Jan Paul van Hecke is a compelling reason for Roberto De Zerbi to keep the big tactical tweak

Hotspur HQ's Joe Soriano argues that Jan Paul van Hecke's strong performance in Tottenham Hotspur's 3-1 victory over Coventry justifies manager Roberto De Zerbi sticking with a back-three formation. De Zerbi introduced the tactical shift by pairing Van Hecke centrally between Micky van de Ven and Tosin Adarabioyo to earn Tottenham's first Premier League win of the 2026/27 season.

Soriano highlights that the system allows the Dutch defender to play an aggressive libero-style role where his elite passing and forward interventions can shine. The writer notes that given Van Hecke's close relationship with De Zerbi dating back to Brighton, his success in the system makes the tactical tweak a compelling long-term option.