LONDON (AFP) - Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has cast doubt over whether Son Heung-min will be released to play for South Korea against Japan next week. Son has been named in South Korea's squad for the friendly match on March 25 despite limping off during Sunday's north London derby defeat to Arsenal with a hamstring injury. The forward is ruled out of Spurs' Europa League last-16 second-leg tie with Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday. The London side are 2-0 up after the first leg. Mourinho said if Son missed Sunday's game against Aston Villa he could not be expected to play for his country in Yokohama. "If a player is injured it doesn't matter if it's a friendly or official match," Mourinho said. "If we get to next week and he is injured and we can prove that to the Korean association then what can they do? "If a player cannot play for the club he cannot play for the country." Winning the Europa League is the most likely route for Spurs to qualify for next season's Champions League and Mourinho said Harry Kane would play on Thursday despite upcoming England commitments. England face San Marino, Albania and Poland in World Cup qualifiers in the upcoming international break and Mourinho is keen that his star man does not to feature in all three. "If we could choose we wouldn't like the players to play three matches, but it's not in our hands. It's in the hands of their national team managers," said Mourinho. "There is nothing we can say. If one of you ask me 'is he going to play tomorrow or is he going to rest?' I answer already that he's going to play. The game is open, it's an important game for us so he plays tomorrow."
LONDON • Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho scolded out-of-favour midfielder Dele Alli on Wednesday for a failed flick that lost his team possession and gave Stoke an equaliser in a League Cup quarter-final the Premier League side eventually won 3-1. "They got us in counter-attack. So yes, I was upset," Mourinho said, after handing Alli his first start since Nov 26 for the game at second-tier Stoke. Alli missed several chances to score, before losing possession and allowing Stoke a rare counter-attack for Jordan Thompson to make the score 1-1 in a game Spurs had dominated until then. "For me, a player who plays in that position is a player that has to link, that has to create, not cause problems for his own team," Mourinho added of Alli. "First half we were solid. They didn't touch the ball, or have a shot, or have a corner. Instead of killing the game, we kill ourselves." He appeared to admonish Alli as he substituted him soon after Stoke's second-half goal, with TV footage apparently showing him saying: "Your flick has cost us that goal." Already exiled for long periods this term by Mourinho and linked with a January move to Paris Saint-Germain, Alli is a shadow of the player who shone during England's run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. Spurs recovered with goals from Ben Davies and Harry Kane to add to Gareth Bale's opener for a comfortable passage into the semi-finals. Bale scored a header and was an influential presence, but did not return for the second half. "It was his decision, something he felt," Mourinho said. "While he was walking to the dressing room, he told me he couldn't come for the second half... something in his calf, I think." Mourinho was also cautious on the possibility of his first piece of silverware at Tottenham, who will face second-tier Brentford while United take on Manchester City in the other semi-final. He said: "The teams that are going to be there are very difficult. Brentford for me, the way they play, they are not Championship, they are Premier League." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
LONDON • Tottenham may be flying high in all competitions but manager Jose Mourinho has conceded that he is unable to keep all of his players happy. Spurs, who had already progressed to the last 32 of the Europa League, beat Antwerp 2-0 after strikes by Carlos Vinicius and Giovani lo Celso. They also sealed top spot in Group J on Thursday. However, Dele Alli failed to get off the bench, while fellow England midfielder Harry Winks walked straight down the tunnel when he came off for Tanguy Ndombele in the second half. "How can I keep them all happy? I don't think they're all happy at all, that's the nature of football. I cannot make miracles," Mourinho told BT Sport. "I told the players if they're not subbed on, just go for a hot shower. "I told every player that left the pitch to go because when the weather is cold, I prefer they go to the dressing room and have a shower. "Winks decided to go and I am happy with that because I am the one that told him to do it." Spurs head into tomorrow's Premier League clash at Crystal Palace on top of the standings and have not lost since the opening day of the season. However, Alli has been a peripheral player, making just two appearances, including one start, in the league. Winks fared slightly better with three league starts, and both looked visibly frustrated. "Let's not run away from reality. A player on the bench who realises all five subs have been used of course is not a happy player and I would not expect him to be happy," Mourinho said of Alli. Elsewhere, Group B winners Arsenal maintained their 100 per cent record as goals from Eddie Nketiah, Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock and substitute Folarin Balogun sealed a 4-2 win at Dundalk. The last-32 draw will be made on Monday. REUTERS