Tottenham Hotspur star Micky van de Ven has insisted he is not surprised by his rapid rise, as he wouldn’t have joined the club if he wasn’t confident, he could step up.
The Dutch defender has been speaking to De Telegraaf about his current rise after joining Tottenham in a €40m deal from VfL Wolfsburg in August last year.
The 23-year-old has established himself as a key player in Ange Postecoglou’s side since, flourishing in the forward-thinking, all-out attack system that the Tottenham man employs.
His unique combination of pace, strength and comfort on the ball has earned him glowing praise from around Europe and has most convinced he could be a star of the future.
Such a rapid rise given he was playing for Volendam in 2019 is impressive, but he’s not surprised, insisting he wouldn’t have moved to Tottenham if he wasn’t absolutely sure he could make the step up. “The last year has been incredibly fast,” he said.
“Of course, you know your own qualities, but it is always a question of how you are going to do at the highest level, on the highest podium. So far, that has been going very well at Spurs. From Wolfsburg to Tottenham is a big step.
“It is working out very well. I also made the steps to Wolfsburg and Tottenham because I thought I could handle the level. That is why it does not surprise me that it is going so well. If you know your own qualities, you do not make such a step if you cannot handle it.”
This summer saw Van de Ven featuring for the Netherlands at Euro 2024, playing at left-back in games against Poland, Austria, Romania and Türkiye.
Playing for the Netherlands means featuring alongside a wealth of defensive talent, with the Dutch boasting options such as Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake and Mathijs de Ligt.
The Tottenham defender is aware of that and admits he spent the summer learning from the experience around him, namely Van Dijk.
“I have really grown as a player through the European Championships,” he added.
“You gain a lot of experience during such a final tournament. The boys also help you all the time. It is the little things that you take with you, for example in the coaching.
“I have also spoken a lot with Daley Blind, who has helped me with several things. But you also look at how Virgil does on the field. Those are all things that you can take with you.”