Once again what a performance
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You have to be some player to shade Kane for player of the season so far.
Maturing like class does. One of the best players on the pitch alongside Dembele
Just seen Jan liked this tweet
Simply awesome today
Love him to bits, hope he stays for the rest of his career.
Back at Ajax, he was always the leader and Toby the understudy.
Colossal again
What a silky beast he is
Legend status
Is there a cb in world football that anticipates as well and intercepts as much as Verts?
Is there a cb in world football that anticipates as well and intercepts as much as Verts?
Vertonghen a world-class defender - Poch
Jan Vertonghen has stopped sulking and improved his mentality to become one of the best centre-backs in Europe, according to Mauricio Pochettino.
The Tottenham manager said Vertonghen's "mental aspect," particularly his body language, has changed since they started working together in 2014 and he described the 30-year-old as the club's most-consistent defender.
Vertonghen is one of just 14 players to have played every minute in the Premier League this season and his form alongside Davinson Sanchez has helped to mask the absence of Toby Alderweireld, who was injured for more than three months from November.
After a fine maiden season in England, Vertonghen struggled under coaches Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood in 2013-14 and footage of him lounging against the wall of the tunnel ahead of a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool epitomised Tottenham's apathy pre-Pochettino.
"He has improved in an aspect that was so important for him -- the mental aspect," Pochettino said. "Now he is a complete centre-back. We have worked a lot together to reach the level that he is at today.
"I remember his body language when I watched the game against Liverpool when [Luis] Suarez scored, the season before we came.
"He was slouched in the tunnel," said Pochettino, who stood up to imitate Vertonghen's relaxed stance.
"When I came, I told him: 'Why are you like that? You are here for a battle! You cannot show this body language -- you are a warrior!' It is difficult after showing this energy to go out and take part in a battle and fight.
"We worked a lot on this aspect and, yes, it is true that we clash a lot in training because he is clever and always has an argument and a reason why, but in the end I appreciate a lot his efforts in giving the team what we expect from him.
"It is good to praise him because he is a very good player who sometimes does not get valued enough.
"I am so proud that he has achieved this level today. Not only on the pitch but off the pitch. In my opinion he's one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and in Europe."
Pochettino added that Vertonghen is fit enough to play for another decade until he is 40 and suggested the club will offer him a new deal before his current contract expires in summer 2019.
"He has unbelievably quality, physical condition, technique," Pochettino added. "He is so strong, he looks like a 20-year-old because when he runs he is fast, he is like my new dog -- a Rhodesian Ridgeback!
"It is easy for him to run. Physicality is his talent. It is genetic, it is his natural condition. He is an athlete. It is up to him but he could play until he is 40.
"The club believe that he needs to be rewarded. He's one of the players that deserves [a new contract]."
A source has told ESPN FC that Alderweireld's Tottenham future is in the balance after contract talks with the club broke down last month and the defender could be sold this summer.
Alderweireld's current deal worth £50,000-a-week expires in 2019 and he would like a long-term contract worth closer to £150,000-per-week, which Spurs are not willing to offer a player who turns 29 next month. Pochettino, though, insisted that Alderweireld is "still in our plans."
However, in comments that suggest Spurs are preparing for life without Alderweireld, Pochettino hailed Vertonghen's influence on summer signing Sanchez, 21, and claimed youngster Juan Foyth could become one of Europe's best centre-backs.
"We need to think of Juan Foyth too, he is 20 now and a great talent too. He only needs time to adapt himself to the Premier League. He is going to surprise many people. Juan is a great kid with a lot of quality to become one of the fantastic centre-backs in the Premier League and Europe too."
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All of the above is very true, Foyth looks brilliant albeit in Cup games but I would love to see Super Jan holding a trophy above his head, has been threw alot
Jan Vertonghen has stopped sulking and improved his mentality to become one of the best centre-backs in Europe, according to Mauricio Pochettino.
The Tottenham manager said Vertonghen's "mental aspect," particularly his body language, has changed since they started working together in 2014 and he described the 30-year-old as the club's most-consistent defender.
Vertonghen is one of just 14 players to have played every minute in the Premier League this season and his form alongside Davinson Sanchez has helped to mask the absence of Toby Alderweireld, who was injured for more than three months from November.
After a fine maiden season in England, Vertonghen struggled under coaches Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood in 2013-14 and footage of him lounging against the wall of the tunnel ahead of a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool epitomised Tottenham's apathy pre-Pochettino.
"He has improved in an aspect that was so important for him -- the mental aspect," Pochettino said. "Now he is a complete centre-back. We have worked a lot together to reach the level that he is at today.
"I remember his body language when I watched the game against Liverpool when [Luis] Suarez scored, the season before we came.
"He was slouched in the tunnel," said Pochettino, who stood up to imitate Vertonghen's relaxed stance.
"When I came, I told him: 'Why are you like that? You are here for a battle! You cannot show this body language -- you are a warrior!' It is difficult after showing this energy to go out and take part in a battle and fight.
"We worked a lot on this aspect and, yes, it is true that we clash a lot in training because he is clever and always has an argument and a reason why, but in the end I appreciate a lot his efforts in giving the team what we expect from him.
"It is good to praise him because he is a very good player who sometimes does not get valued enough.
"I am so proud that he has achieved this level today. Not only on the pitch but off the pitch. In my opinion he's one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and in Europe."
Pochettino added that Vertonghen is fit enough to play for another decade until he is 40 and suggested the club will offer him a new deal before his current contract expires in summer 2019.
"He has unbelievably quality, physical condition, technique," Pochettino added. "He is so strong, he looks like a 20-year-old because when he runs he is fast, he is like my new dog -- a Rhodesian Ridgeback!
"It is easy for him to run. Physicality is his talent. It is genetic, it is his natural condition. He is an athlete. It is up to him but he could play until he is 40.
"The club believe that he needs to be rewarded. He's one of the players that deserves [a new contract]."
A source has told ESPN FC that Alderweireld's Tottenham future is in the balance after contract talks with the club broke down last month and the defender could be sold this summer.
Alderweireld's current deal worth £50,000-a-week expires in 2019 and he would like a long-term contract worth closer to £150,000-per-week, which Spurs are not willing to offer a player who turns 29 next month. Pochettino, though, insisted that Alderweireld is "still in our plans."
However, in comments that suggest Spurs are preparing for life without Alderweireld, Pochettino hailed Vertonghen's influence on summer signing Sanchez, 21, and claimed youngster Juan Foyth could become one of Europe's best centre-backs.
"We need to think of Juan Foyth too, he is 20 now and a great talent too. He only needs time to adapt himself to the Premier League. He is going to surprise many people. Juan is a great kid with a lot of quality to become one of the fantastic centre-backs in the Premier League and Europe too."
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All of the above is very true, Foyth looks brilliant albeit in Cup games but I would love to see Super Jan holding a trophy above his head, has been threw alot
Was just reading this article now.
Interestingly, it does justify the gripes that some fans had with SuperJan’s body language in that Sherwood year - if Poch isn’t one to justify bringing it up then who is?!
By the way - I say that as someone who will buy a ‘Vertonghen 5’ home shirt when I pop down for the Juve match in a week or so.
:vert: