“Very Smart”: Andoni Iraola Shares Thoughts on Son Heung-min After Bournemouth’s 2-2 Draw with Tottenham

Ange Postecoglou opted to start Wilson Odobert on the left, leaving Son Heung-min on the bench as Tottenham faced Bournemouth.

After the game, Son acknowledged Spurs’ improved squad depth but admitted he still prefers starting matches, insisting he remains in peak condition.

However, Postecoglou may have been saving him for Thursday’s Europa Conference League clash against AZ Alkmaar.

Despite being introduced at half-time, Son made a significant impact, including winning a late penalty against Kepa Arrizabalaga to secure a draw.

Iraola Calls Son ‘Very Smart’ in Winning Penalty

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola shared his thoughts on the penalty incident while speaking to BBC Match of the Day.

He expressed frustration over his team’s defending in the lead-up to Kepa’s challenge but acknowledged Son’s intelligence in capitalizing on the opportunity.

“The first goal they scored is difficult to complain about, but for the second one, we should have defended better before the penalty—and even the penalty itself,” Iraola said.

“Son is very smart in that situation, but we shouldn’t give him a chance to make the contact.”

While Iraola stopped short of accusing Son of diving, his comments implied that Bournemouth’s poor positioning allowed the Spurs captain to win the penalty.

Iraola also insisted that his team had been the better side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a view Postecoglou might not entirely disagree with given Spurs’ sluggish first-half display.

Postecoglou Praises Bergvall and Son’s Impact

Postecoglou, speaking to the BBC post-match, was pleased with the performances of Son and Lucas Bergvall, who were both introduced at half-time.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp had criticized Spurs’ lackluster first-half performance, but the second-half substitutions provided a much-needed boost.

Explaining his decision to make changes, Postecoglou said: “We wanted more energy in midfield, and Lucas Bergvall was good when he came on. Son was bright and took the game to them.”

Postecoglou also highlighted Pape Matar Sarr’s key contribution, noting that the midfielder had come close to scoring just before his eventual goal.

“The big moments are for the big players, and Son certainly stood up,” Postecoglou added.

The Spurs boss also stressed the importance of key players like Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Radu Drăgușin getting valuable minutes ahead of Thursday’s crucial European fixture.