Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen: Beating Chelsea shows rivals that Spurs will fight for the Premier League title

Tom Collomosse5 January 2017

Jan Vertonghen says Tottenham’s victory over Chelsea means they are firmly in the race for the Premier League title.

Spurs stopped the table toppers equalling Arsenal’s record of 14 straight top-flight wins, as Dele Alli scored both goals in a 2-0 victory which put them seven points behind Antonio Conte’s side.

It was Tottenham’s fifth straight win and took them to third in the Premier League table, above Arsenal and Manchester City and two points behind second-placed Liverpool.

Vertonghen said: “It is going to be very close. I think everyone in the top six will have a chance of winning the title. We sent a message last year when we challenged for the title and hopefully we can do it again now.

“Teams look at us differently now from how they did two years ago. Perhaps everyone thought at the start of the season that it would be close between all the teams but you see a proper top six now. That means you have to win against your rivals, especially at home, and we have done that twice now, beating Chelsea and Manchester City [on October 2].

“It’s a good feeling and we’re getting stronger and stronger. Stronger than last season? I think so. You look at the players who came in, what they are doing for us, how strong our bench is. It is unbelievable, and everyone is happy to play for Tottenham. “We are building a reputation at White Hart Lane and it feels good to beat the big teams. It is a good sign and we are progressing well.”

Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Clive Rose/Getty Images

Tottenham’s supreme form at their home — since losing to Southampton last May, they have won nine and drawn two of their 11 matches in all competitions — highlights the challenge they will face when they leave it.

If this is to be the last year at White Hart Lane, Tottenham are expected to activate their option to play Premier League home games at Wembley next season, before returning to their new £400million, 61,000-seat stadium in 2018-19. Spurs suffered two defeats at Wembley in the Champions League and were unable to make the stadium as intimidating as White Hart Lane. They will continue to play Europa League fixtures there, starting with the last-32 tie against Belgian club Ghent next month.

Asked whether Spurs could recreate the feel of White Hart Lane in a new ground, Vertonghen said: “I believe we will. Maybe it will feel different at the start but I have seen a video of what the new stadium should look like and I bet we will do well there.”

In Pictures | Tottenham vs Chelsea | 04/01/2017

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Alli’s goals took his tally to seven in his last four matches and 11 for the season — one more than he managed in the whole of 2015-16, his first full season at the club.

The only midfielders to reach 20 Premier League goals quicker than Alli, who has done so in 52 games, are ex-Spurs man Rafael van der Vaart, who needed 44 matches, and former Saints star Matt Le Tissier in 50.

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