With the international break come a lot of player profiles, as magazines and newspapers, devoid of any football to get their teeth into, have to fill up column inches.
For example, Sport/Foot Magazine this week take a look at Jan Vertonghen and how he became the player he is today.
An alumni of the Ajax academy, the 26-year-old defender moved from the Dutch club to Tottenham back in 2012, and, with friend and compatriot Toby Alderweireld now at his side, is now one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs.
Not only can he defend, but it’s his ability to play the ball out from the back that makes him stand out, a key part of Pochettino’s plans that allows Tottenham to dominate games.
His partner in crime, Toby Alderweireld, says it all: “You can always give him the ball, he’ll know what to do with it. He’s a very good defender who knows how to play football. He’s very quick, rather strong and rather good in the air. That’s important in the Premier League, because regardless of the striker he needs to mark, he can beat them all.”
Often played at left-back earlier on his career, especially with his country, the player’s partnership with the former Atlético Madrid centre-back has allowed him to flourish in his natural role.
And it’s this relationship that has allowed them to become one of the best defensive pair in the Premier League.
Alderweireld continued: “We know each other well, I feel like you can see that on the pitch. In games, it comes down to a second, and if you need to tell the other what he needs to look at, the problem has already gone past you.”
The problem, as the Tottenham defender puts it, tends to be strikers, like Romelu Lukaku, who has played against and with Vertonghen countless times.
The Everton striker summarises his compatriot perfectly: “He’s incredible technically, he can run and he can tackle. For me, he’s the most complete defender in the league.”
That’s a rather nice accolade to have, let’s be honest.
