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What Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has told Son Heung-min ahead of Man City showdown
MAURCIO POCHETTINO has told Son Heung-Min that the only time he is likely to be able to grab any rest in the next hectic few weeks is in Tottenham’s Champions League semi-final opener.
The on-fire South Korean striker is banned for the first leg of the semi-final at home to Ajax on Tuesday week after picking up a booking in the dramatic quarter-final victory at Manchester City.
Son scored twice as Spurs stunned City on Wednesday light, losing 4-3 at the Etihad but scraping through on away goals.
Tottenham are back at the Etihad at lunchtime on Saturday in the Premier League.
But with fellow striker Harry Kane out injured, Pochettino has confirmed that Son, who has hit four goals in his last four games, will be one of the first names on his team-sheet in the coming weeks.
The loss of Son for the first leg could be a major problem for Spurs manager, but he said: “We know Son is going to be suspended for the first leg against Ajax. That is disappointing.
“But you can be sure if he is ok he is going to play in the rest of the games.
“We have to be careful how we manage the squad. But Son is so important to us.”
Pochettino has meanwhile urged his team to be ready for a City backlash on Saturday.
You can be sure if he is ok he is going to play in the rest of the games
Pochettino’s team left City shattered on Wednesday night, after a result that left their hopes of a unique quadruple in tatters.
Pochettino is wary of a slump from his players after the incredibly emotional high of Wednesday, and the Argentine said: “It will not be revenge for them.
“For sure, they are going to move on, like us, from the Champions League to Premier League.
“City are going to fight for a massive thing, which is to win the Premier League. The principal challenge for them is to win the League.
“We need to think that we must be in the top four next season. That is our challenge and it is going to be tough.”
“Made difficult as our circumstances are not the best. They have nearly all players fit and we need to assess players and we will miss some players that are so important and we need to think how we are going to mix.
“For sure we need to be ready to fight them and challenge them. It will be tough. They are not going to fight for revenge. They need the three points, like us.”
City go into the game lying two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand, with the Anfield side not in action until Sunday when they travel to Cardiff.
Tottenham probable team: Lloris; Alderwiereld, Vertonghen, Sanchez; Trippier, Wanyama, Eriksen, Alli, Moura, Rose; Son, Llorente.