Micky van de Ven issues message after Tottenham injury nightmare

Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has expressed optimism that his injury struggles are finally behind him after successfully completing an hour of play in his latest return to the pitch.

The Dutch centre-back, who has been sidelined for much of the season due to recurring hamstring issues, delivered a strong performance in Spurs’ 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, helping the team secure a quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Van de Ven believes Tottenham can still achieve “something special” this season by lifting the Europa League trophy, despite a challenging campaign marked by setbacks and inconsistencies.

Van de Ven’s return to the starting lineup marked his first significant appearance since a brief comeback in late January. The 23-year-old has endured a frustrating season, suffering two separate hamstring injuries since initially pulling up in the match against Manchester City in October.

His attempts to return to action against Chelsea in December and Elfsborg in January were both cut short, as he reaggravated the injury on each occasion. However, his latest outing against AZ Alkmaar has given him renewed confidence in his fitness and form.

“It’s been really difficult—it has been a long time,” Van de Ven admitted. “My first injury happened against City, then against Chelsea I had a re-injury, and afterwards some little problems. It was really tough, but I’m really happy to be back and just make sure I’m staying fit now for the rest of the season. I’m really excited and happy to be back. I came through the 60 minutes feeling well. I feel good, so hopefully I can build up from this.”

The defender’s previous return against Elfsborg on January 30 lasted only 45 minutes, with Van de Ven reporting discomfort in his hamstring after the game.

While head coach Ange Postecoglou clarified that the issue was not a new injury, he revealed that the club had taken a cautious approach to ensure the player’s long-term fitness. This included consulting specialists to address the “mechanics” of Van de Ven’s body, including his running style, to minimize the risk of future injuries.

“It was just some problems, and I didn’t really feel comfortable—that was the thing,” Van de Ven explained. “The gaffer and the medical team made a decision to manage my training and match minutes to make sure I was 100 per cent fit when I came back.

I was 100 per cent fit for sure, but after the Elfsborg game, I didn’t really feel comfortable in myself. I wanted to keep pushing, but they made the decision to hold me back to ensure I was fully ready. Of course, you need to work on your running technique, and I did that at my former club, Volendam. I know what to do, but now the specialists from outside Spurs are helping me with my hamstring and other things. It’s really good to have them here.”

Van de Ven’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for Tottenham, who are looking to salvage their season with a strong Europa League run. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg against AZ Alkmaar, Spurs turned the tie around with a dominant performance at home.

Wilson Odobert scored twice, while James Maddison added a third goal to secure a 3-1 victory on the night and a 3-2 aggregate win. Van de Ven praised the team’s mentality and determination, highlighting their ability to overcome adversity.

“I think we played a really good game overall,” he said. “Of course, it was a difficult game because we were 1-0 behind, so we had to turn it around. From the first minute, as a team, we showed we really wanted to change the result in 90 minutes, and the team did an unbelievable job.

We all have trust in the gaffer and the team. It has been a really difficult season for us, of course, but we showed our mentality tonight, and hopefully, we can build on this and take it into the next round.”

With Tottenham eliminated from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, and their Premier League campaign proving inconsistent, the Europa League represents their last chance to secure silverware this season. Van de Ven is confident that the team has the quality and determination to go all the way in the competition.

“We’re out of the Carabao and FA Cup, and the Premier League has been a difficult season, so of course, this is a competition we can definitely win,” he said. “I don’t want to look too far ahead, but we can do a good job. I have trust in this team and in the gaffer, so hopefully, we can do something special.”

Van de Ven’s return to fitness and form is a significant boost for Tottenham as they prepare for their quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt. His composure, pace, and defensive intelligence will be crucial as Spurs aim to navigate the challenges of the Europa League and keep their hopes of a trophy alive.

For Van de Ven, staying injury-free and contributing to the team’s success is now the priority, as he looks to put a difficult season behind him and help Tottenham achieve something memorable.