Tottenham’s Alderweireld on Jan Vertonghen’s Return
After missing time due to an injury for two-and-a-half months, Tottenham’s best summer signing, Toby Alderweireld, spoke to Spurs TV about Jan Vertonghen’s return last Sunday.
There was a time, halfway through the season, when Tottenham could have had their improbable Premier League title run evaporate on January 23rd, when Jan Vertonghen went down with a knee injury despite getting elbowed in the face by Crystal Palace’s striker, Connor Wickham.
Although Mauricio Pochettino’s side claimed all three points in a come from behind win with three spectacular goals highlighted by Dele Alli’s flick and 180 degree turn before sending one into the back of the net. It was a bittersweet moment for Spurs.
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Earning a win and claiming a double over Crystal Palace was huge, but losing their vice-captain and Toby Alderweireld’s compatriot in the 75th minute was a blow that should have gone awry for Spurs.
When Kevin Wimmer was introduced to take over for the rest of the game, the Austrian international stepped it up. For nearly three months, the 23-year-old center-back almost made Tottenham supporters forget for a while that Vertonghen was even hurt to begin with.
Which speaks volumes for a player who had only played in cup games and the Europa League prior to Vertonghen’s injury.
Then, when Jan Vertonghen was fit to train and make his comeback against Manchester United, there was actual concerns if it was the right move to make. The 28-year-old who missed two-and-a-half months with injury would be replacing Wimmer who has played exceptionally well? Is that a good move?
It was a gamble for Mauricio Pochettino that worked out brilliantly.
A 3-0 win, plus a clean sheet, and resuming his starting job so seamlessly was something to marvel at. Just like Kevin Wimmer got his first Premier League start and looking comfortable without any problems.
There would be no center-back controversy, however it now seems like Tottenham essentially have three capable starters at the center-back position.
On one hand, Pochettino can have an all-Belgian central defense which has helped Tottenham have the best defensive record in the Premier League this term. Or, the Argentine manager can play Kevin Wimmer instead and not see a drop-off in performance.
In the end, it doesn’t matter for Toby Alderweireld who he plays with.
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“I feel comfortable with both,” Alderweireld said, speaking to Spurs TV. “I think we have to mention Kev because he did very well in the absence of Jan, so I think he deserves credit as well. Both are very good defenders and they are important players for us.”
That said, the 27-year-old is glad to have his compatriot back in the squad and picking up where he left off prior to getting injured in January.
“It’s nice to see Jan back and I think he did very well on Sunday,” Toby Alderweireld continued.
“It was difficult for him after not playing any games for nearly three months and then starting against Manchester United but I think we helped each other.”
“Jan works very hard and I think that’s an example of the sort of thing we do at the training ground – if you don’t play or you’re on the bench or injured, you train so hard so that when you have to play you will be ready for it.”
Taking one’s time in their recovery and rehab seems mostly like a Mauricio Pochettino policy. It shows that Pochettino wants everyone to be fully fit and to not rush back so quickly to the point that they re-injury themselves again.
Because this is the second player now (Ryan Mason was the first after he got injured again) to speak openly about training for nearly a month. And although they seemed fit, they weren’t cleared just yet until they were exactly 100 percent healthy.
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That being said, with Toby Alderweireld feeling comfortable with either Jan Vertonghen and Kevin Wimmer as his starting center-back partner, will Alderweireld himself get some rest too?
Surely the 27-year-old can see his starts slowly go down next season as both he and Eric Dier have seemingly become iron men in Tottenham’s squad by going on long stretches of making consecutive starts without getting any rest — for club and country no less.
How would a Jan Vertonghen-Kevin Wimmer partnership fair if Alderweireld is afforded some rest next season?