Tottenham Manager Calls Absence of Son, Sarr, and Bissouma a ‘Minor Setback’
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged that losing his star players for international duties is a “small price to pay” for having them at the club, insisting that he would never exclude a player based on nationality. Spurs will be without key figures Heung-min Son, Pape Matar Sarr, and Yves Bissouma for up to six weeks due to their participation in mid-season international tournaments.
Son is competing with South Korea at the Asian Cup in Qatar, while Bissouma and Sarr are representing Mali and Senegal respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. This trio’s absence means they will miss Tottenham’s FA Cup third-round match against Burnley and several Premier League fixtures, potentially affecting Spurs’ aspirations for both domestic and international titles.
Despite the challenge, Postecoglou downplayed the impact of their absence, describing it as a minor inconvenience in exchange for having them play at Spurs. He stressed that he would never hesitate to sign a player based on where they are from.
“I’d hate for that to be a factor in recruitment,” Postecoglou stated. “You’d be missing out on fantastic talent, and we’ve had a generational talent in Son, representing us on the world stage. If we lose him for a few weeks every four years, it’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to have him in our squad.”
Postecoglou, who previously managed the Australian national team and won the Asian Cup in 2015, also expressed his admiration for international football. “I think these tournaments are significant, and while the schedule is tight, these competitions are essential to the players and their nations. Representing their countries isn’t just another match to them, it’s part of who they are.”
He added that he would never disregard a player simply because they represent their nation, emphasising the personal and professional growth players gain from international experience.
“We support them going away to represent their countries,” he continued. “Sonny and Pape would have loved to be here, but it doesn’t diminish what they’re doing for their countries. It’s a win-win for us all.”
