Tottenham Star Van de Ven Admits Psychological Strain Amid Relegation Battle
Tottenham Hotspur's dismal season took another turn for the worse as they fell into the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this weekend, with defender Micky van de Ven openly discussing the mental challenges facing the squad. The north London club's losing run continued under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who suffered a defeat in his debut match at Sunderland on Sunday.
A Dire Run of Form
The 1-0 loss to Sunderland, courtesy of a deflected goal, marks Tottenham's seventh defeat in their last eight Premier League outings. This poor form has seen them slip into the bottom three, following West Ham's emphatic victory over Wolves on Friday night. Van de Ven, a Europa League winner with Tottenham last season, acknowledged the psychological impact of this slump, stating that regaining confidence is crucial but difficult.
In an interview with Sky Sports, he said: "I don't even think we played a bad game today, we created some opportunities to score and they didn't create much. That is the moment we are in, everything doesn't fall on our sides. At the final whistle, it's really tough." He added, "Mentally, it's tough. We have been suffering for the last few months when we don't get wins in the Premier League and keep struggling. We need to get the confidence back. It's really tough, we need to make sure we find this back."
De Zerbi's Uphill Challenge
Roberto De Zerbi, appointed as Tottenham's third manager this season on a lucrative deal, brings a reputation for attractive football from his time at Brighton. However, Van de Ven emphasised that results, not just performances, are vital for survival, with De Zerbi's tactical ideas requiring time to implement effectively.
The Dutch defender explained: "Every manager has their own opinion of the game and Roberto wants us to play out more from the back. That's what he asked. He wants us to play with confidence and that is what we need to build but we don't have a long time left. We need to do it now." With only six games remaining in the season, the pressure is mounting as Tottenham fight to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Focus on the Relegation Battle
Van de Ven admitted that it is impossible to ignore the results of other teams in the relegation scrap, especially after West Ham's win and Nottingham Forest securing a point. Leeds United's upcoming match against Manchester United on Monday night adds further uncertainty to the battle at the bottom of the table.
He commented: "You don't want to look at the other results and just need to win. You can't say you don't look at the other team. Six games left to get as many points as possible. There is pressure now as we are in the relegation zone but we need to make sure we get out of this situation." The defender's candid remarks highlight the intense psychological strain on players as Tottenham navigate this critical period, with their top-flight status hanging in the balance.
