Top News

Micky van de Ven has voiced his deep frustration over Tottenham Hotspur’s disastrous season, which saw the club barely survive relegation from the Premier League on the final day. Despite Roberto De Zerbi orchestrating a remarkable escape, the stand-in captain described the campaign as completely “unacceptable” and “embarrassing” for a team brimming with top-quality players.

De Zerbi leads Spurs to survival

Tottenham confirmed their Premier League safety on the final day with a crucial 1-0 win over Everton. The turnaround was engineered by De Zerbi, who took charge mid-crisis and guided the team to safety. Before his appointment, Spurs had managed to win only seven of their first 31 league games. Under the Italian manager, they recorded three victories, two draws, and two losses in his first seven matches to remain in the top flight. Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day, Van de Ven, who captained the side in place of the injured Cristian Romero, did not hide his anger or disappointment at the situation.

Van de Ven’s candid reaction

Van de Ven said: “It is unacceptable that in the last game of the season we were still fighting relegation. This club has some incredible players. It’s embarrassing that it came down to the final day, but we managed to survive and that’s what matters.”

He continued: “Honestly, I was very emotional when the final whistle blew. It’s been a tough season for me personally too. I’ve played almost every match and gone through a lot. Right now, the emotions are of happiness, but we must make sure this never happens again.”

Palhinha looks ahead to progress

Match-winner Joao Palhinha also reflected on the challenging season. The Portuguese midfielder reacted fastest to convert a rebound off the post just before half-time, securing the vital win. Palhinha praised the determination his teammates displayed under De Zerbi’s management. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “A lot has happened this season, but today we showed what we’re capable of. After such a poor campaign, we came together as a team and got incredible support from our fans.”

What lies ahead for Tottenham?

De Zerbi is expected to rebuild the squad around key players such as Van de Ven, whose current contract runs until June 30, 2029. Despite Tottenham’s overall struggles, the Dutch defender enjoyed a strong individual season, featuring in 45 matches across all competitions, including the Champions League, while scoring seven goals and providing one assist in 3,943 minutes of play. The club’s focus will now shift toward restructuring the squad and ensuring they never endure another campaign like this again.