‘Often down’ – Jan Vertonghen bravely opens up on mental health issues during time at Spurs
Reflecting on the Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019, former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has revealed he suffered physical and mental pain at the time and for months afterwards. Jan Vertonghen was a key component of one of the most successful Tottenham sides in recent memory, forming the heart of the defence […]
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Reflecting on the Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019, former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has revealed he suffered physical and mental pain at the time and for months afterwards.
Jan Vertonghen was a key component of one of the most successful Tottenham sides in recent memory, forming the heart of the defence for Mauricio Pochettino‘s team alongside Toby Alderweireld.
The Belgian centre-half was a leader on and off the field for Spurs, and remains a firm favourite among the supporters of the North London club to this day.
Vertonghen featured in the run to the Champions League final back in 2019, but suffered a nasty head injury in the semi-final first leg against Ajax when he clashed with Alderweireld and Ajax keeper Andre Onana.
(Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Jan Vertonghen opens up on mental health issues
Discussing the incident and the subsequent fallout of that on the Mid Mid podcast, Vertonghen said: “I had a nosebleed and all the trimmings. But I remember very well that I didn’t feel 100 per cent before that match. A lot had happened in that time.
“The combination of that huge blow and not feeling well meant that I would suffer for another nine months. I was so shaky on my legs in the return match one week later.”
This all had a negative impact on his own condition for the final against Liverpool, as you can imagine. “That was survival. I spent the entire final counting down to the 90th minute,” Vertonghen continued.
“On the way back to the hotel I fell asleep on the players’ bus. I felt really bad during that period, the link to the collision with Alderweireld and Onana was quickly made. I went to almost all specialists, but no explanation was found,” he added.
The 36-year-old explains the impact of this: how he couldn’t go out to eat, couldn’t be around crowds of people, and slept an abnormal amount.
“I felt there was more to it and kept talking about it. Now I am convinced that it was a mental-psychological problem,” Vertonghen said. “Now when I see photos from that time, I immediately see that something was wrong. That my eyes were different. I was also often down.”
“It was all very strange. I didn’t realise at the time that I might have a mental problem.”
Spurs Web Opinion
This is really shocking to hear and explains a lot about Vertonghen at that time. It’s not like he was putting in bad performances or anything, but he wasn’t quite himself. This is something that will likely have affected more players, and will continue to, so it’s good that Jan has bravely spoken out.
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