Gary Mabbut has lauded Tottenham’s backline and how they have allowed the rest of the team to cook going forward.
With Ange Postecoglou coming in this summer, Tottenham made a number of changes to their backline, including a new number-one goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario.
Added to that, Cristian Romero got a new centre-back partner, Micky van de Ven, who Mabbut claims has been ‘outstanding’ for Tottenham.
Including the fullbacks, Pedro Porro, who joined in January, and Destiny Udogie, who made his Premier League debut this season, Mabbut feels these players have made a world of difference, as he told talkSPORT.
After eight Premier League games, Spurs aren’t only sitting on top of the tree and scoring for fun.
But they have only conceded eight goals, as their club legend feels their back five have played a huge part in that.
Tottenham’s backline
“He has come in, brought in a couple of players, van de Ven has been outstanding,” said Mabbutt. “Him and Romero now can make a very, very solid partnership like we had with Jan Vertonghen and Toby.
“They could be together for five years. They are working well together. You have got Udogie at left-back. Porro at right-back.
“Those four across the back, with Vicario behind them in goal. You have a very solid back five that allows James Maddison, Bissouma and Sarr, and everybody in front of them to go out and play. That’s what we have now. A solid foundation.”
Vicario, van de Ven and Udogie
These are the new faces to the backline this season and they have lifted a team that previously was on its knees.
Tottenham’s biggest problem last season was their defence, yet the likes of Vicario, Udogie and van de Ven have provided a freshness that the team has been crying for.
Now it’s a case of adding serious consistency to it all because it’s still very early days in the season.
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