Tottenham Hotspur

Jan Vertonghen: 'I don't want to play left-back'

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 20 November 2013

Jan Vertonghen reiterates his discontent at playing left-back for Spurs and urges Andre Villas-Boas to address the club's shortage of options in the area.

Jan Vertonghen has restated his reluctance to play at left-back for Tottenham Hotspur and has urged the club to address their shortage of options in the area.

The Belgian centre-back has been shifted out of position in recent weeks to cover for Danny Rose, who started Spurs' first four Premier League games of the season but has been absent since September.

Vertonghen has acknowledged that Andre Villas-Boas has had little choice but to utilise his versatility in Rose's absence, but has stressed his strong preference to playing in the middle of defence and feels that his impressive performances since arriving from Ajax last summer warrant him regular selection there.

"We have had some injuries on the left of defence at Tottenham this season, and it has often been down to me to fill the gap," he told reporters. "Tottenham pay my wages, so I have to accept it, but it doesn't suit me, and the club know how much I want to play centre-half.

"I think I have done enough to deserve a place there now, ideally for every game. I can play at left back and I can help the team at times. But everyone knows that I am not a left back.

"Once there are injuries, I'm the first option to fill the gap. Once the trainer knows that you can play in other positions he keeps that in mind. Sometimes it is better that you can play in only one position."

Villas-Boas was linked with a move for Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao in the summer and is believed to be considering a January bid for the Portuguese international.