Micky van de Ven interview: Spurs defender opens up on Europa League win, ‘unacceptable’ dwelling kind and Thomas Frank’s modifications

It has been a topsy-turvy yr at Tottenham Hotspur, with Micky van de Ven lifting the lid on a memorable however ever-changing yr at Spurs.

In 2025, Spurs have ended a 17-year trophy drought by successful the Europa League, completed seventeenth within the Premier League – with Ange Postecoglou and Daniel Levy additionally leaving the membership in dramatic circumstances.

And below a brand new period of Thomas Frank, the scenario at Spurs stays complicated.

In an unique interview with Sky Sports activities, filmed earlier than Spurs’ recreation with Crystal Palace, Van de Ven discusses:

• Successful the Europa League and altering the trophyless tradition at Spurs
• What Thomas Frank is actually like within the Spurs altering room
• Turning into a part of Spurs’ management group below Frank
• His objective of the season contender in opposition to FC Copenhagen
• Spurs’ ‘unacceptable’ dwelling kind with simply 15 factors received in 2025
• What Spurs’ life like goals are earlier than the top of the season

On his spotlight of 2025…

Successful the Europa League was an enormous second in my yr. It is the most important second of my profession to this point.

After I joined Spurs, everyone says: ‘you are by no means going to win one thing. You are by no means going to win silverware. You are by no means going to win one thing’. Everybody simply banters you about this.

Even below the social media feedback, once they individuals heard I had curiosity from Tottenham, everyone was on it.

My good friend is a Liverpool fan and I am so shut with him. When he stated it to me, I simply saved it in my thoughts the entire time. I stated to him: ‘don’t be concerned, I will change it.’

Fortunately with the group we had, we modified it. And my good friend was there on the Europa League closing, within the crowd and he was as joyful as I used to be!

Typically individuals nonetheless come as much as me and say: thanks for the goal-line clearance. It retains in individuals’s thoughts the entire time.

My father has a photograph of it, my mom has one, however I haven’t got one myself.

On Thomas Frank changing Ange Postecoglou…

You at all times have to adapt a bit. There is a new gaffer coming in together with his new type and his concepts. There are little switches it’s essential make and in pre-season, you realize the techniques, coaching and even the bits within the coaching floor are going to be completely different.

Initially, it’s essential get used to it a bit. I’ve a great reference to him. He helps me out on the pitch lots and at occasions, he asks one thing from us from my facet. Identical to opinions on how I noticed the match or the coaching session.

He is a extremely form man to everybody within the coaching floor. When he talks concerning the cooks, the medical employees, everybody, he is so form and desires to ensure the setting is actually good. He is a extremely form man, loves a joke as properly.

On changing into a part of Spurs’ management group this yr…

It is not one thing day-to-day, being part of Spurs’ management group, however generally when there are little issues or some issues have to get solved, you get the management group collectively and speak about it.

Thomas got here in and he wished to see how each participant labored within the pre-season and the way everybody was within the squad, then he determined the management group and I used to be a part of it.

It is a actually proud feeling being the primary participant to stroll out of that tunnel generally.

On his ‘Puskas contender’ objective vs Copenhagen…

As a centre-back, you need to rating targets as properly and also you need to be necessary for the workforce. Final season, I scored just one objective and it was the final recreation of the season for the nationwide workforce. So I wished to attain extra this season.

Initially, I simply wished to dribble previous one participant after which I noticed three gamers coming as much as me. I simply did one motion and noticed I used to be via. I went via on objective and noticed one Copenhagen was nonetheless there – however Randal Kolo Muani was to the appropriate of him. I used to be by no means passing, unimaginable. I simply saved going, and going and going to the objective. The defender was staying within the center so I accelerated. Then I used to be via and needed to end it, or I made the run for nothing.

I knew I had carried out one thing particular there. I feel I will probably be one of many Puskas nominees. I feel it is just like Sonny’s objective which received it. I spoke to him about it, he says his objective is healthier. Typically you possibly can joke about it, he texted me the day after.

On Spurs’ season to this point…

We began the season very well, performed a few good video games. However there have been ups and downs and it is not going very well in the mean time.

It is actually necessary that we get out of this. We simply have to get some factors. The final video games, we have been dropping an excessive amount of in my view. This wants to alter.

On Spurs successful simply 15 factors at dwelling in 2025…

That is actually tough to say why. If we knew the issue with the house kind, we would do one thing about it. We do not win simply at dwelling, I do not know precisely what it’s.

It is one thing as a participant group that we have to change, individuals should be scared to come back to our stadium and generally we have not had the sensation opposition groups have this. It is one thing we have to do collectively.

You converse generally about it with the gamers: is there one thing happening within the participant group? However I’ve no clue what the precise level is why we wrestle at dwelling. That is simply one thing we have to change.

James Maddison has sadly been out for a very long time, Dejan Kulusevski’s been out for a very long time, Dom Solanke has additionally been out for a very long time – that is three necessary gamers for us.

Once they come again, hopefully issues are going to alter. However we will not blame accidents for our dwelling kind being this dangerous. As a result of 15 factors, that is solely 5 wins. That is not acceptable, that is one thing we actually want to alter.

On what Spurs’ 2026 goals are…

First we’d like to ensure we play with stability, that we play extra constantly. There are too many ups and downs.

Then we simply need to play Europe subsequent yr, that is the massive intention – it is the place this membership must play. There’s the FA Cup nonetheless to play for, a stunning competitors. And we’re nonetheless within the Champions League.

And me personally, I simply need to be match for the entire season. After which there’s the World Cup. We now have some nice defenders in the mean time with the Netherlands, there’s some powerful selections to make for the gaffer.

I need to be there, my first World Cup could be an unbelievable expertise. I used to be there two years in the past for the Euros, one other large factor for me personally. And our probabilities? We now have a extremely good workforce however different international locations are actually robust. You’ll be able to have in the future the place you’ve an off day and you may return dwelling.