Report: Jan Vertonghen shocks Tottenham Hotspur teammates with reaction to being dropped

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen watched Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s first match from the stand.

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur’s squad were shocked by Jan Vertonghen’s decision to stay and watch their match against Aston Villa.

Mauricio Pochettino made the surprising decision not to start Vertonghen for Spurs against Villa, with Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld favoured for the match.

Vertonghen, who is on a £100,000-a-week contract at Spurs (Spotrac), is said to be ‘furious’ with the decision, but the Belgian was spotted in the stands watching his teammates pick up a 3-1 victory on opening day.

And Tottenham’s players are said to have been surprised that Vertonghen didn’t just leave the stadium, given the extent of his rage.

Spurs need Pochettino and Vertonghen to have smoothed over their differences this week, as the experienced centre-back remains a key player.

Vertonghen is one of the finest defenders in the Premier League and Tottenham’s starting line-up is weaker without him, even though Sanchez is an excellent player in his own right.

If Vertonghen is brought back into Tottenham’s line-up at the weekend his first competitive appearance of the season could be a tough one, as Pochettino’s men take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.