Micky van de Ven reacts as Liverpool finalise blockbuster agreement
Tottenham Hotspur will need their top-calibre players to perform out of their skin on Thursday night to secure a spot in the Europa League semi-finals.
Ange Postecoglou has the majority of his first-choice side now available as they head to Germany in search of the passage to the last four which will keep their season – and probably their head coach’s employment – very much alive.
Spurs drew the first leg 1-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and could be inclined to go unchanged from last week into phase two on the Main (17 April).
Micky van de Ven reacts to teammate Liverpool news
As Tottenham prepare for part two of their all-or-nothing tie in Germany, many expect Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero to partner up in the centre of defence.
Romero has garnered immense criticism from Spurs fans in recent days as an already-strained relationship wore down even further, as he headed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle of the 4-2 defeat at Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday (13 April).
Van de Ven has been active on social media on Thursday in the hours approaching the game, lending his support to Netherlands international teammate Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk has signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool which keeps him Europe’s highest-paid defender (David Ornstein, 17 April), and van de Ven liked his fellow centre-half’s Instagram post committing himself to the Liverpool fans.
Spurs and Liverpool have already faced off three times in all competitions this season, with Postecoglou’s side claiming one win to the Reds’ two.
Van de Ven, however, missed all three of the contests through injury, though should be available on 27 April to face van Dijk’s side at Anfield in the league.
Tottenham Hotspur need colossal van de Ven display in Frankfurt
Tottenham need to squeeze as much of the clear capabilities of their team out of each player as possible in Germany on Thursday.
They have to play for their badge, their head coach and their prospects of European football next season – namely the Champions League. They can go from villains to overnight heroes if they lift the Europa League and end the horrific 17-year trophy-absent hoodoo.
Van de Ven will be crucial to how Postecoglou wants to play – though the latter part of that statement may well fill Spurs supporters with dread based on how this term has panned out.
| Tottenham Hotspur – 2024-25 | Goals conceded per game |
| With van de Ven | 1.12 |
| Without van de Ven | 1.59 |
Frankfurt have the home advantage and the pedigree in this competition, but Spurs have pound-for-pound superior players.
From an outside perspective and taking all the ill feeling out of the equation, these two are near-impossible to split.