Spurs captain, Heung-min singles out who the cause of tonight’s defeat is in a brutal Europa League defeat

After enjoying over a week of rest, Tottenham Hotspur returned to action with a trip to the Netherlands, facing AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 clash. Given the extended break and the return of several key players from injury, expectations were high that Ange Postecoglou’s side would secure a positive result, or at the very least, avoid defeat.
This match was a rematch from the league phase of the competition, where Richarlison’s strike had been the difference between the two sides. However, despite their supposed advantage in fitness and squad depth, Spurs failed to impose themselves on the game.

Heung-min Son Admits Spurs’ Performance Wasn’t Up to Standard

Instead of coming out strong and capitalizing on their fresh legs, Tottenham looked surprisingly lethargic, struggling to match AZ Alkmaar’s energy and intensity. The Dutch side dominated proceedings, outplaying and outmuscling Spurs, who were fortunate to escape with only a 1-0 defeat.
Captain Heung-min Son did not sugarcoat his thoughts when speaking to TNT Sports after the match, admitting that the performance simply wasn’t good enough.

“It’s nowhere near where we should perform. It was very disappointing that we performed like this, including me. It is a big wake-up call because next week is the biggest game of the season.”

Despite the poor display, Son rejected the notion that Spurs were too cautious in their approach, instead pointing to a general lack of sharpness and intensity.

“I really do not think there was too much caution. It is always tough to play away in the Europa League. We did not create anything in the first half, sloppiness, not performing the way we should.

“Everyone is very disappointed about the individual performance and the team performance. We have to look at ourselves. There are no excuses, we were not good enough. It is just 1-0, it is still not finished, and next week we have to be much better.”

Spurs Must Raise Their Game to Keep Europa League Hopes Alive

European knockout ties are rarely straightforward, and Tottenham learned that the hard way in Alkmaar. A slow start is often punished at this level, and Spurs found themselves on the back foot for much of the game, struggling to string together meaningful attacking moves.
Ange Postecoglou will be deeply frustrated by his team’s inability to match the intensity of their opponents, especially given the high stakes of the fixture. While the deficit remains manageable, Spurs cannot afford another sluggish performance in the return leg if they want to keep their Europa League ambitions alive.
One key advantage for Tottenham is that the second leg will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where their home crowd can play a significant role in pushing them forward. Spurs will need to produce a far more dynamic and aggressive display to overturn the deficit and secure a place in the quarter-finals.
With Son himself acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the message is clear: Tottenham must step up next week or risk an early exit from Europe.