Son Heung-Min has branded the weak display of Tottenham and defeated AZ Alkmaar as a 'large, large wake-up call' while they strive to save something from a miserable season in the Europa League.
“We must be strong in the mentality and every aspect,” said Captain Son On Spurs Play. 'This competition is one of the largest competitions that we want to reach and including me we are not performing well, so you are punished, especially away from home.
“The Europa League is always difficult and it must be a big wake -up call.”
Baas Ange Postecoglou accused his players of being 'aggression' and 'hesitant' and not showing the 'mindset' needed to play away from home in Europe.
“We'll have to go further,” Son said. 'We have already passed this game and it was actually very, very bad. Fortunately we have another chance to play at home and we can turn around positively.
'It's too early to let the heads down and give up. We have a huge, huge opportunity next week and we have to be ready to try to turn it around.
'We must be lucky that we will have a chance next Thursday. It is a large, large wake -up call and everyone really has to worry about it.
The comments from Postecoglou come after his side, may have played one of their worst matches of the season, so that AZ Alkmaar can deliver a strong performance for their own grandstands, close the game with 12 shots in total and five on goal.
In the meantime, Spurs have shown a worrying view, because they could not find the back of the net for 90 minutes and only had one big chance when Wilson Odobert missed a header in the last phases of the game.
'You have to respect every opponent you play because it is a tough competition and everyone wants to win.
'Everyone can talk who is favorite, but at the end of the day is who wins the most important thing.
'We have to respect the others, give enormous respect to win the game because winning a game is never guaranteed. We have to earn it and cannot make it comfortable. In the game we have to make some uncomfortable things. '
Tottenham takes on AZ Alkmaar in their second stage with a disadvantage of one goal after their Premier League match on Sunday against Bournemouth.
The side of Ange Postecoglou has passed a disappointing domestic campaign while Spurs is in 13th place in the Premier League table, with only 33 points.
Their worrying situation was deepened by various injuries that were picked up by injuries to important players, including Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski and Micky van de Ven.
Dominic Solanke returned to the team on Thursday after an absence of six weeks due to a knee injury, but was forced from the field in the 92nd minute due to another injury shell.
The English striker – who so far scored 11 goals for traces – required medical help before he was replaced by Dane Scarlett.
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