Glen Hoddle has said that he wouldn’t swap Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen for anyone in the Premier League, ahead of the Champions League final on Saturday.
Talking in the Times, Hoddle was saying how his love for Tottenham had deepened after he collapsed in the BT Studio with a heart attack.
He also looked ahead to the Champions League final against Liverpool and heaped praise on the centre-back pairing.
“Out of all the top six teams in the country, you give me [Jan] Vertonghen on his day and [Toby] Alderweireld on his day, I wouldn’t swap those two for anyone at Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea.
“They are the best, with the ball and defensively, so those two have got to step up. It’s vital for Tottenham that those two centre backs, and the holding midfielder, are aware of the break and the pace Liverpool have got.”
OPINION
Wow, this is a big claim from Hoddle. On Saturday night, the two Tottenham players will get to line up against the player who has been heralded by some as the best centre-back in the world, let alone the Premier League. Virgil van Dijk has been immense in the Premier League this season and helped Liverpool to within a whisker of lifting the league title. As much as we rate Alderweireld and Vertonghen – and on their day they’re among the best in the world – we think any Spurs fan would swap one of them, and maybe both, for van Dijk. Alderweireld could be leaving Spurs this summer with a £25million release clause active. Vertonghen has been brilliant again this season but has turned 30 this year and his powers will be on the wane. Hoddle is right about one thing though – these two players will be absolutely critical to Spurs and will likely line-up as part of a back-four who have to deal with Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. Those three will be the most serious test of their credentials.