Vertonghen insists Pochettino will create the perfect defence at Tottenham

Jan Vertonghen says Mauricio Pochettino remains intent on perfecting his team’s defensive line as Tottenham gear up for their first pre-season friendly on Saturday night.

Spurs held an open training session in Orlando today as they prepare to face Paris St Germain at the Camping World Stadium, giving their US-based fans a glimpse into the manager’s methods.

And, while the Lilywhites have made huge strides under Pochettino since 2014, Vertonghen says the Argentinian is always aiming to fine-tune the positioning of his rearguard – a factor which is crucial to the team’s tactics as a whole.

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“When he came, that’s the first thing he said – he wants us to press a lot higher, to help the strikers, help the midfielders and help ourselves in the end,” Vertognhen told ESPN.

“In the beginning, we struggled a bit because you think ‘there’s not so much pace at the back and what if they put in a ball behind?’.

“You play against strikers like [Romelu] Lukaku, who have a lot of pace, but he convinced us and we got used to it.

“If you see our record last year and how many goals we conceded with balls over our head, we haven’t [been vulnerable], so it was the right way. We started believing him.

“You need to be very fit to do it – that’s what we’re working on here. In the end, it really helps the strikers and midfielders because there is so much space. I think the strikers are very happy that we play that.”

Vertonghen continued: “It’s not just me and Toby [Alderweireld] but the whole back four. He works a lot with us. He’s a centre-back [himself]. I had Frank de Boer also in Holland , who was a centre-back, and it helps you a lot.

“First of all you believe him that it’s the right way to play, and he knows how to create exercises to play in that way.

“He works a lot with videos as well. We work a lot – 80 per cent of the time – on that high line because it’s so important to our game. We started again this pre-season.

“It can always be better, sometimes it just doesn’t connect. It’s so important to the way we play.”
Having admitted that Lukaku is an opponent who has the ability to get in behind Tottenham’s defence, Vertonghen feels his Belgian countryman will thrive at Manchester United after his £75million transfer – and he is looking forward to the tussles.

“It’s going to be special,” he said. “I can call him a friend. He’s a good guy, we’ve got a very good relationship and above all he is a good player.

“I think he suits Man United. They’re strong defensively and you saw his goal yesterday against Man City . That’s his way – balls in behind.

“He’s the guy that makes you think ‘this is going to be some game’ if you keep that high line and keep letting in balls in behind. You know there’s going to be a 1v1 situation there.”

Spurs are yet to add any new signings of their own, while they have sold Kyle Walker, but Vertonghen is confident that the current squad can challenge at the top of the table again following last season’s second-place finish.

“Luckily we almost kept everyone from this year,” he said. “Obviously the window is not closed yet but if we can keep these guys, we can do the same thing.

“It’ll be a bit harder because we play at Wembley – it’s a lot bigger – but the training pitches have already been adapted.
“The way our rivals are strengthening themselves this season, we need to be aware of that and we need to level up as well.

“I’m not saying [we need to do that] with new players but we need to take our levels up and I think we can.

“I’m the oldest one in the team outfield and I feel very fit. The younger guys can improve even more. It can definitely be our year and we want it to be our year.”

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