Micky van de Ven Prepares Tottenham for Final Match Against Everton
Micky van de Ven has shared a candid pre-match analysis ahead of Sunday’s crucial final match against Everton, urging Tottenham to harness the positive momentum established under Roberto De Zerbi to conclude a tumultuous season on a high note.
The Dutch center-back approached the team’s recent loss to Chelsea with a clear mindset, determined not to let it affect the growing confidence within the squad. He stated (h/t Chris Cowlin on X):
“I wouldn’t say Chelsea was a step back. That was the first loss in five games. There were so many things that could have changed the situation. If you flip the penalty moment, we could get a draw. In the last 20 minutes, we played good offensive football. There’s also, of course, a lot of things that we can learn from that game, but all the positives we can take into Everton.”
Reflecting on Tottenham’s season, Van de Ven, Tottenham’s most-valuable player, acknowledged the self-inflicted challenges the team faces but also noted the positive changes since De Zerbi’s arrival.
“I think lately we’ve shown our quality. We’ve shown how we can play, and obviously for a club like Tottenham, it shouldn’t be possible that we’re in the situation we’re in right now. We brought ourselves into this situation, but if you see how we have played lately and since Roberto came in, the positiveness of how we play now and the more offensive football we play, I think we just need to stay up.”
For the upcoming match, his directive was straightforward: focus on securing three points and closing the door on a challenging season. It is clear that Van de Ven aims for a decisive end to a season fraught with difficulties.
Van de Ven Confounded by Tottenham’s Home Struggles
One issue Van de Ven admits he cannot explain is the team’s disappointing home form. “The home form hasn’t been acceptable, but there’s not something going on when we play a home game. I’ve seriously no clue.” With just two home wins this season and ten defeats, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has posed challenges for the team. Sunday presents a key opportunity to rectify this record in what is arguably the most important game of the campaign.