Tottenham star Micky van de Ven continues to shine, with his standout performance against Manchester United drawing praise from fans and pundits alike.
In Tottenham’s dominant 3-0 win at Old Trafford, the 23-year-old centre-back was instrumental, particularly with his exceptional assist for the opening goal.
Just three minutes into the match, the Dutch defender demonstrated his speed and sharp footballing intelligence. After intercepting a loose pass from United, van de Ven made an electrifying run from his own half into the opposition’s box.
Once there, he delivered a perfectly weighted cross to Brennan Johnson, who calmly slotted it home to give the Spurs an early advantage.
Former Tottenham scout Bryan King has become the latest to praise the defender’s performance, comparing his assist to van de Ven’s similar play during Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Everton, where he set up Son Heung-min after a similar run.
King emphasised the defender’s ability to transition from defence to attack seamlessly, sprinting nearly the full length of the pitch to provide a crucial pass.
Speaking to Tottenham News, the former club scout commented:
“There was a lot of positive displays from Spurs players. However, for me, one of the outstanding players was van de Ven. His assist for Johnson’s goal was similar to the assist he provided against Everton.”
“He wins the ball at the back and then runs 50 or 60 yards with the ball before setting up a teammate. Against Everton it was Son Heung-min, this time it was Johnson.
“It was a great run, a great ball across the goal and a relatively easy finish. Very impressive.”
Van de Ven’s influence on the game extended beyond the assist. During his 81 minutes on the field, he maintained a remarkable 97% passing accuracy, completing 88 out of 91 passes.
His expected assist (xA) of 0.57 reflected his contribution to Spurs’ offensive play, while his four ball recoveries demonstrated his defensive prowess.
After being named Tottenham’s Player of the Season last campaign, van de Ven has continued to prove his worth as a key player in the squad. As Spurs aim for success across multiple competitions this season, van de Ven’s form and consistency are expected to be pivotal.
