Postecoglou reveals why he loves Dominic Solanke even when he doesn’t score

Dominic Solanke’s double in Spurs’ 4-1 win over Aston Villa has underlined his importance to Ange Postecoglou’s side, with the manager praising his ‘unbelievable’ work ethic that has added a new dimension to Tottenham’s attack.

Solanke’s role and Spurs’ resurgence

Ange Postecoglou’s side, known this season for their high-intensity play and swift attacking movement, appeared determined to leave the past week’s slip-up behind, with the Villa game providing an opportunity to do so.

Solanke, who had been in the spotlight for his all-around contributions yet struggling to find the back of the net, was at the centre of attention, both from supporters and pundits alike.

Tottenham’s approach has been largely characterised by the tactical use of Solanke as a forward who does more than score goals, often dropping deeper to hold up play and linking with the midfielders to facilitate smooth transitions into attack.

His pressing has become a fixture in Spurs’ strategy, allowing Postecoglou’s men to regain possession high up the pitch, but even his most ardent supporters would agree that a centre-forward’s impact is also judged on goals. And today, with Tottenham in search of a statement performance, Solanke delivered in style.

The much-anticipated moment came as Solanke, whose work rate has rarely waned, capitalised on his chances and reminded fans why he’s a crucial part of Tottenham’s front line. His first goal came at a critical juncture, giving Tottenham a lead that they would only build upon throughout the match.

Ange Postecoglou on Dominic Solanke’s brace

In the post-match interview as relayed by football.london, Postecoglou addressed the questions surrounding his decision to continue placing faith in Solanke, he clarified his support:

No, it had nothing to do with that as I said during the week. I just think the enormous effort he put in on Wednesday night to help us win a game of football, not just physically but mentally and his capacity to help the team in every way he can.

“To back that up today with such a massive effort again against a pretty difficult team to play against in that sense, it’s just unbelievable.

“Yeah, the goals are great and of course as a striker I am sure he loves the fact he can score a couple of goals, but even if he didn’t, again I can’t speak highly enough of what he is contributing to our team at the moment. And long may it continue because with him playing that way, it just makes us a better team.”

Faith in Solanke validated

Analysing Tottenham’s attacking approach, Solanke’s ability to press defenders into mistakes and maintain possession in the final third often forces the opposition to break their shape, allowing Tottenham to exploit gaps.

His two goals today were the reward for a player who has consistently given everything to the team, and the moment was made sweeter by the timing – a key match in which Spurs needed to rebound strongly – and like Ange said, “long may it continue.”

Press men asked:
Are you sure of winning trophy?
postecoglou responded by hailing two spurs players solanke and son says he is very rest assured that he will win trophy this season. He said ‘ I am dedicated and i have all the player to win trophy this time

Ange Postecoglou reveals why Heung-min Son had to come off early

Tottenham pulled off a remarkable 4-1 victory over Aston Villa but it featured a curious substitution as Ange Postecoglou chose to withdraw Heung-min Son around the hour mark, despite his pivotal role in the comeback.

Tottenham’s resurgence and the road to a commanding win

tott. encounter with Aston Villa initially seemed to follow a frustratingly familiar script, with Spurs struggling to break down a resilient Villa defence in the first half at the Tottenham stadium

Despite pressing high and controlling much of the possession, Spurs found few openings, reduced mainly to crosses and cutbacks that failed to truly test Emiliano Martinez, Villa’s imposing goalkeeper.

Villa, meanwhile, capitalised on Tottenham’s defensive lapses from a corner, with Morgan Rogers latching onto a chaotic rebound to give the visitors a lead just after the half-hour mark.

Tottenham went into the break trailing 1-0, their attacking intent unconverted, and with just a 0.2 expected goals (xG) tally to show against Villa’s 1.3, the Spurs faithful were left wondering if their team could mount a meaningful response in the second half.

Yet, whatever adjustments Postecoglou made at halftime worked to perfection. Spurs came out revitalised, embracing their wide players with increased purpose, a shift that paid off just four minutes into the second half as Brennan Johnson tapped in from Son’s precise cross. The equaliser sparked life into Tottenham.

However, moments after the equalizer, Son Heung Min the creator of the goal was signalled to come off. This was a move that surprised many even the Korean winger.

Ange explains his decision on Son’s substitution

In a post-match interview, Ange Postecoglou shed light on his rationale behind substituting Son after his assist for the first Tottenham goal.

Speaking to football.london he said: “He was never going to play more than that today because, obviously he had an injury, came back and last time it was around the 60-minute mark where he kind of got fatigued last time. So he was never going to play more than sort of 55/60 minutes irrespective of how the game was going.

“The great thing was that he made a pretty important contribution, before that, the great ball in for our first goal and we got our equaliser. So, you know, again, we got more battles ahead and we’re going to need him. So he was never going to play more than that.”

When pressed further on whether Son’s reaction to the substitution was a concern, Postecoglou dismissed any notion of unrest. The Tottenham boss commented: “No, no, no, I didn’t see any difference in Sonny.

“I’d be surprised if any player likes coming off and they’re feeling all right. But no, no, I didn’t need to discuss it with him. And you know, like I said, for us, what’s more important is the overall picture.”

The bigger picture: injuries and tactical depth

The match highlighted Postecoglou’s careful management of his players’ fitness, particularly with a key figure like Son, who has been instrumental in Tottenham’s campaign so far. Faced with a packed schedule and increasing injury concerns, Postecoglou seems determined to conserve the squad’s energy for the challenges ahead.

It’s going to be a long season, and we’re going to need the entire squad if we’re to push for a top-four finish or even aim for silverware. The substitutes coming off the bench and making an impact was really needed today – long may it continue.