Micky van de Ven insists Tottenham Hotspur have nothing to fear against Manchester United in UEFA Europa League final

Micky van de Ven insists Tottenham Hotspur have nothing to fear against Manchester United in UEFA Europa League final - 'We need to win the trophy'

Published 14/05/2025 at 10:58 GMT+1

Micky van de Ven has said Tottenham Hotspur "need to win the trophy" ahead of their UEFA Europa League final with Manchester United next Wednesday, with the club looking to end a 17-year wait for a major title. Despite the growing pressure for a trophy and UEFA Champions League qualification being on the line, the defender insists his side "don't have fear" ahead of the showdown in Bilbao.

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

Video credit: TNT Sports

Micky van de Ven has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur have nothing to fear in their UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United next Wednesday.

Both sides have endured difficult domestic campaigns, but have the chance to end the season on a high with silverware in Europe’s second-tier competition, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

With the two teams currently sitting 16th and 17th in the Premier League table, Europa League glory also offers an unlikely route into next season’s UEFA Champions League.

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The pressure on Spurs to take home the title, however, feels particularly strong, given the club’s 17-year trophy drought.

Despite this, Van de Ven insists Ange Postecoglou’s men are not approaching the clash in Bilbao with fear, instead taking confidence from the "qualities" they possess.

Speaking exclusively with TNT Sports, the central defender said: "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."

‘We know how good we are’ – Van de Ven insists Spurs ‘don’t fear’ Man Utd

Video credit: TNT Sports

Spurs last won a major trophy in 2008 as they defeated Chelsea in the League Cup final under head coach Juande Ramos.

The north London side have reached four finals since then, including the Champions League showpiece in 2019, but failed to get over the line on each occasion.

Van de Ven is aware of the importance of ending the wait for a major title and believes that it is more significant than qualification for Europe's elite competition next season.

He said: "Of course, it's nice that you play Champions League next year, but we need to win the trophy."

The defender also suggested it is particularly important to provide cause for celebration this season, given the "tough year" the fans have endured.

Discussing what it would mean to the supporters to finally win 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."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Postecoglou's side are sitting 17th in the Premier League table, just one place above the drop zone, having suffered a record 20th loss in the league this season on the weekend.

Despite being on course for their lowest finish in the division, Van de Ven believes victory over United will allow Spurs to end the season on a high.

He said: "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."

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