‘I have to feel good to perform’ – Former player opens up on his Spurs struggles

Vincent Janssen has admitted that he was lacking confidence at Tottenham, which is why he was not able to showcase his best.

Spurs paid £17m to snap up Janssen from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2016 after he finished as the Eredivisie’s top scorer during the 2015-16 season.

However, it soon became clear that the striker did not have the quality to cut it in the English top flight and after an unsuccessful loan spell with Fenerbahce, he was eventually sold to the Mexican side Monterrey in the summer of 2019.

The Dutch striker rebuilt his reputation at the Liga MX side, even helping the club to a historic treble back in 2020 and earning a recall to the Netherlands national team.

Janssen returned to European football last summer, joining Belgian side Royal Antwerp, where he has reunited with Toby Alderweireld.

The 29-year-old had an impressive first season in Belgium, finding the back of the net 21 times and providing six assists last term, and he has had an even more electric start to the new campaign, having scored six in nine matches.

Vincent Janssen opens up on his Tottenham struggles

Janssen has now opened up about his time at Tottenham, admitting that he struggled to build confidence owing to his lack of regular game time.

The centre-forward told HLN (as relayed by Sport Witness): “I have to feel good to perform well. That was not one hundred per cent the case at my previous clubs. Due to a lack of confidence and rhythm. I was not the undisputed number nine, so it was not my best years. Certainly not.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Janseen’s exemplary numbers in the Belgian top flight demonstrate why Gift Orban’s numbers in the Jupiler Pro League should be taken with a pinch of salt. I can certainly see why Spurs did not want to pay £25m-£30m for a striker who had six good months in the competition.