Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen is hoping for a successful end to the “craziest Champions League ever”, as the countdown to Saturday’s final with Liverpool continues.
The Belgian has been a mainstay of Spurs’ success in Europe, in a season where the club have been on the brink of elimination several times.
Vertonghen says he can think of as many as 16 uncanny moments during the 12 matches Spurs have played but believes the run is the fruition of the changes brought to the club by Mauricio Pochettino.
“It’s been the craziest Champions League ever and being at the end of that crazy campaign now is something unbelievable,” Vertonghen said. “I think every player has been used. We all played our parts and hopefully we can hold the trophy at the end.”
Hugo Lloris Goalkeeper
Season apps 43
He's captained France in more matches than any other, leading his country in 85 of 110 caps.
Kieran Trippier Right-back
Apps 37 Goals 1
Although his family are Manchester United fans, he joined Manchester City aged nine, signing a professional contract in 2007.
Toby Alderweireld Centre-back
Apps 49 Goals 0
Played for Atlético Madrid in the 2014 final, which they lost to Real. He has represented Belgium at every level from Under-15s upwards.
Jan Vertonghen Centre-back
Apps 33 Goals 2
Belgium’s most-capped player with 112 appearances. He has represented them at the Olympics, Euros and World Cup.
Danny Rose Left-back
Apps 36. Goals 0
Scored a wonder goal on his Premier League debut against Arsenal as a 19-year-old.
Ben Davies Left-back
Apps 40 Goals 0
He is fluent in Welsh. He was part of Viborg’s academy while his family lived in Denmark for three years.
Eric Dier Midfielder
Apps 27 Goals 3
His family moved to Portugal when he was seven. In 2011, he spent six months at Everton, but did not play for their first team.
Moussa Sissoko Midfielder
Apps 43 Goals 0
Signed for £30m from Newcastle and has been a revelation this season. Joined his local academy, Espérance Aulnay, aged six.
Victor Wanyama Midfielder
Apps 22 Goals 1
He made his international debut aged 15, and became the first Kenyan to score in the Champions League when Celtic beat Barcelona.
Christian Eriksen Midfielder
Apps 50 Goals 10
He has scored the most direct free-kicks in the Premier League since joining the club. He started his career in the Middelfart academy.
Dele Alli Midfielder
Apps 37 Goals 7
Lived in Nigeria for two years from the age of nine. He grew up supporting Liverpool. Huge Fortnite fan.
Érik Lamela Midfielder
Apps 33 Goals 6
He scored 120 goals in one season when playing for River Plate’s youth side. Barcelona tried to sign him, offering his parents jobs and a house.
Son Heung-min Forward
Apps 47 Goals 20
His £22m move from Bayer Leverkusen made him the most expensive Asian footballer. Joined Hamburg’s academy aged 16 and recently said he will not get married until retiring.
Lucas Moura Forward
Apps 48 Goals 15
Won an Olympic silver medal at London 2012. His hat-trick against Ajax was the first by a Brazilian in a Champions League semi-final.
Harry Kane Forward
Apps 39 Goals 24
Played for Arsenal and Watford before joining Tottenham. Has two Labrador retrievers, named after his NFL heroes, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.
Fernando Llorente Forward
Apps 34 Goals 8
He was a member of Spain’s victorious 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros squads.
Harry Vavasour
Vertonghen’s stand-out performance came against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in the last 16. Starting at left wing-back, he scored and assisted in a 3-0 win, which resulted in a return of his customary Superman celebration.
“How many games have we played to get here eventually?” Vertonghen said. “Twelve games? In every single one of them something crazy happened. There were like 16 times, maybe.
“At the end of my career, I’ll hopefully look at this and think this was the most beautiful and craziest year of them all. I don’t know about destiny. We have to win it, if it is to be destiny. But we feel very confident because of our campaign.”
If Spurs do win in Madrid it will be Pochettino’s first trophy in his five years at Spurs, and for Vertonghen, a vindication of the Argentinian’s approach.
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“Five years ago he picked this club up and brought us to the level we are at now,” he said. “He’s done some unbelievable work. We have a great group of players, lots of young guys from the academy, lots of English internationals and guys from abroad who have a proper connection with the club now.
“All the guys together, here for so long with the manager, it’s got us to this level. This is what we all hoped for.”
