Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Paul van Hecke has hit out at Getafe's overly physical style of play following a tense pre-season friendly that ended honours even between the two sides. The Dutchman suggested the Spanish visitors would have seen multiple players sent off had the encounter been a competitive fixture.
The match proved to be a spirited contest from start to finish, with Getafe breaking the deadlock in the second half courtesy of a strike from young forward Alberto Risco. Tottenham responded late on, with Conor Gallagher finding the net to secure a share of the spoils for the north London club.
However, it was the manner in which Getafe approached the game that drew the most attention from Van Hecke afterwards. The new Spurs signing did not hold back when assessing the LaLiga side's combative style, insisting their conduct went beyond what would typically be acceptable in a friendly fixture.
"I think in a normal game they have maybe two or three red cards, but that's also maybe the way they play," Van Hecke said. He acknowledged that Tottenham had been forewarned about Getafe's reputation for physicality but admitted the intensity still caught his side off guard given the nature of the match.
"We knew beforehand that they can do it but it's a friendly so sometimes you think maybe a bit less, but at the other side we need to also be at our top then because if you're not putting in your foot, then they are going to win it," he explained.
Despite his frustration with Getafe's approach, the centre-back conceded that Tottenham had little choice but to match their opponents' physicality if they wanted to compete effectively. He suggested that failing to engage in the battle would have left his side at a disadvantage against a team clearly intent on imposing themselves physically.
"If that's what the game asks, then you also need to put your foot in and battle with them. Otherwise they win the battles, and that's what you don't want," Van Hecke added. He went on to stress the importance of competitiveness regardless of the context of the fixture, noting that Tottenham had demonstrated the necessary fight on the day, even if things occasionally boiled over.
"That's the first thing in football, you need to win. I think today we showed it as well, but it was sometimes a bit too much," he said, reflecting on how the game unfolded.
Van Hecke also touched on the moments of tension that flared up during the match, explaining that such incidents were often a natural response to rough treatment on the pitch. He described how players can become drawn into a cycle of retaliation once challenges start to escalate.
"You see sometimes it gets a bit heated, but that's also because of the reaction you know. If you get kicked, you are gonna react. And you think, 'next time, I'll get you back'," he said. The defender added that in friendly matches, composure should ideally take precedence over retaliation, urging his teammates to remain calm rather than allow themselves to be provoked into unnecessary confrontations.
"That's why I say it's a friendly, so sometimes you've got be like, 'oh boys, let's be a bit calm, don't be provoked," Van Hecke concluded.
The draw offered Tottenham another opportunity to test their squad depth and resilience ahead of the new season, even if the physical nature of the contest left a lasting impression on the club's new defensive recruit.
Based on reporting from standard-football.