Ange Postecoglou confirms Fresh Van de Ven update after his hamstring injury
Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven suffered a hamstring injury during Spurs’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup’s fourth round. The win advances Tottenham into the quarterfinals, where they’ll face Manchester United. While the victory was crucial for keeping Spurs’ cup ambitions alive, it came at a cost, with three players – Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Timo Werner – all having to be substituted due to injuries or fatigue concerns.
The game saw Van de Ven starting in the left-back role, stepping into a critical defensive position against the attacking threat of Manchester City. Early on, however, Van de Ven was seen clutching the back of his right leg after sprinting back to make a tackle on Savinho, a move that seemed to aggravate his hamstring. His visible discomfort was immediate, and it forced Postecoglou to make an early substitution, bringing in Destiny Udogie to fill the gap at left-back.
After the game, Postecoglou gave an update on Van de Ven’s condition, acknowledging that the Dutchman had “felt something in his hamstring” and would need further assessment. “Micky felt something in his hamstring,” Postecoglou explained. “We haven’t got a full update on him yet, but he definitely felt it, and we’ll be checking to see how he’s doing.”
This is a particularly concerning setback for Spurs, as Van de Ven previously missed around two months last season due to a hamstring injury that occurred at a similar point in the campaign. With the Carabao Cup quarterfinals approaching and the demands of the Premier League schedule, Tottenham will be anxiously awaiting news on Van de Ven’s condition, hoping to avoid another prolonged absence for the young defender, who has become a crucial part of their defensive lineup.
But Van de Ven wasn’t the only player who raised injury concerns during the match. Center-back Cristian Romero, affectionately nicknamed “Cuti” by fans, was replaced early in the second half. Postecoglou later revealed he had been considering substituting Romero at halftime due to signs of fatigue but opted to let him play on for a bit longer due to Van de Ven’s injury. However, it soon became clear that Romero was pushing his physical limits, and Postecoglou eventually decided to take him off to avoid further risk.
“Cuti was a bit tired,” Postecoglou shared. “I was actually contemplating taking him off at halftime, but after losing Micky, I didn’t want to lose another center-half too soon. Cuti mentioned he felt okay, but I had a feeling it would be better to bring him off rather than take any unnecessary risks, especially since we had Benny available to come on.”
Meanwhile, Timo Werner, who scored one of Tottenham’s first-half goals, also encountered physical issues. He was seen struggling after taking a corner, which led Postecoglou to attribute Werner’s struggles primarily to fatigue. Werner has not had much playing time recently, so Postecoglou suggested that the limited action in recent matches may have taken its toll on the forward. “Timo hasn’t played much lately, so I’m hopeful this is just fatigue rather than an actual injury,” Postecoglou commented.
Despite the substitutions and the potential impact on his squad depth, Postecoglou’s Tottenham showed remarkable resilience, securing the win over City with two first-half goals. Werner’s opener and a well-taken strike from Pape Matar Sarr gave Spurs the upper hand, forcing City to chase the game. Reflecting on the performance, Postecoglou praised the team for their disciplined approach and relentless defending, as well as their ability to capitalize on their chances against a formidable opponent.
“It was a very important win for us,” Postecoglou said. “In cup competitions, you have to keep winning to move forward, so tonight’s result was crucial. We knew facing a team like Manchester City would be tough – they’re an incredible side and will challenge you in every possible way. But I thought we defended very well, keeping them from having too many clear-cut chances, which is no small feat against a team like City.”
Postecoglou further elaborated on how the team struck a balance between defensive structure and attacking ambition. Tottenham not only held their ground defensively but also created several high-quality chances that could have increased their lead. “We showed great resilience,” he added. “Manchester City will press you, force you to dig deep, and ask questions of every player on the pitch. For the most part, I think we handled that pressure really well. We had some excellent attacking moments where we could’ve finished the game off, but I was pleased with the way we managed to hold firm until the end.”
Tottenham’s upcoming quarterfinal clash against Manchester United is now highly anticipated, but it hinges on the availability of key players like Van de Ven, Romero, and Werner, who have all become integral to Postecoglou’s vision for the team. Postecoglou will likely be hoping that these injuries are minor setbacks rather than serious issues, allowing his full-strength squad to continue competing on multiple fronts.
In the meantime, Tottenham fans will have their fingers crossed, awaiting updates on these players’ fitness as Spurs gear up for a decisive stretch of the season. With a mixture of youthful energy and defensive discipline, Postecoglou’s Tottenham has shown they can rise to the occasion even when facing challenges, but the upcoming fixture list will require depth and resilience from every player.