Tottenham stalwart admits Wembley advantage in FA Cup semis

Jan Vertonghen admits Tottenham have an FA Cup advantage with the semi-finals being staged at their temporary Wembley home.

Spurs cruised into the last four of the competition for the second successive season by winning 3-0 at Swansea on Saturday.

“It definitely helps us because we have played well there,” Vertonghen said, knowing that Spurs will be in familiar semi-final and possible final surroundings in trying to win their first silverware since the 2008 League Cup.

“We’ve beaten some big teams there and had some very good games, apart from the start of the season when it was a bit difficult for us.

“Juventus wasn’t great, but Wembley suits us and we’ve had a good season there.

“We really feel at home there.”

Spurs moved into Wembley at the start of the season as their new 62,000-capacity stadium at White Hart Lane was being built.

 

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Mauricio Pochettino’s side have not lost there in the Premier League since August when Chelsea repeated last season’s FA Cup semi-final success.

And other than a Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham in October, the only other time Spurs have lost at Wembley this term was the recent Champions League defeat to Juventus.

But Belgium defender Vertonghen does not believe Tottenham’s FA Cup rivals should complain about their Wembley advantage.

“Everyone agreed that we had to play at Wembley, so I don’t think teams would see it that way,” Vertonghen said.

“At the beginning of the season everyone was talking about it (Spurs’ poor Wembley form) – after the Chelsea, Burnley and West Brom games.

“There were a couple of games which we should have won and we didn’t.

“But after the Champions League games things turned around and we felt we could beat everyone there. I like playing at Wembley now.”