so it’s just another challenge for us to overcome.”

It’s no secret that Spurs have been riddled with injuries this season, and the Australian has rarely had a full squad to work with.

Once again, the Spurs manager will have to find a way to win in what is viewed as a do-or-die match — both for him and for how the club’s season will ultimately be perceived.

When questioned about the importance of tomorrow’s game and whether it has a direct correlation to his immediate future, Postecoglou said: “If people think that us winning tomorrow all of a sudden makes me a better manager than what I am today or us losing tomorrow somehow makes me a worse manager, I guess that’s their burden, not mine.

“I don’t think that way and I don’t think most people think that way. Or I’d like to think they don’t, in terms of their own sort of self esteem and who they are as people.

“I couldn’t care less. Really. I couldn’t care less.

“There’s no burden on me, there’s no anxiety on me. What I’m sitting here doing is thinking we’ve got a great opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament.

“Mate, I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail for it irrespective of what may come the day after.”