Toby: “More than ever, it’s important to start well”

Toby Alderweireld has been around football for a long time, but it’s unlikely he’s faced a start to the season like the one that awaits us in the next few weeks.

Kicking-off against Everton in the Premier League at home on Sunday (4.30pm), we could play nine matches in 22 days, depending on our progress in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.

Now 31, with 437 career appearances under his belt, including 201 for Spurs and also proudly reaching 100 caps for Belgium on Tuesday, the central defender has just about seen it all, and knows we need to hit the ground running.

“There is a feeling of ‘let’s start well’ because there is another international break in three weeks, so we have to start strong, sprinting straight away, and that’s the feeling I have,” said Toby, who started most Premier League games for us (33) and racked up most minutes in the squad last season.

“More than ever, it’s important to start well and to get some momentum, like the end of last season, those last five, six games with good results against difficult teams, including some difficult moments, but we got through them. We will help ourselves by starting well, and we have to be ready to do that.”

It all starts again on Sunday with the visit of an Everton side no doubt boosted by the arrivals last week of James Rodriguez (from Real Madrid), Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford) and Allan (Napoli).

“Yes, they have made some good signings, quality players, but we have to look our own performance,” added Toby. “If we are on our game, if we’re at our top level, we’re a very difficult team to beat.

“We have the quality and that’s the way we have to go about it. I’m ready, and the team will be ready.”