Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Lucas Bergvall Tottenham
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Big Savio injury update ahead of Tottenham's trip to Leeds United
Big Savio injury update ahead of Tottenham's trip to Leeds United
Tottenham could battle Arsenal and Bayern Munich for £67m-rated World Cup-winner
Tottenham could battle Arsenal and Bayern Munich for £67m-rated World Cup-winner
Xavi Simons injury update: Tottenham star to return to training in November
Xavi Simons injury update: Tottenham star to return to training in November
Crazy stat has eight Tottenham Hotspur players in the top 10 for Gameweek 9
Crazy stat has eight Tottenham Hotspur players in the top 10 for Gameweek 9
Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images
Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images
Tottenham target Alex Baena
Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Xavi Simons Tottenham
Xavi Simons Tottenham
Xavi Simons Tottenham Spurs
Credit: @thefrederikkejensen / Instagram
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Tottenham's Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky Van de Ven
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Tottenham's Jan Paul van Hecke
Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Spurs’ centre-back pairing of Van Hecke and Micky van de Ven is certainly getting better with each game after looking shaky and indecisive at times in the first few games of the season.
However, the former Brighton man insisted that the defensive improvements are not down to the backline alone, praising the midfielders and the forwards for the work they do running back and winning second balls.
When asked about Tottenham’s two successive clean sheets, the 26-year-old told the club’s official website: “I think it’s really hard work that starts up front. If you see the boys, how hard they work, how many balls they recover, it makes it so much easier for us. Of course, we have good defenders; we have good goalkeepers, so that does also help, but I think it’s about the collective.”
Asked about his partnership with Micky, Van Hecke added: “We’re really good friends, so it’s really nice to play together in the same team. We love it. That’s our fourth clean sheet, and we’re both really happy to play together, but it’s not only us, it’s the rest as well. If you see how much effort everyone puts in, it’s great.”
Appearances 9
Minutes Played 810
Average Rating 7.73
Goals 2
Tackles 16
Blocks 10
Interceptions 9
Duels Won 54
Fouls Committed 11
Yellow Cards 2
Red Cards 0
Van Hecke could be first Spurs player to win Player of the Week award this season
The former Seagulls defender was hammered by parts of the media earlier in the season, but he has demonstrated over recent weeks just why he is a perfect player for De Zerbi’s system.
In fact, according to both WhoScored and SofaScore, Van Hecke was the best-performing outfield player in Gameweek 9 in the Premier League.
The Tottenham defender has not only been solid at the back, but his passing has stood out, making Spurs one of the most effective sides in the division at building out from the back.
Van Hecke has been nominated for the Player of the Week award for Gameweek 9, and he would certainly be well deserving of the prize if he won it.