Tottenham round-up: Wembley planning permission approved; Jan Vertonghen talks down title prospects

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As Tottenham Hotspur prepare themselves to depart their traditional White Hart Lane home ahead of the construction of their new stadium, the 2017/18 campaign, which they will spend effectively in exile, has moved one crucial step closer to being played out at Wembley after Brent Council approved the Wembley Committee’s planning application on behalf of the club.

The application, which bid to secure 27 further matches at the arena’s full 90,000 capacity was approved by a five to one majority according to the BBC Sport‘s report, and the club now has a grace period of one week (until 31 March) to confirm their option to host their home fixtures at Wembley with the Football Association.

It is likely that the club will wait until the eleventh hour to confirm their decision, for it remains unclear given recent progress as to whether their new stadium, situated next to their current White Hart Lane ground, will be ready in time for the 2018/19 campaign as planned. In the event of any delay, Spurs may opt to remain at White Hart Lane for one further campaign, before occupying Wembley in 2018/19, stalling the opening of their new, state-of-the-art arena until 2019.

Of course, whenever the club takes up the option of occupying the national arena, the question on supporters’ lips will be whether or not the playing squad can overcome its psychological hoodoo of playing under the famous Wembley arch, with just one victory coming at Wembley in their previous eight games at the national stadium, stretching back to 2009. The one triumph came in their final Champions League group fixture this season, when Spurs came from behind to beat CSKA Moscow and seal qualification to the Europa League, having been eliminated from Champions League knockout contention at Monaco the previous week.

Elsewhere regarding matters on the pitch, Spurs’ chances of overhauling Chelsea’s ten-point lead in the title race are beginning to look remote. With ten matches each remaining, and Chelsea continuing to pick up points despite all of Tottenham’s recent momentum, the FA Cup- in which they will face the Blues in the semi-final- remains their only realistic chance of silverware, but defender Jan Vertonghen has remained defiant in saying Spurs will not give up the hunt in the league, despite admitting it will be a big ask to overturn the deficit now.

“We’re trying to catch Chelsea, but it will be very hard,” the Belgian told Sky Sports.

“They look very strong at the moment and you have to be realistic. But it could be a good couple of weeks for us.”

Spurs will try to make up ground on Chelsea after the international break, in which they face a four-game run of playing against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League table, whilst their rivals face both Manchester clubs during the same spell.

Such defiance even amidst realism is to be expected from a player who has been a key part of Spurs’ stoic defence this season, but the international break will offer him no respite. Following international duty for his Belgium in a World Cup qualifier against Greece and a friendly against Russia next week, there are upcoming league matches against Burnley and Swansea for Tottenham which could see the defender feature four times in just 12 days.

“Travel to Russia on Monday, play Tuesday, play Burnley away on Saturday, play Swansea away on Wednesday, tough times. But we are used to it and fit enough to cope with it,” he said.

The likelihood of Belgium boss Roberto Martinez risking Vertonghen in both games is difficult to judge. He will of course want to utilise the defender to the best of his ability in both matches, particularly the Greece showdown, but being a former Premier League manager, he will be more than aware of the worries clubs go through regarding their stars being over-used on international duty and returning with injuries, and that may just transpire in favour of Tottenham.

The safeguarding of their key players away on international duty will, at this point, be Mauricio Pochettino’s and the club’s primary concern.

Featured Image: All Rights Reserved by John Bunny.