Jamie O’Hara launched a furious attack on Van Hecke after the defender’s mistake helped Coventry equalise against Tottenham Hotspur, despite Spurs eventually claiming their first Premier League victory of the season.
The £52 million defender gave the ball away in a dangerous position during the move that led to Coventry’s goal. He then failed to recover quickly enough to stop Rudoni from scoring.
O’Hara was taking part in talkSPORT’s special live watch-along, Sports Bar: The Lock In, alongside Jason Cundy, and immediately blamed Van Hecke for the goal.
The former Tottenham player said: “What the f is Van Hecke doing? He’s garbage, absolutely rubbish.”
He continued: “That’s terrible play, that’s classic Tottenham. What’s Antonin Kinsky doing? Van Hecke, I’m sick of him, get him out! We sold Luka Vuskovic and got this piece of s in return.”
Tottenham’s performance was enough to secure the much-needed three points, but the match remained a source of frustration for O’Hara because of the way Coventry were allowed back into the game.
Cundy, a Chelsea fan who regularly enjoys Tottenham’s difficulties and has teased O’Hara about them, responded to his co-host’s outburst by repeating one of his familiar taunts.
“You’re going down!” Cundy said.
O’Hara replied: “F off!”
His criticism of Van Hecke continued after the final whistle. Speaking again on Sports Bar, O’Hara questioned Tottenham’s decision to allow promising young defender Luka Vuskovic to move to Brighton & Hove Albion while Van Hecke went in the opposite direction.
He said: “He runs like he’s stuck in treacle. Some say he’s good with the ball at his feet, but he’s a problem for us. Brighton & Hove Albion got Vuskovic in that deal; they got the better player.”
The result nevertheless gave Tottenham their first Premier League win of the campaign, although Van Hecke’s role in Coventry’s equaliser dominated O’Hara’s reaction during and after the match.
