Micky van de Ven issues to message to fans after his fresh Tottenham injury nightmare vs AZ

Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven is optimistic that his injury setbacks are finally behind him after successfully completing an hour on his return to the side. The Dutch centre-half featured in Spurs’ 3-1 Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar, helping his team secure a spot in the quarter-finals against Eintracht Frankfurt next month.
Van de Ven, who has endured a frustrating season due to hamstring issues, believes that Tottenham can still achieve “something special” this season by winning the Europa League, despite the challenges they’ve faced in other competitions.

A Frustrating Road to Recovery

The 23-year-old defender initially suffered a hamstring injury against Manchester City in October, which kept him sidelined for an extended period. His return has been marred by false starts, with setbacks against Chelsea in December and then again in January when he briefly featured in a Europa League match against Elfsborg. Each time, he was forced back onto the sidelines, leading to a careful rehabilitation process.
Reflecting on his difficult journey, van de Ven admitted how tough it had been:

“It’s been really difficult; it has been a long time. My first injury happened against City, then against Chelsea, and after that, there were some little problems. It was really tough, but I’m really happy to be back. Now, I just have to make sure I stay fit for the rest of the season.”

Determined to return stronger, the pacey Dutch defender emphasized how much he enjoyed being back on the pitch:

“I’m really excited and happy to be back. I came through the 60 minutes feeling well. I feel good, so hopefully, I can build up from this.”

Fine-Tuning His Fitness

Van de Ven previously attempted a comeback on January 30 against Elfsborg, but he soon experienced discomfort in his hamstring, raising concerns about whether he had suffered a recurrence of his injury. However, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou downplayed fears of another setback, explaining that the club sought the expertise of specialists to address the “mechanics” of his body, particularly his running technique, to ensure long-term fitness.
Elaborating on the extra steps taken to safeguard his recovery, van de Ven said:

“It was just some problems, and I didn’t really feel comfortable—that was the thing. The gaffer and the medical team decided to manage my training and match minutes to make sure I was 100 percent fit when I came back.

I was definitely fit, but after the Elfsborg game, I didn’t really feel comfortable in myself. I wanted to keep pushing, but they made the decision to hold me back to ensure I was completely ready.”

The former Wolfsburg and Volendam defender also acknowledged that adjustments to his running technique played a key role in his recovery.

“Of course, you need to work on your running technique, and I also did this at Volendam. I know what to do, but the medical staff here have also helped me a lot. Specialists from outside Spurs came in to help with my hamstring and other areas, so it’s been really good to have that support.”

A Key Role in Spurs’ Europa League Ambitions

With Spurs overcoming a 1-0 first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar, thanks to a brace from Wilson Odobert and a James Maddison goal, van de Ven was thrilled to contribute to a crucial victory.

“I think we played a really good game overall. Of course, it was difficult because we were 1-0 behind, but from the first minute, we showed our intent to turn it around. The team did an unbelievable job.”

Spurs have endured an up-and-down season, exiting both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, while struggling to maintain consistency in the Premier League. However, van de Ven sees the Europa League as a real opportunity for silverware.

“We all have trust in the gaffer and the team. It has been a really difficult season for us, but we showed our mentality tonight. Hopefully, we can build on this and take it into the next round.

I trust in the team, and everybody has that belief. We’re out of the domestic cups, and the Premier League has been tough, but this is a competition we can definitely win.

I don’t want to look too far ahead, but we can do a good job. I believe in this team and the manager, so hopefully, we can do something special.”

With van de Ven back in the fold and Spurs progressing in Europe, the team will be hoping to maintain momentum and push for a major European trophy under Ange Postecoglou. If the Dutch defender can stay fit, his speed and defensive solidity could prove crucial in Tottenham’s quest for glory.