Micky van de Ven has rejected suggestions that he and his Tottenham teammates are indifferent to the club's relegation battle and are already planning their summer exits. The defender described such claims as 'nonsense' and insisted the squad is fully committed to turning things around.
Van de Ven has endured a difficult period, including a red card in the defeat to Crystal Palace and a poor performance against Atlético Madrid where he conceded a goal and narrowly avoided a second sending-off. His lunge at David Hancko while trailing 4-1 went unpunished, but his form has drawn criticism from some fans who once hailed him as a hero after his goalline clearance in last season's Europa League final victory over Manchester United.
Speaking ahead of the Champions League second leg against Atlético, Van de Ven addressed rumours about player attitudes. 'I've seen things … players are switched off or don't care about the situation,' he said. 'The only thing I can say is it's not true. It would be strange if a player was in the dressing room now and saying: “I'm going to leave either way.” It's just nonsense.'
The defender expressed frustration at fabricated stories affecting fan perception. 'People are just making things up and it's frustrating for us because it brings so much more trouble because the fans are starting to believe this,' he added. 'Trust me, all the people involved on the pitch … the staff, the players, everyone … they care so much about the situation we're in right now.'
Van de Ven acknowledged his recent performances have not been his best but vowed to give 100% to the club. 'I always give 100% to this club. And I will always do as long as I play,' he said. Interim manager Igor Tudor will welcome back Cristian Romero for the Atlético match, but João Palhinha remains sidelined after a concussion. Conor Gallagher is a major doubt due to illness, while Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall are available after injury.
Reflecting on Sunday's 1-1 draw at Liverpool, which he watched from home due to suspension, Van de Ven praised the team's mentality. 'I saw some unbelievable mentality from the team. It was a massive point. You see the guys fighting every second of the game,' he said, adding that Richarlison's 90th-minute equaliser sparked joy at his home.
