Micky van de Ven has shed light on the instructions he receives from his coach Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur. The Australian expects his team to always try to build up, no matter how risky.
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The risky build-up almost cost Tottenham a point in the North London Derby. After a good half-hour, Gabriel Jesus intercepted the ball around Tottenham's penalty area.
He squandered a massive opportunity, and Mikel Arteta said after the match that he saw that chance as a pivotal moment in the game. But for Postecoglou, that's the risk of the trade.
'I have to,' responds Van de Ven when asked by the English media about his role in Postecoglou's build-up intentions. 'There are players who don't like being on the ball, who are very afraid of losing it. But our coach tells us that we should keep trying. If we lose three balls in a row, he doesn't want us to kick the ball into the stands; he wants us to make another attempt.'
Some players might get nervous from this, but the Dutchman actually appreciates this approach. 'For me, as a central defender, it's nice that if you lose the ball and it leads to a big chance, the coach then yells at you to try it again. It gives us the confidence to keep building from the back. Of course, it's risky, but when it works, it always feels good.'
Updated: 11:00, 26 Sep 2023
