Micky van de Ven has been discussing Ange Postecoglou’s style of football and insists this Tottenham Hotspur side will continue to play out from the back despite a big scare in the North London derby.
In such a short space of time, Ange Postecoglou has transformed Tottenham. Not only are the players and the fans happier than they’ve been in a long time, but the football being played is expansive and exciting.
It’s the kind of football that supporters have craved for years now, and most importantly, it’s getting results, too. Spurs are unbeaten in the league after six games, and earning more and more plaudits each week.
The Lilywhites played out a hard-fought 2-2 draw against fierce rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. A key moment in that game almost saw Postecoglou’s desire for his team to play out from the back prove costly.
With Arsenal winning 1-0, Guglielmo Vicario passed the ball short to James Maddison on the edge of the area. The Spurs man was robbed by Gabriel Jesus, but the Brazilian fired his effort over the bar.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur controls the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Spurs will not change the way they play
Speaking to The Guardian after the game, Micky van de Ven explained why Spurs will not change their methods.
He said: “You have to do it. You have some players who don’t really like to play with the ball and I don’t know, they have a big fear or something they are going to lose it.
“But the trainer is telling us: ‘Just keep playing. If you lose the ball it can happen. Just try again. Keep trying, keep trying.’ If we lose three balls in a row, he doesn’t want us to shoot the ball into the stands. We have to just keep playing.
“For me as a centre-back, it is OK to imagine I lose the ball one time and a big chance comes from it and the trainer is screaming from the sides: ‘Again, again, again.’ It gives us some trust to build up again and again.
“Of course, it is risky but when you come out in a nice situation you are always like: ‘Oh yeah.'”
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It is risky, and that Gabriel Jesus chance is not the last time we will see Spurs getting caught out. But as van de Ven says, it’s worth the risk if it leads to the kind of football we have been seeing.
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