Nathan Ake and Ryan Gravenberch react to Van De Ven’s Tottenham ‘statement’
Micky van de Ven took to social media after Tottenham won the Europa League, with Manchester City’s Nathan Ake and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch responding.
Van de Ven played the full 90 minutes, and made a crucial goal-line clearance as Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao.
Brennan Johnson scored the only goal of the game, bundling home a Pape Matar Sarr cross in the 42nd minute to secure victory in the final..
The win means that Spurs have ended their 17-year wait for a major trophy, and will be playing Champions League football next season.
Van de Ven celebrates Tottenham’s triumph
Van de Ven and his centre-back partner Christian Romero spent much of the second half clearing away Man United crosses.
Tottenham were forced to sit back and soak up the pressure, which goes completely against Ange Postecoglou’s philosophy, but ultimately the Spurs side took their medicine.
In the end, the backs-against-the-wall performance was enough to bring the Europa League back to North London.
After the success, van de Ven took to Instagram to post a few photos from the game, including one of him holding the trophy, as well as his goal line.
The caption read: “Statement made,” with the defender’s international team-mate’s Gravenberch and Ake both commenting to congratulate the 24-year-old.
Tottenham successfully changed style
Football Insider Verdict
One of the reasons that Postecoglou is under so much pressure at Tottenham is the fact that he has refused to move away from his kamikaze high-line style of play.
Even when his side are getting exposed week in, week out, the Australian has not wavered, and instead opted for his infamous phrase, “It’s just who we are, mate.”
However, at long last he relented, and Spurs put in a gutsy defensive display in Bilbao to save their season, and end their trophy drought.
Europa League success may not be enough to extend Postecoglou’s reign at Tottenham, but by abandoning his philosophy, he may have given himself a chance.
Once the celebrations finish and the hysteria fades away, a 17th-place finish in the Premier League may not be good enough for Daniel Levy, but for now, Postecoglou has written himself into the history books.