MX23RW : Thursday, January 16 00:08:25| >> :60:502:502:

Jan Vertonghen: 'Tottenham Hotspur must find ways to counter defensive opponents'

Vertonghen: 'Teams more defensive against us'
© SilverHub
Jan Vertonghen wants Tottenham Hotspur to adapt their game to beat teams that play the North Londoners more defensively than would have been the case previously.

Jan Vertonghen has stressed that Tottenham Hotspur must adapt their game to see off opponents that have learned how to face the North Londoners.

Tottenham were runners-up to Chelsea in the Premier League last season and also pushed Leicester City all the way in 2015-16 before ultimately finishing third.

As a result, teams are now playing a more defensive game against Spurs, which has seen Mauricio Pochettino's side come unstuck this season, slipping to seventh in the table.

"We have been challenging for the league the last couple of years and the result of that is teams approach you in a different way," Vertonghen told Sky Sports News.

"They sit back more, whereas before they would try to go for the win at home. Now they just sit and wait for you to come and that is a different way of approaching a game and we should adapt to that.

"Teams tried to press you a bit more before compared to now and that is something you have to cope with. You will probably get better with it during the year and we have to find a solution to that style of play."

Up next for Spurs is Saturday's Premier League game away at Watford.

ID:313187: cacheID:313187:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2105:
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Restore Data
Share this article now:
West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini in action during his side's Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Manuel Lanzini on Tottenham radar?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle21115537221538
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Aston Villa2110563132-135
8Bournemouth219753225734
9Fulham217953230230
10Brentford218494037328
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
14Crystal Palace215972328-524
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
16Everton203891526-1117
17Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2135132346-2314
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!