Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has admitted he “never expected” the club to part ways with Ange Postecoglou, despite the Australian delivering Spurs’ first major trophy in 17 years.
Europa League Triumph Followed by Shock Decision
Postecoglou was sacked just 16 days after guiding Tottenham to a Europa League final victory, ending the club’s long wait for silverware. However, domestic struggles overshadowed the European success, with Spurs finishing 17th in the Premier League during his final season.
Van de Ven said the decision came as a surprise to players.
“He was a really good manager. I still really like him,” the Dutch defender said, adding that he did not expect the club to act so quickly after the trophy win.
League Form Proved Costly
Postecoglou, who took charge ahead of the 2023-24 season, made an impressive start by collecting 26 points from his first 10 league matches. That momentum faded as Tottenham missed Champions League qualification by two points and followed it up with a poor next campaign, winning just 11 league games.
Tactical Concerns Raised by Players
Van de Ven revealed that while he enjoyed Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy, the team often lacked flexibility.
“At times we didn’t really have a plan B and were getting exposed,” he said, adding that he and Cristian Romero had suggested adopting a more defensive approach in certain matches.
Life After Postecoglou
Postecoglou was replaced by Thomas Frank, under whom Tottenham currently sit 11th with 22 points from 16 games. Van de Ven believes the side now look more secure defensively, despite mixed results.
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