Tottenham Hotspur find themselves third in their Champions League group after two matches.
That doesn’t sound like such a bad scenario, but when it’s considered Barcelona and Inter Milan both have six points to Spurs’ zero… the size of the task ahead becomes clearer.
But there’s potentially a brighter way after this week’s matches, with Barca and Inter facing each other, and Tottenham away to PSV. The club could potentially be only three points behind one of their rivals.
Toby Alderweireld believes his club shouldn’t be in this situation anyway, and agrees with De Telegraaf there can be no more mistakes: “That’s right. Three points, that is actually necessary. We should have won that match against Inter. Last year we showed in the Champions League that we are able to put together a nice run, so the faith is still there.”
The Dutch newspaper then put it to Alderweireld that PSV are in the same position, zero points from two matches, and also need to win if they have a realistic chance of progressing: “Then we’ll get a nice match, right? I have faith in it. We always attack, are full going for the three points. Being Tottenham we have to make it difficult for them, to put a lot of pressure on them and not give them time and space. We must certainly rely on our own strength.”
Whilst Spurs are considered the favourites, both in England and the Netherlands, it’s not thought PSV will be a pushover, and Alderweireld was asked to name the Eindhoven club’s biggest danger: “I think in the counter moments. Luuk de Jong is a resilient striker. PSV can be very dangerous with the fast people around him. It will be a very difficult match, especially if we do not reach our level. We will have to be at out top to get points. It will certainly be difficult.”
PSV are top of the Eredivisie after nine matches, winning all their games and scoring 36 goals in the process, five points clear of second placed Ajax.
