Mickey Van de Ben on Tottenham’s Trophies Drought
Mickey Van de Ben recalls being told that his move to Tottenham would mean a career without trophies. However, after joining the club from Wolfsburg in 2023, he believes the team’s determination to end this drought will drive them in the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao. It’s been since the 2008 League Cup that Spurs have claimed any silverware.
“It’s a big deal, right? Everyone says, ‘If you join Tottenham, you’re not going to win anything,'” Van de Ben remarked. “But when we all arrived here, it was like, ‘We’re going to change the narrative of this club.’
“That was the coach’s vision too: ‘We will change something here.’ Now, it’s our role to make that happen in Bilbao.”
When asked about who suggested he wouldn’t win anything at Spurs, the 24-year-old responded, “You know, it’s those people on social media. They make jokes, but they don’t affect me—not even a little.”
The Dutch defender is among several players committed to the club under Postecoglou, despite a challenging season with 21 league losses. “From day one, we’ve backed the coach,” he said. “He’s shown his quality and led us to this final. Yes, media doubts exist, but he’s proven them wrong, and now we find ourselves in the European final.”
“We understand the weight of this club. It deserves a trophy, no doubt about it. Looking at our team’s quality, we’ve earned it. It’s been tough, but a trophy would wrap up the season perfectly.”
Postecoglou’s hopes have been reignited now that Van de Ben and other key defenders are back from injuries. In the recent match against AZ, goalkeeper Guglielmo Viario and defenders including Christian Romero and Destiny Udogie were all fit to play.
Van de Ben noted the importance of his partnership with Romero in defense: “We have a natural understanding during the game. If he makes a move, I know how to cover him, and it’s mutual. The more we play together, the stronger that connection becomes.”
“Honestly, I felt a bond with him right from the start, and it’s only grown as we’ve played more matches. It’s amazing to see how well we complement each other now.”
