Jan Paul van Hecke has been key to Tottenham’s impressive defensive displays in their last two outings, but the underlying numbers against Everton show he offers far more than just defensive cover.
While Tottenham Hotspur’s attack has struggled in front of goal this season, their defence has looked much better.
In the last two outings, Spurs have managed two clean sheets in the Premier League, first against Nottingham Forest and more recently against Everton.
At the heart of these strong defensive displays is new signing Jan Paul van Hecke, who has been a mainstay in the Tottenham backline so far this campaign.
Underlying numbers show Jan Paul van Hecke’s instant impact in Tottenham’s defence
Against Everton, van Hecke was again impressive, with the Dutchman not only showing his quality on the ball but also defending well against Barry.
The underlying numbers from the clash against the Toffees have now revealed how good a signing van Hecke is proving to be for Spurs.
Of all the players to have taken to the pitch on Saturday, only Antonin Kinsky received a higher rating than the Dutchman, who was given a 7.9 match rating while Kinsky had an 8.0.
The underlying numbers do back up these ratings, as van Hecke had the most touches of the ball in the game, played several passes into the final third and made many defensive contributions.
No player played more passes into the final third and had more line-breaking passes than the centre-back.
| Statistic | Number |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Top speed | 28.1 km/h |
| Distance covered | 9.9 km |
| Accurate passes | 103/106 (97%) |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Touches in opposition box | 1 |
| Passes into final third | 25 |
| Line-breaking passes | 22 |
| Defensive contributions | 13 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Blocks | 2 |
| Clearances | 8 |
| Headed clearances | 5 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Recoveries | 2 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
| Ground duels won | 2/4 (50%) |
| Aerial duels won | 3/6 (50%) |
Van Hecke and Micky van de Ven complement each other at the back for Spurs
The centre-back could well have scored for Tottenham had he kept his effort in the first half down and on target after connecting with Andy Robertson’s free kick.
However, while Jan Paul van Hecke is receiving plenty of plaudits, his defensive partner Micky van de Ven has equally been as solid.
The two complement each other well and allow Tottenham to press high up the field, and van Hecke is even pleased to have van de Ven as a centre-back partner.
Speaking about their partnership, he said: “I think it all starts with defence. To win matches and get points, you have to keep clean sheets. If you want to win something, you have to have very good defensive ability.
“Today we kept another clean sheet, which is good. Micky played very well, and I think all the defenders and other players worked hard to help us, which is good. But unfortunately, it was not enough to help us win.”