Tottenham have endured an awful season under Ange Postecoglou with injuries having blighted both their and Micky van de Ven seasons albeit the Dutchman has now returned to action
Micky van de Ven has revealed Ange Postecoglou is to blame for his limited appearances, but has rallied behind the under-pressure Tottenham boss. The North London side have endured a woeful campaign under the Australian this term.
Spurs sit 15th in the Premier League table having lost an astounding 17 league games throughout the campaign. In their defence, injuries have certainly not helped their cause.
Micky van de Ven has made just 16 appearances this term having been suffering for a hamstring problem. The former Wolfsburg centre-back has returned to contention over recent weeks but has been in and out of the side – a decision he claims is solely Postecoglou’s.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Spurs’ clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, he said: “Why I don’t play every week is a question for the gaffer not for me. I want to play every game. Football is what you love the most.”
Van de Ven was signed from Wolfsburg in 2023 for £43m and he immediately established himself as a crucial player in North London. Despite claiming that Postecoglou has been at the heart of his staggered return to the side, the defender is still fully behind his under-pressure boss.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou ignores blow to come out fighting over Spurs future – ‘I couldn’t care less’READ MORE: Spurs sent chilling five-word warning over fiery Frankfurt atmosphere for crunch clash
He added: “It hasn’t been our best season. The fans want us to play better, and do better in the games we lost, but when the whole team is strong we can achieve some beautiful things — hopefully we can show that to everyone who doubts us.
“We have trust in the gaffer and the way he wants us to play. We want to win for him, but also for us, the club and the fans. We want to achieve something this season and this is the best way to do it.”
Spurs and Postecoglou are under huge pressure ahead of Thursday’s Europa League decider against Eintracht Frankfurt. The two sides are level after the first leg as Hugo Ekitike and Pedro Porro both netted in North London.
Spurs’ chances have been handed a huge blow however, with another injury biting them. Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has been ruled out of the trip to Germany, with Postecoglou bemoaning his absence.
Should Spurs sack Ange Postecoglou? Share your thoughts in the comments below
He said: “Yeah, look it’s a blow but it’s consistent with everything else that’s happened this year, so it’s just another challenge for us to overcome. Unfortunate for him and he tried really hard.
“The reason we left him out at weekend was to give him time to recover because he’s been struggling with this foot thing for a couple of weeks now, but he couldn’t make it. You know, we’ve had these challenges all year and it’s just another we need to overcome.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports launches discounted Premier League package
£43
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £192 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.