Vertonghen embraces big stage

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen said huge clashes with the likes of Arsenal and Inter Milan are the reason he loves football.

Spurs took a huge step towards sealing Champions League qualification on Sunday with a 2-1 win over their north London rivals at White Hart Lane.

And, with a Europa League meeting with Inter preceding a trip to Liverpool, the big games are coming thick and fast for Andre Villas-Boas’ men – a fact which the Belgian is relishing.

“This is why we play football,” he told the club’s official website. “It’s a tough week, a tough season, actually.

“We started the week well at West Ham and we needed the win against Arsenal. That was a fantastic and now we prepare for Inter. No doubt it’s a special time for the fans as well.”


Vertonghen, 25, added he now understands the importance of the north London derby following his first taste of the rivalry last week.

“I only arrived at the club six months ago but you can feel this is one of the most important games of the season,” he said.

“It’s my first win in the North London derby, so I’m happy. We had a difficult 30 minutes but we stayed compact, stayed playing as a team and the goals were great for us.

“We said don’t concede an early goal in the second half like at (Manchester) United, but we’re a very strong team, we can play compact and we showed that again.”