Spurs star relishing Manchester United showdown after QPR stalemate

By Ben Pearce, Tottenham correspondent Thursday, January 17, 2013
12:00 PM

Jan Vertonghen is eagerly anticipating Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United and their Dutch master Robin van Persie after Tottenham’s frustrating stalemate with QPR.

Spurs were held to a goalless draw by a defensive Rangers outfit at Loftus Road on Saturday, and Vertonghen is anticipating a much more open and exciting contest this weekend as the Lilywhites host the league leaders at White Hart Lane.

“It was very frustrating for us against QPR,” said the Belgian. “They dropped deep and it was difficult to create chances. We couldn’t find the through passes or shots around the box.

“It was two points dropped – we’re the better team and we wanted to win there. The other teams were playing against each other so we could have done good things, but it’s just a point and we have to win our next few games now.

“It will be very different against Man United. They want to come out and attack, even in away games, and it’s a match we’re looking forward to.

“We feel confident in ourselves and we think we can go up in the table, and that’s something we want to achieve.

“We won at Old Trafford and that was very important because we hadn’t won the first three games, so we needed a few wins after that.

“I won there with Ajax last season as well but the one this season was a little bit bigger – it was amazing.”

Vertonghen, who scored the opening goal in the 3-2 victory at the Theatre of Dreams in September, is particularly looking forward to facing United’s hitman Van Persie again.

Currently the top scorer in the Premier League, the £24million striker has scored 23 goals in 30 games for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in all competitions following his summer switch from Arsenal.

“When it comes to the world’s best strikers, he is there at the top,” said Vertonghen. “For me he’s one of the top three players in the Premier League as well, so I’m looking forward to playing against him and that’s why I came to England.”

Jermain Defoe told Spurs TV: “Robin’s on fire, he’s scoring their goals, but that was always going to happen with him. He went there and he was always going to score goals – he’s a natural goalscorer.

“They’ve got other players as well, but at the moment he’s the main man and it seems like even if he gets a half chance he’s going to score. I’m sure we’ll work out how to deal with that – we’ve got great defenders.

“It’s going to be a difficult game but all the lads are looking forward to it. They’re a great side with great players and it’s a good test for us.

“I think they know it’s going to be difficult for them as well, coming to the Lane, and hopefully we can get three points there. I think we’re more than good enough to do it with the players that we’ve got.”

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