Mourinho Bans Son From Strengthening South Korea Because Of Injury: What Can They Do?

JAKARTA - Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho doubted Son Heung-min could appear to strengthen the South Korean national team against Japan next week.

Son was announced for the South Korea squad for the March 25 friendly despite the player limping off with a hamstring injury in the London derby against Arsenal last week.

The striker was also dropped from the Spurs squad for the Europa League Last 16-second leg against Dinamo Zagreb on Friday morning tomorrow. The London team took control thanks to a 2-0 win in the first leg.

Mourinho said if Son missed the match against Aston Villa on Monday morning next week he would not be able to defend his country in the match against Japan in Yokohama.

"If a player is injured it doesn't matter if it's a friendly or official match," said Mourinho as quoted by Antara on Thursday. "If we face next week and he is still injured and we can prove to the Korean football association, then what can they do?"

"If there is a player who cannot play for his club then he is not playing for his country."

Winning the Europa League is the most likely route for the Spurs to qualify for the Champions League next season and Mourinho says Harry Kane will play against Zagreb later, even if the player must defend the England national team after that.

England faces San Marino, Albania, and Poland in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Mourinho hopes his star player will not play in these three matches.

"If we can choose we don't want our players to play three games, but that's not our power. It's the power of their national team manager," said Mourinho.

"There's nothing we can say. If someone asks me 'will he play tomorrow or will he be rested?' I already said he would play," continued Mourinho, saying the match against Zagreb was important so Kane had to be played.