adminJan Paul van Hecke believes he is fully prepared for the new Premier League season after featuring for 70 minutes in Tottenham’s latest pre-season friendly.
The summer signing from Brighton made his longest appearance yet for Spurs and later shared his satisfaction, stating that he feels match-fit and eager for the challenges ahead.
Speaking after the game, with quotes shared by Spurs Army on X, the 26-year-old Dutch centre-back reflected on his outing against Getafe. Having had a shortened break due to international commitments, Van Hecke emphasised the importance of getting significant minutes to rebuild his sharpness and rhythm:
“Today I played 70 minutes, and I feel good. I had a short break, but now I feel ready to get started and be ready for the big games.”
He also noted that his body responded well to the physical demands of Roberto De Zerbi’s system, reassuring the coaching staff that his fitness is progressing as planned ahead of the Premier League kickoff.
Van Hecke, who previously played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as an opponent with Brighton, expressed excitement about returning as a home player:
“I look really forward to that [the upcoming season]. Of course, I’ve been there, but with another team, so now with the Spurs shirt, so that’s going to be really nice. I think now fitness is good.”
The Dutch defender joined Spurs in a £52 million deal to strengthen the backline alongside fellow international Micky van de Ven. His integration has been helped by his prior familiarity with De Zerbi, having spent two seasons working under the Italian at Brighton.
With 70 successful minutes under his belt, Van Hecke is now pushing for a starting role in central defence as De Zerbi finalises his plans for the new campaign.
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