Jan Vertonghen believes Tottenham Hotspur’s squad is as strong as any in the Premier League and that it can cope in the absence of any one of their star players.
The Belgian’s regular partner at centre-back, Toby Alderweireld, was missing for Tuesday’s Champions League tie at Bayer Leverkusen because of a knee injury while the first-choice right-back, Kyle Walker, was rested. Alderweireld was a major absentee but Tottenham dug in during a second-half onslaught to draw 0-0 – thanks in large part to a sequence of saves by Hugo Lloris.
The goalkeeper’s 48th minute stop from Javier Hernández, was the evening’s outstanding moment and led Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham manager, to describe him as “one of the best in the world”.
The visitors were without Lloris at the beginning of the season, after he injured his hamstring at Everton on the opening day, Harry Kane, has been missing since 18 September because of ankle ligament damage and Mousa Dembélé has been restricted to only one start this season because of suspension and injury.
Tottenham have coped, partly because of their moves to bulk up the squad over the summer. Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko have added greatly to Pochettino’s options in midfield while Vincent Janssen has provided cover for Kane up front. Georges-Kevin Nkoudou has so far been restricted to a clutch of substitute appearances but there is a confidence at the club that the winger will prove to be a game-changer.
The point against Leverkusen kept Tottenham in second place in Group E, above the German club, whom they face at Wembley in two weeks’ time, while they sit third in the Premier League, with the division’s only unbeaten record.
“We’ve shown it again [without Alderweireld],” Vertonghen said. “It started with Harry and people said it about Hugo [that the team would suffer without them]. But Michel Vorm came in for Hugo and he showed it against Liverpool and Eric Dier showed it against Leverkusen [in central defence]. There is a strength to this team, especially after this window, when some great players came in.
“We can miss almost everyone, although obviously not eight or nine players. The squad is so strong and we showed that against Leverkusen in a performance without Toby, without Kyle. I think we have as strong a squad as any in the Premier League. Obviously, some other teams have exceptional talents but we have them as well. It’s a sign that we can miss everyone, almost. It shows the strength of the team.”
He added: “Previously, we might have lost that game to Leverkusen but now, we can draw. Sometimes, you have to take a draw. These are games that we might have lost a couple of years ago but now, we can get a draw that can get us qualification for the next round. We showed some real maturity against Leverkusen.”
It has been a testing season so far for Dier. The defensive midfielder missed a couple of games with a hamstring problem while Wanyama’s fine form and Pochettino’s recent switch to a 4-1-4-1 formation appears to have squeezed him out of the starting midfield lineup. He dropped back into central defence against Leverkusen – one of his old positions – and Vertonghen thought that their partnership was positive.
“Since Toby has been at the club, it was maybe the second game I haven’t played with him as a centre-back,” Vertonghen said. “We’ve got such a good thing. I’ve been playing with him for maybe eight years now, for Belgium and at club level, including with Ajax. And to be honest, it worked very well with Eric Dier as well.
“We spoke before the game. We sat apart from the group and discussed a couple of things about their strikers – that they played 4-4-2, how to cover each other – and I think it turned out very well. He is used to playing centre-back. He turned into a midfielder but he knows how to play there.”
One issue that is bubbling at the club – and which relates to Dier’s involvement at centre-half – is the status of Kevin Wimmer, the Austria international, who joined from FC Köln in a £4.3m deal last year.
Wimmer stepped into central defence alongside Alderweireld last season, when Vertonghen was out injured, and he acquitted himself well. But he now finds himself behind not only Alderweireld and Vertonghen in the central defensive pecking order but Dier and the 18-year-old Cameron Carter-Vickers – who was named on the bench in Leverkusen ahead of him. Wimmer has made only one appearance this season – in the EFL Cup win over Gillingham.
Pochettino explained that his preference for Carter-Vickers was driven by the need to balance the squad. He said that the requirement for Wimmer on the bench was not as pressing because he already had left-footed defensive cover there in the shape of Ben Davies. He wanted right-footed defensive cover and that is why he went for Carter-Vickers.
There was surprise in Leverkusen, which is one of the neighbouring towns to Cologne, as to why Wimmer was not in the squad. The 23-year-old has suggested that he might have to consider his future in January if his situation does not improve and he has been linked with a return to FC Köln.
Pochettino was prickly when he was asked whether Wimmer remained a part of his plans. “Why not?” he said. “When did I tell you he wasn’t in my plans? I’m very honest with you. When a player is not in my plans, I tell you quickly but first I tell the player. He’s in my plans. When I put him on the bench, another player needs to be put out. Tell me which player you’d switch with him?
“I always need to find balance on the bench. Ben Davies can play as a centre-back or as a full-back. I need another right, not another left. If something happens with Dier or Kieran Trippier, I need a right foot. The level we have is very competitive. Cameron shows in every session he is at the same level as others. Kevin is in my plans. If he’s not, I’ll tell him first and then you. I’m always honest. You know me very well.”
