Jan Vertonghen uses Leeds United game as a warning for Tottenham

Follow us on Google Discover

Leeds United beat Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2013.

Spurs ace Jan Vertonghen sat down for an exclusive interview with the club’s official website, and warned his teammates just how tough away games in the FA Cup can be, highlighting Tottenham’s defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road five years ago as evidence of this.

The Lilywhites progressed through to the fourth round of the competition with a comfortable 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in the third round, but that game was at Wembley Stadium, and tomorrow’s trip to Rodney Parade to take on their league Two opponents will be a totally different kettle of fish.

Spurs will have to take the game seriously, with their hopes of winning the Premier League already all but over, and their fans desperately craving some silverware, having not seen their side lift a trophy since 2008.

Vertonghen sat down for an exclusive interview with the club’s official website, and insisted that his team will be nothing other than professional when they take on the league Two minnows tomorrow:

“It was a while ago, we lost 2-1 and it was a very tough experience. Away games are always tough in the FA Cup, everyone is up for it, especially against a Premier League team and we suffered that day, but we know what to expect. The smaller teams have always got their own crowd behind them and they’re always a bit extra-motivated, but we’re used to away games and we have to cope with it. We’ve got a very professional team that will approach this game against Newport in a very good way. We just have to approach it in the way we approach Premier League games, which we definitely will.”

Whether Mauricio Pochettino will field a strong team remains to be seen, with a home game against Manchester United in the Premier League coming just four days after their FA Cup tie.

The Argentine will likely opt for a mix of youth and experience, but whoever he picks must be 100 per cent ready for whatever Newport throw at them, otherwise they will be in for a tricky afternoon.