Spurs star: I’ll need a good holiday after my first season in the Premier League!

By Ben Pearce, Tottenham correspondent Monday, September 24, 2012
1:07 PM

Jan Vertonghen admits he is already looking forward to his summer holiday next year after a high-octane baptism of fire in the Premier League.

The Tottenham defender is enjoying every minute of the battle in England’s top flight - but he is hoping the Lilywhites will start making life a little easier for themselves and avoid the tense climaxes which have punctuated the majority of their games so far this season.

“I love it [in the Premier League], it’s a great ambience – it’s just a shame that we have to struggle in every game until the last minute,” said Vertonghen, who won the man of the match award after yesterday’s hard-fought 2-1 win over QPR.

“I think at the end of the year I will need a good vacation! But I love it here, the atmosphere is amazing. These are the best players in the world and we have an amazing team so I’m very happy I made this decision.”

Yesterday’s victory over Mark Hughes’ Rangers was Vertonghen’s first home win since his arrival at White Hart Lane.

That triumph looked unlikely at half-time as Spurs trailed 1-0 to Bobby Zamora’s opener - and Andre Villas-Boas’ side departed for the dressing room to a chorus of boos from the unimpressed home supporters.

“I agree that the fans were not happy in the first half,” said Vertonghen, who made an effective move from centre-back to left-back at the break and played a key role in Jermain Defoe’s winner.

“It’s just frustrating when you cannot play your own game and I understand the supporters. We want to dominate at home and even in the away games, and I think the supporters can expect that from us. I am very happy we put it right in the second half.

“It was very important [that we won the game]. We played another system, there were a few changes with the players and it was a good tactical decision from the manager.

“I’ve played at left-back in the national team and if I can help the team I will. I hoped to give an assist [to Gareth Bale] but I’m happy I was involved in the second goal.”

Tottenham’s second successive league win leaves them eighth in the Premier League, ahead of a trip to Manchester United on Saturday.

“I played at Old Trafford last year with Ajax and it’s an amazing atmosphere,” said Vertonghen. “I’m looking forward to my first game with Tottenham against Man United, and I think we’re strong enough to do some good things there.

“We’ve played well away from home, especially against Reading. We have a lot of confidence, especially after getting our first home win.

“Do we still need to get used to playing together? I hope we can play our best game from the start, but of course we need to adapt to each other.

“A lot of players are injured – five or six players who can be in the starting 11 – so when everybody’s back I think we have one of the strongest teams in the league.”

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