This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
December 24, 2019 - Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has spoken out about the impact of Son Heung-min's three-match ban on the team's Premier League campaign.
Following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, Son was given a straight red card by referee Anthony Taylor after a VAR review, leaving Spurs with 10 men for the final half hour of the match.
Mourinho confirmed that the team will be appealing the red card, citing the difficulty of playing three games in seven days, including a visit from Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.
"It would be a big loss, we don't have a big squad," Mourinho said. "We don't have lots of players. This is a moment where it is normal to think about rotations and very difficult situations for players to play every game. We don't have (Erik) Lamela and it's a big loss for us."
Mourinho also expressed his disagreement with the VAR decision, stating that Taylor had seen the incident clearly and that it was the wrong call.
"Taylor had the feeling, he was there, he saw it clearly so I think it's the wrong call," Mourinho said. "Then it's with things like this that people don't like the VAR, because with penalties like that everybody likes VAR."
Additionally, Mourinho addressed the alleged racial abuse directed at Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, calling for those responsible to be punished.
"It's not fair to say Tottenham fans. One Tottenham fan is not Tottenham fans," Mourinho said. "Tottenham fans, at least since I am here... have been phenomenal... respecting the opponents. Incredible behaviour."
