Alan Shearer leaps to the defence of Tottenham Hotspur duo Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie
Two years ago, nine-man Tottenham were soundly beaten by Chelsea at home in the Premier League. The Lilywhites finished the game with two red cards and four goals conceded, handing the visitors a crucial win at N17. Yet, despite the defeat, the Spurs players were applauded by the home fans as they walked off the pitch for showing remarkable courage and determination against all odds.
Fast forward to the present, and Thomas Frank’s Tottenham looked nothing like that spirited side. Against the same opponent and will all eleven players on the pitch, Spurs were well below their usual standards. They ultimately lost by a single goal, but the scoreline flattered them, thanks to Guglielmo Vicario’s heroics between the posts.
When the final whistle blew, boos echoes around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. To make matters worse, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence walked straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the supporter, visibly frustrating Thomas Frank in the process. Both defenders were at fault for the only goal of the game, and their decision of not approaching the fans and apologize only deepened the crowd’s frustration.
Tottenham duo Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven took the spotlight following club’s defeat against Chelsea
Tottenham looked second best throughout the contest, as Chelsea cruised to victory with relative ease. The pragmatic setup chosen by Frank, combined with defensive lapses, led to one of Spurs’ most uninspired performances of the season. Van de Ven and Spence’s hasty exit did little to ease tensions, with sections of the fanbase voicing their anger as the pair disappeared down the tunnel.
But, amid all the backlash, Alan Shearer stepped in to defend the two players, offering a different perspective on the situation. Speaking on BBC Match of the Day (via X), Shearer said,
“They’ve been an embarrassment today and they’ve been booed off the pitch. I get they (Van de Ven and Spence) don’t want to just go out. They want to get off the pitch and head straight into the dressing room and then say they are sorry later on.”
The legendary striker added,
“I get it and understand it. As much as Thomas Frank likes to go around and thank the fans and clap the fans, I get the players’ point of view that they’ve been absolutely awful and they want to get off the pitch as quick as possible.”
Alan Shearer, being an ex-player himself, understood why Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven chose to walk off the pitch as soon as the game ended. The legendary striker suggested that the Spurs defenders were simply trying to avoid further embarrassment after a disappointing display. Shearer urged supporters not to read too much into the incident, noting that the players likely needed space to reflect before facing the fans again.
While their reaction may not have been ideal, it is at least understandable given the circumstances. The only real concern was the way they appeared to ignore Thomas Frank, who tried to stop them as they made their way off the field. Considering how poor both defenders were against the Blues, the optics were not good.
Tottenham will now have a chance to respond when they face FC Copenhagen in the Champions League in a few days’ time. The upcoming fixture presents the perfect opportunity for Van de Ven and Spence to redeem themselves and show the fans that their intentions after the Chelsea match were not disrespectful, but rather driven by frustration and disappointment.
