Tottenham ‘promise’ leaves Liverpool red-faced with Klopp ruing missed chance
Ange Postecoglou hails Tottenham’s ‘outstanding’ pressing in win over Fulham
Tottenham’s masterstroke in signing Micky van de Ven this summer was all down to a simple promise, according to reports. Liverpool were unable to match it, and it has not taken long for the Dutch defender to show Jurgen Klopp exactly what he is missing out on.
At just 22 years old, Van de Ven has played every minute of Tottenham’s nine Premier League games so far this season. The fact Spurs sit top of the table with the second-best defensive record in the division tells its own story regarding his impact.
A £43million signing from Wolfsburg, the 6ft 4in centre-back has adapted to life under new Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou seamlessly. Painfully for Liverpool, The Independent claim that he could have been all theirs if they pledged to make him a regular starter during summer transfer negotiations.
Instead, senior figures at Anfield pointed to Van de Ven’s tender age and absence of Premier League experience as reasons why he may have to make do with a spot on the bench.
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The Netherlands international therefore snubbed the Reds as rival suitors Spurs had promised him a place in the starting XI. Van de Ven is only one of numerous summer signings to have hit the ground running in north London.
James Maddison is arguably the Premier League’s in-form player, while Guglielmo Vicario has proven a shrewd acquisition in goal. Destiny Udogie was phased into the first team at the start of the season and the 20-year-old has already made the left-back spot his own.
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A lack of European football and an early exit from the Carabao Cup means that Postecoglou and co are able to focus almost solely on the Premier League. However, the former Celtic boss refuses to get carried away, making it clear that it is too early in the season to start talking about titles.
“Look, if we’re in this position around 36, 37 [games] I might look at the subject,” he said. “There is a real good reason no manager will talk about winning a title in October or November, because we know there’s a long way to go.
“It’s not jokes or giggles or me coming in and throwing my significant weight around. I am the same, it doesn’t matter. I am hoping that when people see me they don’t know where we are, what position we are.
“At Celtic we were on top for a very long time but at the beginning when we were on top, I don’t think people saw anything different in my demeanour. I don’t think they will [here].”
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