Tottenham’s standout performer, Micky van de Ven, has provided clarity on the whirlwind of media attention following their narrow 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, amid accusations of an apparent disregard towards boss Thomas Frank.
In the closing moments of their loss against the Blues, Van de Ven and teammate Djed Spence were spotted bypassing Frank’s call to acknowledge the travelling fans. This perceived slight led to a frosty exchange on the touchline, which quickly became a hot topic on social media platforms.
Renowned pundit Micah Richards, among others, censured the Spurs players, labelling their actions as “disgraceful”. However, Van de Ven has moved to pour water on the flames, insisting that their tunnel exit was purely a manifestation of frustration over their performance rather than any defiance toward Frank’s instructions.
Speaking candidly on Tuesday, Van de Ven expressed: “It’s all in the past and honestly not as big as it’s been made out to be. Djed and I were simply frustrated post-match, and the media frenzy that followed was surreal. Contrary to belief, it wasn’t about the gaffer at all.”
The Dutch defender continued, revealing his personal disappointment: “We were irked because of a subpar performance on my part. Our intent was to depart quickly, but media coverage blew it out of proportion.”
In a complete turn of fortunes, Van de Ven delivered a spectacular performance on Tuesday, netting an astonishing solo goal during Spurs’ emphatic 4-0 Champions League triumph over Copenhagen. With a light-hearted remark, Frank likened the centre-back’s dazzling run to the genius of Lionel Messi.
“Tonight, it was as if Lionel Messi morphed into Micky van de Ven,” quipped Frank post-match. “Charging from one end to the other for a splendid finish, he’s proving to be our ace scorer across competitions. He’s welcome to keep striding past me if it accompanies such performances!”
Reflecting on Tottenham’s spirited display against the Danes, Van de Ven concluded: “The supporters were brilliant, and a strong performance always elevates the atmosphere. Saturday’s derby was a letdown for us and for the fans. A positive reaction was pivotal, and we delivered on that front.”