Heung-Min Son says he will have to accept Mauricio Pochettino’s decision if the Tottenham manager drops him from the starting line-up against Juventus.
Spurs face the Italian giants in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Pochettino’s side came from two goals down to draw 2-2 in the first leg in Turin thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.
Erik Lamela was preferred to Heung-Min Son that night, and it was arguably the right call – the Argentine’s workrate was a crucial factor as the visitors fought back to earn a positive result ahead of the reverse leg.
When Son was selected in the starting line-up to face Huddersfield Town on Saturday, there were suggestions Lamela would again be preferred against Juventus.
But Sons’ match-winning brace – in addition to his two goals against Rochdale in the FA Cup last week – could see Pochettino reward the South Korean with another start on Wednesday.
Son himself has hinted he will be ready to make an impact regardless of whether he starts or not.
“I have to accept it if the gaffer doesn’t choose me: I just have to be ready if I come on or if I’m on the bench,” he said after the Huddersfield game (via Sky Sports).
“It’s a Champions League game against a difficult opponent. We play at home but we are not scared. We need to play our game, be confident and play forward like we play at Wembley. That’s the most important thing.”
With Spurs knowing a quick start against Juventus could aid their progress to the quarter-finals, I think Pochettino will opt for Son over Lamela.
Who do you think should start against Juventus? Son or Lamela? Or perhaps Lucas Moura? Let us know in the comments.
It has to be Son!
Four goals in four days speaks for itself!
He is so fast, I believe he can be the difference against Juventus
He adds pace ,the offence flows better with him in there, he passes better , he finishes better , he is better with both feet , he is awesome with space on a big field like Wembley not starting son would be a clear disadvantage
I’d start Son and Lucas in place of Ali and Lamela.
True and yes Lucas and Son need to start. Our counter attacking aspect will be difficult to handle for them.
I would start Son , he is fast and most importantly he scores goals and goals win matches!
Lamela is ok against the likes of Rochadale, but that’s the limit of his ability. If he plays against Juventus, I predict two three things. 1. He will lose the ball or mis-pass it, and that will lead to a Juventus goal. 2. He will either get two yellow cards or a straight red. 3. With just ten men Spurs will lose the match and the tie.
Lamela was an unfortunate experiment that failed badly. Very few assists, barely knows where rhe goal is, loses the ball far too frequently and gets too many cards, often giving away fouls that result in dangerous turnovers. His so-called link up play amounts to a few short passes that even I could do. If he got out of the way it would go quicker and smoother.
Son without doubt. He has shown his class ability and work rate. Leaving him on the bench will be foolhardy. Currently one of the best Spurs players.
It depends how poch wants to approach the game. If its cautiously, lamelas pressing and work rate defensively will help us keep it tight in the first half while giving us the option of playing son and lucas from the bench should the worst happen and we need a goal! However, if he feels we can get at them early Sons pace and finishing make him the obvious choice. Judging on how the game in turin panned out tho i see him starting with lamela.