Jan Vertonghen says Tottenham will “try everything” to end their FA Cup drought this season as they prepare to face the man who inspired them to their last piece of silverware.
Spurs begin their quest to win the FA Cup for the first time since 1991 with a visit to Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough on Sunday.
They have not won silverware since Woodgate’s winner over Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup Final, alongside his now assistant Robbie Keane.
Vertonghen said: “It’s too long [since we last won the FA Cup]. It’s a major thing. We’ll try everything to win it.”
Spurs have lost four times in their last eight games and a Cup tie provides a welcome respite from their League form.
Boro, meanwhile, are 16th in the Championship but have won their last four games.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has won 11 domestic trophies — including the 2007 FA Cup — and Vertonghen believes the Portuguese has the know-how to help the club end their wait for a big prize.
“The manager has the experience to get us there but it’s us [the players] that have to do it on the pitch,” he said. “He’ll pick the team, make sure we’re ready but we’ve got to do it ourselves.”
Spurs will be without Harry Kane, who is set to have a scan on his hamstring injury on Friday, and Tanguy Ndombele but Eric Dier is expected to return following a virus while Heung-min Son is available after a ban.
In Kane’s absence, Troy Parrott is pushing for a second senior start.
