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Ange Postecoglou suspects the ping-pong rampage in South Korea, which left Son Heung-min with a dislocated finger, offered a rare glimpse of the steel hidden behind Tottenham’s amiable captain.
“That’s what leadership is all about,” Spurs boss Postecoglou said. “Leadership isn’t about being popular and trying to make everyone happy, it’s about when you see something that you don’t think is right, then you stand up for it because it’s best for the group.”
Son returned from international duty at the Asian Cup with a minor injury that South Korea revealed this week occurred during an argument over table tennis.
Some younger players, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Kang-in Lee, rushed during the team meal on the eve of a semi-final against Jordan to return to the table tennis tables.
Veteran players, including Son, criticized his behavior, heated words were exchanged, and a fight broke out in the dining room.
Ange Postecoglou has claimed that the South Korean ping-pong fight that left Son Heung-min with a dislocated finger shows the hidden steel
The Tottenham captain was seen wearing a brace on his fingers during their Asian Cup semi-final against Jordan.
The Spurs boss stated that he felt “people get it wrong about Sonny” and added that his player is constantly striving for higher standards.
Son played for South Korea in the defeat against Jordan with a broken finger, as he did when he came off the bench on his return to Tottenham, against Brighton last week.
“Sometimes people are wrong about Sonny,” said Postecoglou, who named the 31-year-old captain after losing Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane from his team at the start of this season.
“By nature, he is a nice and positive guy who smiles every time you see him and everyone has a real affection for him. He is very polite and very respectful, but he wants to win.
“He doesn’t like standards being lowered and I’ve seen him do that around here. If something isn’t right, he’ll say it.
‘Sometimes it’s not the most popular. Sometimes that puts you in the line of fire with the playing group and with the coaches or the club. But as a leader, if you believe this is the right thing to do, you must do it firmly.
“That drive for high standards carries over to leadership.”
Son is expected to start against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, but Postecoglou will be without starting full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie as he looks to maintain his team’s strong home form and fight for a top-four finish.
Son is expected to start for Tottenham on Saturday against Wolves at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Postecoglou will be without Destiny Udogie for the Premier League clash against Wolves
Neither is expected to be out for long. Tottenham will have no games for a fortnight after Wolves and hope to return in the next match against Crystal Palace.
However, back-up goalkeeper Fraser Forster will be out for at least two months after breaking a bone in his foot during training.