Van de Ven reveals mental health impact of Spurs’ struggles: I’m completely done with it!

Robin Bairner

• 11 Mar 2026 09:33 GMT
• 4 min read

News

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has delivered his club a firm message following the 5-2 Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid – a match he branded a “doomsday scenario”.

Spurs found themselves 3-0 down within 16 minutes of the match in the Spanish capital, with Van de Ven and goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky culpable of slips that cost the Premier League side goals.

The defeat came against the background of an 11-match winless run in the league that has seen Spurs drawn into a relegation battle, with interim manager Igor Tudor criticised for losing all four of the matches he has overseen as well as his man-management of Kinsky.

Current ETV

Micky van de Ven

D (C)

Tottenham

Micky van de Ven

D (C)

Tottenham

€64.6M

ETV Range

€58.1M - €71.1M

View full profile

Van de Ven reacts to Atletico Madrid defeat

Van de Ven is at a loss to explain what happened against Atleti.

“It was terrible, to be honest; a doomsday scenario,” he said, according to FCUpdate. “Everything that could go wrong in the first twenty minutes went wrong.

“Everyone slips, including me. Those are moments you simply can't do anything about. I can hardly stand here and start blaming the pitch.

“It’s terrible for Kinsky too. He’s making his debut. You wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

He continued: “I could, of course, give the standard speech that we all have to stick together and work hard, but we're just being dealt a blow after a blow. It's just really difficult.

“We have an important match this weekend against Liverpool that I can't play because I'm suspended, of course. But it's a truly terrible time.”

There is a mental toll on Spurs’ recent performances and results that is affecting the 24-year-old.

“It's tough, I can tell you. Really tough. I have to keep going; this is life,” he said. “I'm not on my phone anymore; I'm completely done with it. Only family and stuff.”

What does this mean for Van de Ven’s future?

While Van de Ven is not throwing in the towel with Spurs by any means, there are huge questions over where he will be playing his football at the beginning of next season.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid have all been linked with a move for the centre-back, whose Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €64.6 million.

As early as January, Van de Ven was unsettled at Tottenham, and the recent form of the team will have done little to persuade him to stick it out at the Premier League’s current crisis club.

He may have had enough of social media, but he may also have had enough of the mental stress of playing at Spurs.

Related stories:

Mauricio Pochettino travels to Spain as Real Madrid shortlist USMNT boss

Chelsea receive fresh Xavi Simons transfer message

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store