Tottenham just getting started, says Ange Postecoglou, after Son Heung-min treble in rout of Burnley

LONDON – Ange Postecoglou insisted Tottenham Hotspur are only just getting started, after Son Heung-min’s hat-trick inspired a 5-2 demolition of Burnley on Saturday.

The Australian’s side bounced back after their disappointing midweek League Cup exit at Fulham to record a third successive Premier League victory.

Lyle Foster’s fourth-minute opener for Burnley could have sparked another Tottenham flop, but the north Londoners hit back in style thanks to Son’s lethal finishing.

The South Korea forward equalised in the 16th minute, before Cristian Romero and James Maddison scored to put Tottenham in charge.

Son netted twice in four minutes just after the hour for his first hat-trick since Sept 17, 2022.

Josh Brownhill’s late goal was no consolation for outclassed Burnley, as second-placed Tottenham extended their unbeaten start to the league season to four games.

Asked if Son’s performance at Turf Moor showed how Spurs can cope without Harry Kane following the England captain’s move to Bayern Munich, Postecoglou said: “It’s not exactly why, but it’s one of the reasons.

“I’ve got a picture in my head about what I want the team to look like and I keep saying we’re still at the beginning of it.

“We’re still building and there’s a lot to be done. It’s about putting all the pieces together.”

Losing Kane was a huge blow to Tottenham ahead of the new season, but Postecoglou said their record goalscorer’s departure could allow others to shine.

Son and Maddison will be key to Postecoglou’s overhaul as the former Celtic boss tries to bring entertaining football to a fan base starved of eye-catching performances during the dour reigns of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.

“There are some really good footballers at this club and they have the ability to play in the way this team need to set up,” Postecoglou added. “Sonny, whether he’s playing central or right, he’s got all the characteristics to play the way we want to play.

“I thought today was a real testament to Sonny, Madders and Romero, the way they embraced that responsibility not just with words but with actions and not just on game day but on a daily basis.”

Meanwhile, Fulham manager Marco Silva was left seething over a controversial goal in their 5-1 hammering by table-topping Manchester City on Saturday, arguing that it was “a huge mistake” and the turning point of the game.

Nathan Ake’s headed goal at the Etihad Stadium seconds before half-time – and with the game level at 1-1 – looked like it would be disallowed as it appeared that Manuel Akanji was offside in front of goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Akanji jumped to allow the ball to pass between his legs and into the net.

“That moment made a huge impact. Everyone that plays football, has some knowledge about football, is 100 per cent sure they have to disallow that. It’s impossible to not,” said Silva. “It’s a clear offside, it concerns us how that goal was not disallowed.”

He added: “The more times you see that moment, the more sure you are to disallow it. Our players saw it, everyone on the pitch at that moment has the same opinion.”

Former Premier League and Fifa referee Mike Dean agreed, telling Sky Sports: “It’s 1,000 per cent offside. It’s just offside. I just don’t understand why it wasn’t given. It’s offside in any game of football...

“I think Marco Silva was being generous when he said the player jumped out of the way. It’s actually gone through his legs!

“The goalkeeper can’t go straightaway because he has to wait and when he does move, it’s too late. The player has to be interfering.”

Even Erling Haaland, who scored a hat-trick for City, agreed, saying: “I think it was offside as well. I feel bad for them, I would be fuming.” AFP, REUTERS