Micky van de Ven didn’t hesitate to light-heartedly tease his fellow young Tottenham centre-back Ashley Phillips on social media following their friendly win against Hearts. The Dutchman, who has been taking some well-deserved rest after representing the Netherlands at the Euros, has clearly been keeping a close eye on his club’s activities during his downtime.
Despite enjoying his break, the 23-year-old van de Ven tuned in to watch Tottenham’s 5-1 victory over Heart of Midlothian on Wednesday evening. The match was a significant one for Spurs, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming season. Van de Ven, an active presence on social media, quickly engaged with Phillips’ post-match Instagram update the following day.
Phillips had every reason to be proud of his performance. The 19-year-old defender delivered a solid display in the second half, contributing to a comprehensive team performance. Initially, it seemed like Phillips had capped off his night with the final goal of the match, following earlier strikes from Brennan Johnson, Will Lankshear, Mikey Moore, and Djed Spence. However, it was later clarified that Phillips, who had an impressive stint at Plymouth Argyle last season and was named their Young Player of the Season, did not get the final touch on the ball. Instead, under pressure from Phillips, a Hearts defender inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net after a header from Dane Scarlett, set up by a cross from Lucas Bergvall, was parried.
When Phillips posted a series of photos from the game on Instagram, captioned “Good start to pre-season,” his teammates were quick to respond. New arrival Lucas Bergvall and others left supportive and encouraging comments. Van de Ven, with his characteristic sense of humor, couldn’t resist a friendly jab, commenting, “Claiming an own goal….”. Phillips, showing his good nature, later responded with, “Always my goal,” demonstrating the camaraderie and banter that exists within the team.
This interaction highlights not only the friendly competition but also the close-knit relationships within the squad. Currently, Phillips is the only natural centre-back available for Tottenham, with van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, and Cristian Romero all taking time off after their international duties at the Euros and Copa America. This shortage in the defensive line led manager Ange Postecoglou to deploy midfielders Archie Gray and Oliver Skipp in defensive roles during the first half of the game in Edinburgh.
Looking ahead, Dragusin is expected to return for Spurs’ upcoming tour to Asia, which begins next week. However, it remains uncertain whether van de Ven will join him. Although van de Ven played fewer minutes in the Euros, his tournament ended later due to the Netherlands’ extended run before being knocked out by England in the semi-finals. This scheduling means that his availability for the tour is still in question, as he may require additional rest to recover fully.
This period of pre-season is crucial for Tottenham as they prepare for the challenges of the upcoming season. The performances of young talents like Phillips and the experienced guidance of players like van de Ven will be instrumental in shaping the team’s prospects. The friendly banter on social media is a testament to the positive atmosphere within the squad, which can only bode well for their cohesion and performance on the pitch.
