Tottenham’s Jan Paul van Hecke has reacted to the increased criticism he has garnered from parts of the media this season, and has spoken about the impressive passing numbers that he has been posting.
It is fair to say that not everyone was convinced, at least after the first few games of the season, that the Dutchman was a smart acquisition for Spurs.
Many felt Tottenham had downgraded by swapping Luka Vuskovic for Van Hecke, especially after the 26-year-old’s one-v-one defending left a lot to be desired in the first few weeks of the campaign.
However, slowly but surely, the Netherlands international has been silencing critics and winning over the Spurs fan base over the last few weeks.
Van Hecke’s partnership with his compatriot, Micky van de Ven, is looking better and better as the pair play together more, and the former Seagulls man is now deservedly getting his props.
Tottenham star Jan Paul van Hecke believes he is a natural fit for Roberto De Zerbi’s style
Van Hecke is regularly topping the list for total passes, as well as line-breaking passes each week, with the 26-year-old emerging as Spurs’ playmaker at the back.
The centre-back has now explained that his passing numbers are a feature of how De Zerbi wants the team to play, insisting that he knew before coming to N17 that he was ideally suited ot the Italian’s philosophy.
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When asked about his passing stats, Van Hecke told Dutch outlet Omroep Zeeland (as relayed by Sport Witness): “That’s partly down to the style of football our manager, Roberto De Zerbi, wants us to play. He emphasises total dominance, which naturally leads to the central defenders having a lot of touches on the ball.
“I knew that before I joined, of course, he felt I was the right player for that role. I really enjoy his style of play; it’s also something I believe I’m quite good at.”
The centre-back has finally been getting his due over recent weeks, with Van Hecke even being nominated for the Player of the Month award for October for his strong performances.
When asked about the nomination, the centre-back said: “It’s always nice to be appreciated. But it meant more to me that we started winning again. That was what mattered. Being nominated is certainly nice on a personal level, but I was happier about the results.”
Van Hecke is not surprised by increased criticism since Spurs switch
The magnifying glass has been on the centre-back’s performances over the last few months in a way that it never was during his time at Brighton.
His role in each goal Tottenham concede is being scrutinised heavily, with Jamie O’Hara even labelling Van Hecke ‘absolute toilet’ earlier in the season.
However, the former Seagulls man is taking the criticism in his stride, insisting that it comes with the territory when one is playing for one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.
When asked about some of the harsh things that have been said about him this season, the centre-back responded: “I play for Tottenham Hotspur, a major club in England. That’s what I wanted, and I’m loving it. When you play at this level, you’re going to face criticism, sometimes positive, sometimes negative.
“To be honest, it doesn’t really bother me much. Besides, if you’re playing for Spurs and the Dutch national team, you must be doing something right, don’t you think?”