Van Hecke Passes De Zerbi Test But Defensive Basics Await

The Tottenham defender has impressed with his ball-playing, but a sterner test of his centre-back instincts lies ahead.

J. van Hecke

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What happened. Jan Paul van Hecke has met Roberto De Zerbi's demands for playing out from the back since joining Tottenham from Brighton in the summer. However, he still needs to refocus on the core duties of a centre-back.

• Van Hecke has adapted well to De Zerbi's build-up play.
• The defender must rediscover his defensive fundamentals.
• Further challenges await him at Tottenham.

Van Hecke must now prove he can balance De Zerbi's possession demands with the defensive basics required in the Premier League.

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