Tottenham’s defensive dilemma unpacked: Why Roberto De Zerbi went to a back-three against Coventry and why it may work at Chelsea, the problem with ‘Double Dutch’ pairing and the pitfalls of shifting Micky van de Ven

Roberto De Zerbi discussed his three-at-the-back formation as if it was likely to be a one-off following Tottenham’s win over Coventry on Monday night.

The tactical tweak paved the way to their first win of the season but, according to the Spurs boss, had been down to the absence of two central midfielders, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall, and the direct nature of the threat posed by counter-attacking opponents.

De Zerbi had been a rock-solid devotee of the back four since his appointment in March and his tinkering hinted at the desperation for that first win and an ongoing struggle to find his best team. 

His focus at the start of the season fell upon the forwards and rightly so. Spurs did not score in the first four league games. Then they scored twice against Aston Villa but not before conceding three.

Balance has been elusive. Spurs focus on solving one part of the machine only to find a gasket blows somewhere else.

And now they face all the attacking power of Chelsea at a venue where Spurs have only won once in 41 attempts, an awful run stretching over more than 36 years and questions loom for De Zerbi at the back.

THE TWO VANS

Jan Paul van Hecke was criticised for another mistake in possession leading to the Coventry goal on Monday.

Van Hecke has made mistakes on the ball because he takes risks, because De Zerbi wants him to break lines either by running the ball out from deep or punching early passes forward. That’s the reason he made him a priority signing when he lost Cristian Romero and he has started the Dutchman in every league game.

Van Hecke is an excellent defender. Strong and aggressive, he has an old-school quality without the ball and wants to play out from the back like a modern centre-half.

Whether his partnership with Micky van de Ven has the right chemistry though is another matter. Van Hecke looked happier alongside the calming influence of Marcos Senesi at Manchester United when Van de Ven started on the bench after a heavy workload for the Netherlands.

In the modern game, centre backs can expect lots of the ball and Senesi is more composed than Van de Ven, more comfortable in possession, especially in tight areas, and has a better passing range.

The Argentine does not have the same pace but suits the way De Zerbi expects his central defenders to dictate play. He seemed to have a soothing influence on Van Hecke too. There were echoes of the understanding he forged at Brighton playing alongside Lewis Dunk.

The performance at Old Trafford was arguably the best of an underwhelming season for Spurs, but how can De Zerbi leave Van de Ven out? Not only is his recovery pace vital if he wants to push on with a high line but he is the captain and has just signed a new long-term contract.

THE BACK-THREE OPTION

Senesi’s reward for his performance against United was to be left out against Coventry when Tosin Adarabioyo started his first game for Spurs in the Premier League.

Tosin played in the middle of a back three and dominated Sidiki Cherif in the air when the visitors tried to play long to the centre forward.

Elements of the system worked well for De Zerbi. Van Hecke’s physical strength, energy and willing attitude enabled him to glide across into the right back role when the back line flexed into a four and take the defensive responsibility from wing-back Mohamed Kudus.

Archie Gray was alert to help as well from the right of a midfield trio but there were times when this new system was fraught and confused, not least the goal scored by Jack Rudoni, when Van Hecke lost the ball on a high-risk dribble out of defence and Spurs were punished in the right back area.

Perhaps the system is worth another go with Tosin and Senesi both capable of playing the central role. Van de Ven’s pace and mobility make him a natural fit on the left side of a back three.

It would mirror Chelsea, who will play a similar way under Xabi Alonso, with a back three plus wing backs including the attacking Pedro Neto who would line up against Kudus, a similarly offensive option. 

De Zerbi is still without Bentancur (banned) and Bergvall (injured) although the focus of his concerns will be about what happens in other areas. Can his midfield compete with Moises Caicedo? Can he keep the creative forces of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers at bay?

Pedro Porro returned to training this week after a hamstring injury, which gives Spurs another option on the right either as wing back or an orthodox full back.

VAN DE VEN AT LEFT BACK 

Another option is to play Van de Ven at left back where he usually plays for the Netherlands, with Van Hecke accompanied in the centre by Virgil van Dijk.

It is not ideal for a couple of reasons. For one, it risks upsetting the Spurs captain when he has just signed a new long-term contract if he is shifted from his favourite position. The second is that Spurs already have an abundance of left backs. In Andy Robertson, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies, they have three specialists.

Why play a centre half out of position? Yet this is where Van de Ven came on initially to play against Manchester United, when Van Hecke and Senesi were performing well in the centre.

Later, when Senesi was replaced by Mateus Fernandes with Spurs chasing an equaliser, Van de Ven finished the game alongside Van Hecke in the centre with Sandro Tonali at left back.

DOUBLE DUTCH 

Alternatively, De Zerbi can simply revert to the back four with the Dutch centre.

Van de Ven’s breathtaking recovery pace enables Spurs to play with a high line. It was the reason Ange Postecoglou demanded his signature from Wolfsburg in 2023.

He was described by De Zerbi at the end of last season as the best left-sided centre half in the Premier League. We are about to find out if he has changed his mind.