(Football news) Tottenham Hotspur thrashed rock bottom side Leicester City 6-2 with substitute Heung-min Son returning back to form with a 14 minute hat-trick. The South Korean was dropped to the bench after failing to find the back of the net in the first eight games but showed exactly why form is temporary and class is permanent with two trademark long-range goals followed by a third goal past Danny Ward. 

Leicester City opened the scoring through Belgian Youri Tielemanns in the 6th minute who was forced to retake his penalty but Spurs fought back with headers from Harry Kane and Eric Dier. In response, James Maddison’s hooked finish brought the visitors back into the game in the 41st minute, only for Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur to score three minutes into the second half. If that wasn’t all, Heung-min Son scored three quick goals in 14 minutes to extend Tottenham’s unbeaten start to seven games with the result ensuring that the North London side remained on equal points with Manchester City and just a point behind Arsenal.

Speaking after the match, Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said “It's important to understand that when you play a lot of games in a row, players can be tired physically and mentally. Players don't think this, they think they are able to play every game but, at the same time, I was a player and I know that if you want to play massive games in the Premier League and Champions League, they have to start to understand rotation is very important. To have a player of this level on the bench means in one moment I can change the game. This is the right path for us. Today the rotation was for Son, but in the next round when we have 12 games in a row, other players will be involved." 

Under pressure manager Brendan Rodgers said “I come in every day and see the players training with confidence, but you have to win games. I totally understand the frustration of supporters. I can't hide from that, it is my responsibility. Whatever happens I will have a huge amount of respect for them (the owners) because they've given me great support since I have been here. I understand the game, I understand football. Today the scoreline didn't reflect the game, but the bottom line is we have had a heavy defeat and we should have been better. Whatever happens to me here at Leicester, whether I stay and continue to fight on, I will always respect them." 

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