Vertonghen says Spurs did something he has never seen in his life against Chelsea

Jan Vertonghen was in disbelief at how high Tottenham’s defensive line was in the second half against Chelsea despite being down to ten men.

It is not often that the team on the receiving end of a 4-1 scoreline at home comes out of the game with any credit, but it is fair to say that the overwhelming response to Tottenham’s performance last evening has been positive.

The home side had to play a big chunk of the game with nine men after Destiny Udogie became the second Spurs player to be sent off in 55 minutes following Cristian Romero’s red card in the first half.

Spurs were determined to maintain a high line

Despite having two fewer players on the pitch than their opposition, Ange Postecoglou did not move away from his preferred approach, with Tottenham continuing to play a high line and press the opposition.

They almost got their just reward as Eric Dier’s equaliser was ruled out for a marginal offside and Son Heung-min also came very close to levelling for the Lilywhites.

Chelsea punished Tottenham on the counter-attack in the dying stages of the game as Postecoglou’s men continued to throw bodies forward.

Vertonghen admitted that he had never seen such kamikaze tactics by any side before.

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Postecoglou proved yesterday evening that he does not just talk the talk and that he is someone who never compromises on his principal under any circumstances.

It would have been quite easy for Spurs to shut up shop after going down to nine men and come away with a respectable 2-1 loss but the Australian wanted the side to continue to search for an equaliser, which almost paid off.