Mauricio Pochettino's side were beaten 3-0 at Signal Iduna Park and the South Korea international admits that Mauricio Pochettino's men were suprised by the size of the defeat
Tottenham did not expect to be beaten 3-0 by Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League, Heung-Min Son has admitted.
Mauricio Pochettino rotated his squad for the last-16 first leg tie at Signal Iduna Park, with key forwards Harry Kane and Erik Lamela left on the bench.
Marco Reus subsequently netted a double after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent a powerful header past Hugo Lloris to open the scoring.
And, speaking exclusively to Goal after the encounter, Son revealed that he and his team-mates were left shocked by the extent of their defeat.
“We are very sad of course,” he said. “We did not think that we would lose by such a high margin.
“In the dressing room it was very quiet, but Dortmund were very good. Now we have to think about and prepare for the next match.”
Pochettino defended his team selection after the fixture, and Son insisted that the Argentine’s decision to rotate had no bearing on the final result.
“I don’t know why it didn’t work out. But all of our players have quality and the coach has decided to rotate," he added.
"I don’t think that the reason is the league, but the fact that he wanted to give a chance to other players who work always very well.”
Spurs sit in second-place in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Leicester City, and Son maintains that he and his team-mates can still become champions of England in May.
“We wanted to concentrate on the Europe League, but in the Premier League we still have the chance to become champions," he said.
“Against Aston Villa? They play at home, they’re last in the table and they will come to fight. This has become a hard game for us and we must give 100 per cent.”
- Goal