Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has made it clear: only lifting the Europa League trophy in Bilbao will define this season as a success for the North London club. As Spurs prepare for a high-stakes, all-English final against Manchester United, the Dutch centre-back insists that Ange Postecoglou’s side will play with courage and confidence, not fear.
Tottenham secured their place in the final with a commanding 2-0 win away at Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, completing a 5-1 aggregate triumph in what turned out to be a one-sided semi-final clash. While Spurs have struggled to maintain consistency in the Premier League—drawing criticism and increasing pressure on Postecoglou—their European campaign has remained a bright spot. Now, with just one match standing between them and their first piece of silverware in 17 years, belief is building within the squad.
Their opponents, Manchester United, come into the final on the back of impressive wins against Athletic Bilbao. With a rich recent history in domestic and European cup competitions, United represent a stern test. However, Spurs hold a psychological edge, having defeated Erik ten Hag’s men three times already this season. Despite injuries to key players such as James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, and captain Son Heung-min, Van de Ven is confident the team can rise to the occasion.
“To be in a European final with Tottenham means a lot—for the fans, for the club, and personally, it’s a huge achievement,” said Van de Ven. “We understand that anything can happen in a final, but we’re not heading to Bilbao afraid. We know our quality, and we respect what Manchester United have done in this competition, but we’re going there to win.”
He added, “It’s been a tough campaign for all of us. A season full of challenges. But if we come back with the trophy, all of that will be worth it. That’s what will make this season truly successful.”
For Van de Ven, the path to the final has been particularly difficult. After picking up a hamstring injury in October, he suffered a series of setbacks during the winter months that kept him sidelined for nearly four months. Fellow centre-back Cristian Romero also endured injury troubles during the same period. However, since reuniting in the knockout stages, the pair have formed a formidable partnership, helping Tottenham shut down attacks from AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bodo/Glimt.
“Cuti [Romero] is a phenomenal player,” Van de Ven said, praising his Argentine teammate. “He brings such strong mentality, he’s calm on the ball and aggressive when he needs to be. You can tell he’s used to these high-pressure games. He lifts the rest of us. Playing alongside him is natural—we read each other’s game, we communicate well, and we trust each other fully.”
Van de Ven admits that the season has been filled with ups and downs on a personal level. “It’s been a frustrating few months with injuries, and I haven’t played as many games as I wanted. But now, I’m heading into the first final of my professional career—it feels surreal. Hopefully, I can end the season on a high.”
Tottenham’s long history of near-misses and unfulfilled potential has led to questions about the mentality and ambition within the club, especially under the current leadership. But Van de Ven believes this group has broken that narrative. The resilience shown in knockout fixtures—particularly in tough away matches like the one in Frankfurt—has revealed a hardened, more determined Spurs side.
“We’ve shown we can be streetwise,” he said. “Reaching a European final is proof of the mentality shift. People questioned us going into the Bodo/Glimt game because of their incredible home record in Europe, but we showed character, focus, and discipline. We did what we had to do. We kept a clean sheet, handled the pressure, and got the job done.”
With just one game remaining, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win in Bilbao would mark a historic moment for Tottenham and give fans a long-awaited reason to celebrate. For Van de Ven and his teammates, there’s no looking back—only one goal remains.
“Now it’s all about that final step. We’re not just happy to be there—we’re going to Bilbao to bring the trophy home.”
