Son responds to Conte change by scoring stunner
Tottenham Leicester 3 1
ANTONIO CONTE revealed he told Son Heung-min he would be coming off moments before scoring a brilliant goal in Tottenham’s win over Leicester.
Son grabbed his second of the game and 19th of the season in style as he curled a 20-yard effort into the top corner to put the seal on Spurs’ victory.
He had earlier set up Harry Kane’s opener from a corner and doubled the lead when he turned and shot on the hour. Leicester’s only reply came from a Kelechi Iheanacho stoppage-time strike
The quality of Son’s second goal left Conte wondering which was Son’s strongest foot, but the Italian said moments like that will only count for something if Spurs achieve their goal of finishing in the top six.
“I gave him a big hug because after an amazing goal my question was which is his favourite foot, right or left?” Conte said. “He scored a fantastic goal and three minutes before when I spoke with him I said, ‘Go for five or six minutes and then I have to make a change’.
“I said to him that when you listened that I wanted to make a change and you decide to score this amazing goal.
“We are talking about a great player, fantastic player. But it’s important at the end of the season to celebrate a big achievement with the team. Otherwise it remains only a personal success only to score these types of goals.”
The victory saw Spurs get back on track in their quest for Champions League qualification after taking one point in their previous two games.
Conte knew it was especially important to win as they visit title-chasing Liverpool next weekend.
“It was a good performance against a really good team,” he said. “The game wasn’t easy and we knew very well that despite them making eight changes from the last game against Roma you can see the quality, you can see the squad that Leicester has.
“I think then we deserved to win the game. For sure we got three points in an important moment of the season, especially because in the next games we are going to face first Liverpool and then Arsenal.”