Micky van de Ven expressed raw anger after Tottenham narrowly escaped Premier League relegation on the final day, branding their campaign "unacceptable" and "embarrassing" for a squad brimming with talent. The Dutch defender, captaining the side in the absence of injured skipper Cristian Romero, pulled no punches when reflecting on a season that saw Spurs fighting for survival until the last whistle.
Tottenham secured their top-flight status with a crucial 1-0 victory against Everton, with Joao Palhinha scoring the decisive goal just before half-time after reacting quickest to a rebound. The escape came under the guidance of Roberto De Zerbi, who took over when the club was already in freefall. After winning just seven matches from their opening 31 fixtures, De Zerbi orchestrated a remarkable turnaround with three wins, two draws, and two defeats across his first seven games in charge.
Van de Ven's Emotional Response to Survival
Speaking to BBC's Match of the Day, van de Ven did not spare words in his assessment: "It is unacceptable that the last game we played this season we play for relegation. This club has some unbelievable players. It was embarrassing to let it come to the final day, but we did it, and that is what is important." The centre-back, who played in 45 matches across all competitions including the Champions League, acknowledged the personal toll the season had taken on him.
Van de Ven's individual performances remained consistently strong despite the team's collective struggles. The defender registered seven goals and one assist across 3,943 minutes of action, demonstrating his importance to the backline. His contract runs until June 30, 2029, positioning him as a cornerstone of De Zerbi's rebuild. Palhinha echoed the sentiment of collective resilience, telling Sky Sports: "A lot of things happened this season but we showed today what we can do. After a bad season like this one, we showed up as a collective and had amazing support from the fans."
The survival represents both a relief and a wake-up call for the north London club. De Zerbi now faces the task of transforming Spurs' infrastructure and tactical approach to ensure they never face another battle against the drop. With summer ahead, recruitment and squad overhaul will be critical if Tottenham are to challenge for European places rather than fight relegation.
