Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has described the club's season as 'embarrassing' despite securing Premier League survival with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Everton on the final day. The win, courtesy of a Joao Palhinha goal, marked Spurs' first home league triumph since December 6 and sparked wild celebrations as they avoided relegation at the expense of West Ham United.
Van de Ven's Emotional Outburst
Speaking after the match, the Dutch centre-back did not hold back his frustration. 'It is unacceptable that the last game we played this season we play for relegation. This club has some unbelievable players,' van de Ven said. 'It was embarrassing to let it come to the final day but we did it and that is what is important. To be honest I was more emotional at the end of the final whistle, it has been a tough season for me personally as well. I played almost every game and I have suffered a lot, the emotions are really happy and we must not let it happen again.'
De Zerbi's Relief and Resolve
Manager Roberto De Zerbi, who became Tottenham's third manager of the season just last month, described keeping the club up as the biggest achievement of his career. 'We are Tottenham and we cannot suffer from the last second of the last match of the season. My target has been to stay up and now my next target is to build a team for the next season,' De Zerbi said. 'Today was unbelievable. From where we were, it was the best day in my career along with taking Brighton into Europe. The fans were incredible. I suffered a lot through the game but my life is so nice because of the pressure in football. Without that pressure it would not be nice.'
Looking Ahead
De Zerbi emphasised the need for squad improvement. 'Next season we have to build a top, top, top team. We don't have to change too many players in our squad but we have to bring in some first level players.' Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive season, narrowly avoiding the drop. The club's fans will hope this narrow escape serves as a wake-up call for a brighter future.
