Van de Ven Surprised by Postecoglou’s Dismissal

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven expressed his astonishment at the club’s decision to part ways with former manager Ange Postecoglou.

Unexpected Change After Success

The Australian coach’s departure came only 16 days after he led Spurs to victory in the Europa League final, marking the club’s first major trophy in 17 years. Despite this notable achievement, the team struggled in the Premier League, finishing in 17th place under Postecoglou’s leadership.

In a twist of fate, Thomas Frank, formerly of Brentford, took over as manager in the summer, but Tottenham’s current position remains precarious, sitting 11th in the league with 22 points from 16 matches, including a recent defeat to Nottingham Forest.

“I regarded him as a fantastic manager and still do,” Van de Ven shared during a conversation on The Overlap podcast. “I was surprised by the timing of the decision, especially after he won a trophy for us.”

Coaching Philosophy and Team Dynamics

Postecoglou joined Tottenham from Celtic for the 2023-24 season, succeeding Antonio Conte. His initial period was marked by impressive performances, securing 26 points from the first 10 league games. However, the momentum did not sustain, as the team struggled with four losses in five matches and narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.

In hindsight, Van de Ven noted that while he appreciated Postecoglou’s attacking approach, he felt that the team lacked a “plan B.” He revealed that he and teammate Cristian Romero had discussed the need for a more defensive strategy with the former manager.

“I enjoyed the offensive style we had,” he stated, “but I prefer the stability we have now under Thomas Frank. I don’t like being vulnerable to counter-attacks every match.”

Shifting Strategies and Future Outlook

Van de Ven recounted how teams eventually adapted to their style of play, which didn’t leave them with many alternatives when things went awry. He and Romero even approached Postecoglou to suggest that they change their tactics to ensure more consistent success.

“At one point, we asked him to make some adjustments for a more defensive setup to help secure victories,” he explained, adding that Postecoglou was receptive to the idea but expected players to implement changes on the field.

Despite the challenges, Van de Ven is optimistic about the current direction under Frank and the adjustments made to ensure the team’s competitiveness in the league.