MusaRoberto De Zerbi made it clear ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Manchester United that he expected more from the club’s summer recruits.
The Spurs manager was encouraged by the response of several players to his challenge, singling out three new arrivals for praise following their performances at Old Trafford.
De Zerbi expressed his admiration for Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Savio as Tottenham battled back to secure a point against Manchester United despite being reduced to 10 men.
However, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara strongly disagrees with the manager’s assessment of Van Hecke, launching a furious attack on the Dutch defender over his role in Bryan Mbeumo’s goal for United.
O’Hara was particularly frustrated by the centre-back’s failure to prevent Mbeumo from getting a shot away inside the penalty area. The outspoken pundit branded Van Hecke a ‘donkey’ and went as far as suggesting that the person responsible for sanctioning Luka Vuskovic’s departure and bringing in the 26-year-old should lose their job.
Speaking on talkSPORT, O’Hara did not hold back in his criticism.
“Van Hecke, what is he doing? Cement in his feet, cement. He has got cement in his boots. He is guff. He is absolute guff. Free shot, inside your box, an absolute joke. This team is beyond a joke. I am sick of it, I am sick of it, I am sick of it, I am sick of it.
“Who signed Van Hecke, who? He needs sacking, he needs sacking. Brighton have had our absolute pants down; they have had our pants down. Who signed him? Donkey. And we let Vuskovic go, and we got a donkey at the back. Every time anyone stands him up one-v-one, he gets a shot off. He is guff.”
Van Hecke’s Strengths Offer Tottenham a Different Dimension Despite His Defensive Weaknesses
There is growing evidence that Van Hecke can struggle when defending opponents in one-on-one situations. Tottenham have looked vulnerable on several occasions when attackers have managed to isolate the Dutchman in wide areas and take him on directly.
Nevertheless, the defender has demonstrated considerable quality in possession, recording impressive passing statistics this season. His ability to distribute the ball accurately and help initiate attacks from the back arguably makes him one of the Premier League’s most accomplished ball-playing centre-backs.
That quality appears to be a major reason why De Zerbi is prepared to tolerate some of his defensive shortcomings. The Italian’s tactical approach places considerable emphasis on playing out from the back, making defenders who are comfortable on the ball particularly important to his system.
Van Hecke’s lack of pace could also be less of a problem when he partners Micky van de Ven, whose recovery speed can help compensate for defensive situations in which the Dutch centre-back is caught out of position.
However, the situation becomes considerably more complicated when Van Hecke plays alongside Marcos Senesi. The two defenders share similar qualities and limitations, raising concerns about whether their partnership offers Tottenham the necessary balance at the back.
Although both players can contribute significantly to the team’s build-up play, their similar defensive weaknesses could leave Spurs exposed against quick, direct attackers.
Ultimately, De Zerbi must find the right defensive combination to maximise Van Hecke’s strengths without allowing his vulnerabilities to become a recurring problem. While O’Hara’s criticism may appear excessive, his concerns highlight an important question about Tottenham’s summer recruitment: whether the club has assembled a defence capable of delivering both the technical quality and defensive reliability required to compete consistently in the Premier League.
Musa
