Micky van de Ven has quickly risen to prominence as one of the premier defenders in the league since joining Tottenham Hotspur last summer from Wolfsburg in a deal worth €40 million.
Despite being only 22 years old, Van de Ven has showcased maturity beyond his years, consistently delivering solid performances week in and week out.
His defensive prowess has drawn comparisons to Dutch compatriot Virgil van Dijk, widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world.
ESPN pundit Janusz Michallik has echoed this sentiment, highlighting Van de Ven’s defensive abilities while noting that his distribution may not yet match that of Van Dijk.
Michallik said (via YouTube): :
“There’s no doubt that he’s special. Defensively, you can argue he’s the best in the league. You can also say, for sure, he’s one of the best defenders in terms of going forward. If you compare him to, in terms of distribution, Van Dijk, maybe he’s missing that part. He’s not far away.”
Van de Ven’s impact on the pitch extends beyond his defensive contributions. His ability to recover from mistakes and make crucial blocks, as demonstrated in the recent match against Aston Villa, underscores his importance to the Spurs’ backline.
Having started in all eleven league games at the beginning of the season, Van de Ven suffered a setback due to a hamstring injury sustained against Chelsea last November. This sidelined him for nearly two months, causing him to miss ten games. However, he made a triumphant return in January and has since resumed his stellar form.
Unfortunately, Van de Ven experienced a minor setback during the match against Villa, as he was forced off the pitch early in the second half due to injury. While the extent of the injury is not yet clear, Spurs will be eagerly awaiting further updates on his condition in the coming days.
