Rafa Van der Vaart explains why he thrived at Tottenham – ‘They’re all so stupid’
Tottenham fan favourite Rafa Van der Vaart has been speaking about his time in English football and has provided an amusing reason as to why he thrived at White Hart Lane.
Van der Vaart might have only spent two seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, but he is remembered very fondly by the Spurs faithful, with the midfielder wearing his heart on his sleeve and oozing class on the pitch.
The attacking midfielder formed a formidable partnership, first with Peter Crouch and then with Emmanuel Adebayor, with the Dutchman making it a habit of arriving late in the box and finishing off chances.
He always stepped up during big moments and big matches for Harry Redknapp’s side, scoring 28 goals and providing 18 assists in 77 appearances for the Lilywhites.
Rafa Van der Vaart says Premier League defenders were stupid
Van der Vaart is the exact opposite of a stereotypical Premier League player, lacking the pace, power or engine that are often seen as prerequisites to success in England.
The attacking midfielder used his football IQ and his technical quality to make up for his lack of physical attributes, and he has now admitted that his job was made easier by the lack of application from the defenders in the division.
When asked about coping with the pace and physicality of English football, Van de Vaart told FC Update: “It’s not that bad. I loved playing there, they’re all so stupid there. Never cover, you get all the space.
“Only: because the audience is so close to the field, and you really experience that in your living room, it seems super-fast. But it’s not that bad, in terms of football, it’s really not that bad.”
Van der Vaart admits Tottenham team is the best he played in
The 42-year-old was part of a formidable Spurs side, which contained the likes of Ledley King, Kyle Walker, Scott Parker, Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe and other big names.
Last month, Van der Vaart said that the Tottenham team was the best side he played in during his career.
That is a big claim when one considers the fact that he played for star-studded Real Madrid and Netherlands sides, and perhaps shows how much the Dutchman enjoyed his football in North London.
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