Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has candidly expressed concerns about his team's current performance, suggesting that even Liverpool's star winger Mohamed Salah would find it challenging to make an impact with the squad. As Tottenham prepares to face Premier League leaders Liverpool in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday, Postecoglou highlighted the significant disparity between the two clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur currently sits 12th in the Premier League standings, having suffered defeat in three of their last four matches. The team is facing a critical juncture as they prepare for a high-stakes clash against Liverpool, a team thriving under the guidance of manager Jürgen Klopp. Despite Salah's remarkable form—having scored 21 goals and provided 17 assists across all competitions—Postecoglou doubts his effectiveness would translate at Tottenham given their current circumstances.
“Mo is a world-class player but if you put him in our team now I’m not sure he’ll have that same level of performance because of the situation we’re in as a group,” said Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou elaborated on the challenges Tottenham faces, citing a lack of cohesion and foundational strength as key issues. He emphasized that the characteristics that define Liverpool's successful setup are absent at Tottenham, affecting overall performance and player output.
“You need a team that’s in good form, creating opportunities, playing on the front foot, having a really solid foundation of a defence that is cohesive. None of these things exist at the moment [at Spurs],” Postecoglou noted.
Amidst these challenges, Son Heung-min, Tottenham's captain since August 2023, has managed to score just seven goals in all competitions this season. Postecoglou believes Son would flourish under Liverpool's system, which currently allows players like Salah to excel. Son, who shared the Premier League's Golden Boot with Salah in the 2021-22 season after netting 23 goals, remains a pivotal figure for both Tottenham and his national team, South Korea.
Son has made notable contributions on the international stage with 51 goals in 131 appearances for South Korea, where he also serves as captain. Despite Tottenham's struggles, the club has shown commitment to Son by activating a one-year extension in his contract on Tuesday.
