Tottenham’s escape from relegation this season produced several unexpected heroes, but Micky van de Ven’s revival under Roberto De Zerbi stands out as the most remarkable.
When the Italian boss took charge, Spurs were deep in relegation trouble. His influence was felt almost immediately, breathing new life into out-of-form players such as Conor Gallagher and stabilizing a team that looked to be sinking fast. Still, no one benefited more from the change in management than van de Ven.
Before De Zerbi’s appointment, the Dutch defender had lost his spark — making costly errors, looking checked-out on the pitch, and reportedly weighing up a move away from the club. Rash tackles and defensive lapses had become a recurring theme, and an exit looked more likely by the week.
That all shifted under De Zerbi. Van de Ven returned to top form and became one of the most dependable figures in Spurs’ backline, which mattered even more once captain Cristian Romero was sidelined for the rest of the campaign with injury.
Despite ongoing speculation linking him to Barcelona and Real Madrid, van de Ven has now reaffirmed his loyalty to Tottenham. Speaking on international duty with the Dutch national team, he gave a candid account of how De Zerbi helped him through a difficult mental period.
He described a phase where he’d avoid going out socially, questioning whether he deserved to enjoy himself, admitting the mindset might sound extreme but reflecting the desperation to fix things. He recalled De Zerbi telling him bluntly that he’d be counted on heavily and needed to step up — pushing him to grow into a leadership role despite his youth. When Tottenham secured their safety, he said it felt like an enormous weight had lifted, with all the built-up stress vanishing in an instant.
These comments offer a rare, honest window into the mental challenges players face away from the cameras — and highlight just how much a manager’s faith can transform a struggling player’s career.
De Zerbi’s combustible reputation had worried some fans early on, but his results have silenced most of that doubt. Steering Tottenham clear of what would have been a historic drop was already a major feat. Reviving a gifted but mentally vulnerable van de Ven — and shaping him into a leader — might end up being his finest achievement of all.
