The current state of Tottenham Hotspur is undeniably grim. There is no point in sugarcoating the reality: the club has been atrocious this season. While it is true that a tidal wave of injuries has swept through the squad, leaving the roster thin and the tactics compromised, that alone cannot excuse the position in which the North Londoners find themselves.
As the threat of relegation to the Championship looms larger with every passing week, the club is searching for a way out of the darkness. Igor Tudor, who stepped in to replace Thomas Frank on an interim basis, has openly acknowledged the mountain he has to climb. His predecessor left the stadium with a win rate of just 27%, the lowest of any manager in the club’s Premier League history, leaving behind a team that had forgotten how to win.
To escape this nightmare, Tottenham needs more than just tactical tweaks; they need their leaders to stand tall. With Cristian Romero currently unavailable due to suspension, the weight of the captaincy and the responsibility of the backline have fallen squarely on the shoulders of Micky van de Ven.
The 24-year-old Dutchman must look at the league table with a sense of disbelief, especially given the constant rumors linking him to global giants like Real Madrid and Liverpool. Yet, he remains the heartbeat of the defense. Van de Ven has captained the side several times this year, and while Romero has struggled to lead by example, his younger teammate has become the person the rest of the squad looks to for direction.
Van de Ven is a rare breed of defender who combines ferocious speed with a genuine ability to inspire those around him. He has shown a remarkable commitment to self-improvement even as the team’s form has plummeted.
Last season, he won less than half of his ground duels, but through sheer hard work, that success rate has jumped to 62% this year. He is fighting tooth and nail to keep the club afloat, but even a player of his caliber cannot do it alone. He has been failed by the inconsistency of those around him, and for Spurs to survive, they need other influential figures to emerge from the shadows.
Surprisingly, one of the most vital players in this survival mission is a man who was initially seen as a simple, pragmatic addition to the squad. When Joao Palhinha arrived on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich last summer, many viewed him as a “destroyer” designed to shore up the midfield—a new version of Victor Wanyama.
Critics noted that he lacked the traditional “Tottenham flair” and creative spark, but in a relegation scrap, flair is a luxury the club can no longer afford. What they need is steel, and Palhinha provides that in abundance.
The 30-year-old Portuguese international has become a monstrous force in the center of the park. While he might not be the most agile player on the pitch, his defensive contributions are unmatched. He averages nearly four tackles and six successful duels per game, acting as a human shield for a defense that has often looked porous.
Perhaps most importantly, in a season where Tottenham has been the second-clumsiest team in the league committing eight direct errors that led to goals Palhinha has remained remarkably disciplined. He has yet to make a single individual mistake that resulted in a goal.
| Premier League 25/26 – Most Tackles Won | Appearances | Tackles Won |
| Joao Palhinha (Tottenham) | 24 | 88 |
| James Garner (Everton) | 27 | 81 |
| Elliot Anderson (Nottm Forest) | 27 | 76 |
| Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) | 27 | 76 |
| Joao Gomes (Wolves) | 26 | 75 |
Palhinha’s style is reminiscent of the prime years of Wanyama, who is still fondly remembered for his combative presence during the club’s more successful eras. Like Wanyama, Palhinha is more than just a tackler; he has a knack for popping up with spectacular finishes when the team is desperate for a breakthrough, as he did against Bournemouth earlier this year.
He currently leads the entire Premier League in tackles won, proving why experts have described him as a “defensive monster” and a “tackling machine.”
As the club enters the final stretch of the season, Palhinha has arguably become the most important player in Tudor’s system. In a period where the team must knuckle down, stop the errors, and fight for every single point, his error-free and aggressive style of play is exactly what is required.
While stars like Kolo Muani struggle for consistency and the injury list remains a headache, Palhinha provides a reliable foundation. If Tottenham is to maintain its Premier League status, it will be because players like Van de Ven and Palhinha refused to let the standard drop any further.
The road ahead is difficult, and the margin for error has disappeared. Tudor’s challenge is to build a cohesive unit around these few dependable pillars. The fans are restless, and the pressure is suffocating, but with a tackling machine in the middle and a sprinting leader at the back, Spurs at least have the tools to fight back. Survival won’t be pretty, and it won’t involve much “flair,” but with leaders like these, it is still within reach.
