Jan Vertonghen believes Tottenham are a different animal this season and are better equipped to return stronger after their surprising 2-1 defeat to Newcastle at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Eric Dier’s header had put them on course for a routine win before late goals by Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Pérez turned the match on its head and ended Spurs’ run of 14 league matches unbeaten as they fell to fifth in the table.
But Vertonghen says Mauricio Pochettino’s side are more resilient than in previous years and are ready to begin another spell of impressive form.
“It is hard because you know you have to win these games if you want to stay in the top four,” he said. “It has been the story the last couple of seasons but there is a difference in this team. We feel like it is a one-off – in the last couple of years that was a bit different. Now we really feel it is an incident and we can be there again next week.”
Tottenham have been praised this term for an exceptional work ethic built around an energetic young squad, but Vertonghen rejected the idea that they revealed their inexperience in giving up the lead.
“In my opinion it was nothing to do with experience today,” he said. “We were in that vibe and wanted to win and we started very well. I think we are an attacking team and we tried to move forward and you know you give chances away sometimes. Normally we can cope with it but not today.”
The centre-back is aware that in such an unpredictable season Tottenham have a chance to make their mark, but admitted they need to learn how to finish off opponents. “Everyone is beating each other and helping each other and we just have to win games,” he said. “When you lose a game like this at home it is very painful. I felt we were very strong and very confident. It is hard to lose these games.
“We didn’t score that second goal and then Newcastle had the quality on the bench to turn things around and that is what they did. We are a tough team to beat but I think we have to learn how to kill games. We had the chances to make it two or three-nil and we didn’t do it.”
