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Jan Paul van Hecke lays into Tottenham signing after Aston Villa loss: ‘It’s smarter to kick the ball out’

Dutch defender also labels Tottenham’s start to season as “unacceptable”

By Andy Schooler · Evening Standard

Published: Monday, 21 September 2026 at 1:09 PM

Key Things to Know

Aston Villa defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2, leaving Spurs winless and at the bottom of the table.
Jan Paul van Hecke criticized teammate Andy Robertson for an error that led to Johan Manzambi's opening goal.
Robertson surrendered possession trying to prevent a corner while defender Micky van de Ven was off receiving treatment.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Paul van Hecke publicly criticized teammate Andy Robertson following their 3-2 Premier League defeat against Aston Villa. Van Hecke pointed out Robertson's decision to keep the ball in play while Spurs were temporarily down to 10 men, which quickly resulted in Johan Manzambi scoring the opening goal for Villa.

Tottenham's defeat dropped Roberto De Zerbi's winless side to the bottom of the table despite an estimated £300 million summer expenditure. Van Hecke described the team's start and defensive performances as unacceptable ahead of Tottenham's upcoming fixture against Manchester United.

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