Jan Vertonghen Comments on Jose Mourinho Before Manchester United vs. Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has said Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho's mind games won't affect his team ahead of the two sides' clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Mourinho previously branded Vertonghen a "disgrace" and a "cheat" after a flare-up in 2013 that also involved Chelsea's Fernando Torres when the Portuguese managed the Blues, per Dan Kilpatrick of ESPN FC.
Per the report, the Belgian centre-back dismissed suggestions Mourinho could get under Spurs' skin:
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"He is a good manager...he says things in the media but it doesn't really affect us. It's part of the job and he plays it the way he wants to.
He is a great coach first of all, done great things with different teams. He has shown he is a very good coach and a colourful character, but football needs that.
"
For all his histrionics, Mourinho has admirers at Spurs and could have been in their dugout instead of United's on Sunday had he not rejected Daniel Levy's overtures in 2007, per Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph.
As Burt noted, the Tottenham chairman "called five times and even offered to match Mourinho’s then-salary of £5.2 million [per] year to take him to White Hart Lane."
Tottenham are heading into Sunday's game in buoyant fashion, and their last two matches—wins over Swansea City in the Premier League and CSKA Moscow in the Champions League—have shown signs they are returning to the form of last season.
Victory at United for Mauricio Pochettino's side would open up the gap between the two clubs to nine points.
Vertonghen and his team-mates should be further boosted by Toby Alderweireld's return to action, with the Belgian making his comeback off the bench against CSKA.
Alderweireld missed the 10 previous games after suffering a knee injury against West Bromwich Albion in October, per Transfermarkt.
The Belgium international pair are likely to face up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Sunday in what promises to be a key area of the game.
The Spurs men have formed one of the best central-defensive partnerships in the league, and their performances during the last campaign were every bit as integral to the club's third-place finish as Harry Kane's 25 goals.
Vertonghen and Alderweireld complement each other, with the left-footed Vertonghen able to step into midfield and set off Spurs attacks when playing with the latter.
Both are strong in the air and will need to be against Ibrahimovic, who has led the line for United this season, netting eight times in the Premier League despite Mourinho's men generally struggling in attacking areas.
Alderweireld also offers a threat in the opposition penalty box, particularly at corners. His first-team return is likely to free up Eric Dier to move back into defensive midfield, as Pochettino looks for a win to give him more breathing space over Mourinho's side in the Premier League table.
