Tottenham's coach Postecoglou clarifies reason for Son's substitution after his angry response.

Son Heung-min was not particularly pleased when he was substituted off during the game against Aston Villa. According to Ange Postecoglou, however, this was always part of the plan. Despite the Tottenham captain's visible frustration at the decision, the manager stood by his call.

At halftime, Spurs were trailing 1-0 to Villa, with Morgan Rogers scoring the opener. But just after the break, Son made a quick comeback, setting up Brennan Johnson for the equalizer. However, only 55 minutes into the game, Postecoglou decided to bring off his captain and replace him with Richarlison. Son was clearly confused when his number was shown and he expressed his disappointment on the sidelines for all to see.

Considering that Son had just returned from an injury, it may have seemed like a strange decision to sub him off so soon after his assist. However, the move proved to be fruitful as Tottenham went on to win the game 4-1, with Richarlison setting up Dominic Solanke for the third goal. Unfortunately, the Brazilian had to be substituted as well due to an injury.

Postecoglou later explained his decision, stating that he had always planned to bring off Son at the 55-minute mark. He said that in the previous game, Son had also returned from an injury and ended up getting hurt again at the 60-minute mark. This time, however, Son managed to get through the game without any issues. The manager also praised Son for his contribution to the game, especially his assist for the equalizer. He emphasized that they have more challenges ahead and will need Son's skills and abilities.

When asked about Son's reaction to being substituted, Postecoglou stated that he did not see any difference in his demeanor in the dressing room. He also mentioned that he did not feel the need to discuss it with him, as the overall picture was more important to the team.

Thanks to the manager's decision, Tottenham moved up to seventh place in the table, just two points behind Villa and Arsenal with a much better goal difference. Postecoglou expressed his thoughts on the game, saying that in the first half, they had to match Villa's level and they did just that. He also acknowledged that his team still has more to give and credited them for their physical effort, especially since they had played a tough game just a few days prior.

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