Dortmund demolition means Spurs ‘no longer underdogs’

Jan Vertonghen accepts that Tottenham’s 3-0 demolition of Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie makes it hard for them to play the underdog card.

Spurs overcame a poor first-half display at Wembley on Wednesday to put one foot in the quarter-finals with a scintillating second-half performance that Vertonghen was at the forefront of.

The Belgian, playing in an unusual role of left wing-back, made Spurs’ opener 76 seconds after the restart when he crossed for Son Heung-min and then scored the second goal in the 83rd minute.

Fernando Llorente then completed a memorable night for Mauricio Pochettino’s side when he nodded in the third with his first meaningful touch of the game.

It will take some capitulation in Dortmund on March 5 for them not to make it through to the last eight, on a night when Harry Kane and Dele Alli should be back in the fold.

“We have to focus on ourselves but 3-0 in a home tie in the Champions League is a big result, and against at this moment the best German side,” Vertonghen said.

“We are very pleased. Everyone who is playing in the Champions League now they look at each other and see who the strong teams are.

“Results like this does not help us to be the underdog. We are in a good position for the away game now.

“I think if you’d asked before the game whether we’d be happy with 3-0 everyone would have said yes. It’s a great result for us. Obviously we’re not there yet but it’s a big step also.”

l Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has signed a new contract that ties him to the club until 2022. The Argentinian has been in charge of Atletico since 2011.