Alderweireld backs Vertonghen ahead of Madrid clash
Toby Alderweireld has backed Jan Vertonghen to fill the left-back void for Tottenham against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Spurs have a dilemma in that position ahead of their third Champions League group clash, with Ben Davies not expected to return from illness and Danny Rose still recovering from a knee problem.
Vertonghen impressed in place of Davies in the win over Bournemouth at Wembley on Saturday but Kieran Trippier, Heung-Min Son and Kyle Walker-Peters are also options.
Alderweireld insists Spurs can be confident of a positive result against the reigning European champions after victories against Borussia Dortmund and Apoel Nicosia.
“I think Jan showed that, if the manager wants him there, he can play there. So it’s no problem I think,” Alderweireld said.
“We’ve started very well (in the Champions League) and we have to be confident. We know they have a lot of quality but we have the belief we can hurt them.
“The key is to believe in your own ability and quality, and play our usual game. There is always the chance to win there.
“But we don’t have to be dramatic about it. If we win, we don’t have to think ‘we are the best in the world’. If we lose, then it’s just one game.”
