Spurs star admits joy of first competitive outing was a factor in masterclass

Published Date: 19 August 2011
By Alex Schweitzer-Thompson
After running Hearts ragged and inspiring his Tottenham side to an exhilarating win at Tynecastle, Rafael van der Vaart said he expects more from the Edinburgh side in the return leg next week. The Dutch midfield orchestrator graced the Gorgie turf with his customary neat, crisp passing, and weighed in with the first of Spurs' five goals in the Europa League play-off first leg.
While Hearts' attention will turn to Sunday's trip to Kilmarnock and Spurs contemplate a difficult first Premier League game of the season at Manchester United on Monday, the sides will reconvene in North London for the return game next Thursday, with the aggregate score ominously at 5-0 in favour of the home side before kick-off.

"We were excited to play this game and it was such an important game, and that showed in the first half - we were quite happy," said Van der Vaart, 28, of his side's first competitive outing of the season. "It was important to have a lead, and next week against Hearts it makes it easier for us. But, any game in Europa League football is never easy, and we're expecting more from Hearts."

While the Jambos, even at their most inventive on the night, were often caught out while attempting a simple one-two in the opposition half, Spurs had their hosts at sixes and sevens with flowing, forward-moving football that, particularly in a blistering opening half-hour in which they racked up a 3-0 advantage, arrived in wave after white-shirted wave of attacks.

Former Ajax, Hamburg and Real Madrid man Van der Vaart was the bustling hub that initiated many of those forays, being ably assisted by Welshman Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon on the flanks and, up front, Lennon's fellow England international Jermain Defoe - all three of whom chipped in with a goal. There is a distinctly British flavour to the Tottenham attack - an unusual trait in comparison to Spurs' London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal - but while England and Wales are proudly represented, the Scottish national team boss Craig Levein, who was in attendance, can only dream of being able to select talent of such calibre. The gulf extends to the domestic leagues either side of the border, and most among those who watched last night's game would agree that the 'product' of club football either side of the Scotland-England border is wholly on another planet, never mind a different part of the British Isles.

Van der Vaart, however, was kind in his words after the match, suggesting the chasm demonstrated last night was more a result of Spurs' superlative form rather than evidence of a decline in Scottish football.

His side, though, had already done all the talking on the pitch, suggesting by their dominance and abundance of flair that few clubs in England or Europe, for that matter - never mind a team that lies eighth in the SPL - will be able to match the quality of player they purvey this season. "I think there's a lot to say for Scottish football but we had a good start and we know we can play like we did today against everybody," said Van der Vaart.

Underneath the gallows humour practised by the Hearts support when they proclaimed from the stands, "We're gonna score six in London", there lies a nervousness at what may become of their side in the English capital next week.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, his side already home and dry at 5-0 up, is expected to field a far weaker team for the return leg - but, given the performances of understudies such as Kyle Walker, Jake Livermore, Niko Kranjcar and Andros Townsend, Hearts will still face an uphill task. Debutant Livermore looked like a perfect fit in the Spurs midfield as he nonchalantly pinged pinpoint passes at any range and struck the third goal, while Kranjcar, who has seen his progress stunted by the emergence of fellow Croat Luka Modric in recent years, swatted away the efforts of opposite numbers Ian Black and Adrian Mrowiec.

"He did fantastic," Van der Vaart said of Livermore. "It's always good to know (he's available] when Luka's not playing - and Kranjcar was fantastic today. I think it's a big compliment to the players."

Walker, deputising for Croatian right-back Vedran Corluka, was called into the full England squad earlier this year and was imperious in defence, while Townsend, who came off the bench and is another likely starter for the anticipated Spurs second-string next week, instigated the counter-attack that led to his side's fifth.

The stakes are high for these fringe players at a Premier League club and although star men such as Van der Vaart are likely to be rested when Hearts hit the bright lights of London for a match which falls between Spurs' matches against top-six rivals Manchester United and Manchester City, the Jambos must be on their guard for another onslaught.

Taken from the Scotsman