Tottenham Defender Blasts 'Nonsense' Claims Over Player Commitment
Micky van de Ven has launched a fierce defence of Tottenham Hotspur's squad unity, branding recent reports that some players "don't care" about the club's relegation battle as "the biggest nonsense." The Dutch centre-back directly addressed claims that one Spurs star had told teammates he was "not too concerned" about potential relegation, believing he could secure a summer transfer.
Van de Ven's Passionate Rebuttal
Speaking ahead of Tottenham's crucial Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid, Van de Ven revealed the squad reacted with surprise and frustration to the allegations. "Reporters say some things and you think how do you even come up with this that players have switched off and don't care about the situation what is happening right now," he stated.
"The only thing I can say about this is that it is not true," Van de Ven emphasised. "It would be strange if a player was in the dressing room and saying I am going to leave or I don't focus on the situation because it doesn't effect me."
He described the reports as "just nonsense" that create unnecessary trouble by misleading fans. "People start believing it. It is the biggest nonsense, everyone is focused on what is in front of us," Van de Ven insisted.
Call for Fan Trust Amid Relegation Fight
The defender made a direct appeal to supporters, urging them to maintain faith in the squad's dedication. "They start saying 'the guys don't care about what is happening in the club'. Trust me all the people involved, the players, the staff, everyone cares so much about the situation we are in right now," he said.
Van de Ven also addressed his personal commitment, revealing he apologised to teammates for his "game-changing" red card in Tottenham's 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace earlier this month. "For me it is frustrating," he admitted. "People make something up and then people start thinking about me in a different way."
"I just want to stay fit and turn things around," he declared. "The last games from my side haven't been the best, but the most important thing is that I keep showing I give 100 per cent to this club and I will always do as long as I play here."
Team Morale and Upcoming Challenges
Van de Ven shared that he celebrated from home when Richarlison scored a 90th-minute equaliser against Liverpool on Sunday, a 1-1 draw that ended Tottenham's run of six consecutive defeats. The result leaves Spurs just one point above the relegation zone ahead of a critical match against Nottingham Forest this weekend.
First, Tottenham face the daunting task of overturning a 5-2 first-leg deficit against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Interim manager Igor Tudor acknowledged the challenge, stating, "It is a game we should play to pass [to the next round]. The main goal is to focus on this game, even knowing that our first thing is to stay in the league."
Tudor has received positive injury news ahead of the match:
- Lucas Bergvall has returned to training after ankle surgery in January
- Destiny Udogie is also back in training
- Cristian Romero is available after missing the Liverpool match due to concussion
However, Tottenham will be without Joao Palhinha through injury and Richarlison through suspension. Tudor confirmed Bergvall and Udogie could be named on the bench for Wednesday's crucial European encounter.
