Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has showcased his brilliance time and again under Thomas Frank this season
Tottenham managed to beat Villarreal 1-0 to secure all three points in the first Champions League game of the season. The Lilywhites were nowhere near their best and got somewhat leggy as the game progressed. But one man that stood out tall for the North London club was prolific centre-back Micky van de Ven.
The Dutchman proved to be a vital player for Spurs, intercepting all attacks and breaking down opposition play. As per Sofascore, Van de Ven made four clearances, had a 93% passing accuracy, and won three of his six ground duels. However, it is fair to say that the 24-year-old also had a moment to forget after bringing down a Villarreal player on the edge of the box during the latter stages of the game.
The prolific centre-back was lucky to only get a yellow card for his last man tackle. To be fair to him, Van de Ven was clearly going for the ball and had no intention of bringing the opposition player down when he made contact at the edge of the box. But the Dutchman’s overall game was solid, and he was arguably one of the contenders for the ‘Man of the Match’ award.
Micky van de Ven continued his good form for Tottenham in the UCL
Fans will be happy to see Micky van de Ven performing consistently for Tottenham week in week out. His partnership with Cristian Romero has grown stronger under Thomas Frank, with both players complementing each other’s game well. With the help of the Dutchman, the Lilywhites have now registered four clean sheets in five games already under Thomas Frank.
Now, football commentator Conor McNamara has highlighted Van de Ven’s brilliant performance against Villarreal. Speaking on BBC Sport, McNamara said,
“There was a control that Tottenham were able to exert here, where they just shut down their opponent. So much to be admired, particularly Micky van de Ven. He was immense.”
Conor McNamara indicated that Tottenham excelled in shutting down opposition attacks, even though the Lilywhites were not at their best going forward themselves. The football commentator then highlighted Van de Ven’s importance to the squad, suggesting that the Dutchman stood tall and intercepted every Villarreal attack down his side.
Van de Ven has now followed up his brilliant performance against West Ham with an ‘immense’ performance against Villarreal in the Champions League. The 24-year-old is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon under Thomas Frank. And it is fair to say that the ex-Wolfsburg star is enjoying life under the Danish tactician.