Micky van de Ven asserts that Tottenham Hotspur should not be worried about facing Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final.

End Spurs trophy drought or Champions League qualification? Van de Ven is in no doubt…

Micky van de Ven has made it clear that Tottenham Hotspur have nothing to fear as they prepare for their UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United next Wednesday.

Both clubs have faced challenging domestic seasons, but they now have the opportunity to finish on a high note with silverware in Europe’s second-tier competition, which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Currently, Spurs and United find themselves languishing in the Premier League, sitting 16th and 17th respectively. However, Europa League success could provide an unexpected pathway into next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The pressure on Spurs to secure the title is palpable, especially considering the club’s lengthy 17-year trophy drought. Yet, Van de Ven is adamant that Ange Postecoglou’s squad is not approaching the clash in Bilbao with trepidation. Instead, they are drawing confidence from their inherent “qualities.”

In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, the central defender stated: “People ask me if we had fear for United. Of course, it’s a final, and in the final, everything can happen, but if you really look at it, it’s the same game as it always is.

“Of course, the word ‘final’ is different, and you’re one game away from winning silverware, but we don’t have fear. We know our qualities, we know how strong we are, so yeah, we don’t go there with fear.”

Spurs last lifted a major trophy in 2008 when they triumphed over Chelsea in the League Cup final under head coach Juande Ramos. Since then, the north London side has reached four finals, including the Champions League showpiece in 2019, but has fallen short each time.

Van de Ven understands the significance of breaking this trophy drought and believes it holds more weight than merely qualifying for Europe’s elite competition next season. He remarked: “Of course, it’s nice that you play Champions League next year, but we need to win the trophy.”

The defender also highlighted the importance of providing a reason for celebration this season, especially after the “tough year” the fans have endured.

Reflecting on what it would mean to the supporters to finally secure a trophy, the Dutchman said: “An unbelievable feeling, I think. The fans say ‘we haven’t won a trophy for a long time’ and we want to be the group of people – all the support they gave us the whole year, the whole tough year – we want to give them something special to celebrate. We are the guys that want to change that.”

Postecoglou’s side currently sits 17th in the Premier League, just one place above the relegation zone, having suffered a record 20th league loss this season over the weekend. Despite the prospect of their lowest finish in the division, Van de Ven believes that a victory over United would allow Spurs to end the season on a positive note.

He concluded: “To give the season – the tough season – a positive end, that’s how we see it in the team, and it’s a really big game. You play Champions League next season when you win this prize, and you have a prize, so you win silverware. So, of course, in the team we see how big this game is for us and for the club.”