Micky van de Ven has urged senior figures in the Tottenham Hotspur squad to step up
Micky van de Ven has named three players who can help Tottenham Hotspur climb the Premier League. The Lilywhites have been dragged into a relegation battle after a disastrous start to the year.
Spurs have failed to win each of their last eight games in the English top flight, falling to 16th in the table. Igor Tudor, who was appointed interim head coach earlier this week, has been tasked with guiding Tottenham to safety.
In an interview with Sky Sports ahead of the North London Derby, Van de Ven commented on the Lilywhites' disappointing campaign. The defender said: "Last season, I didn't play it when we were in this tough position.
"It's different when you're standing on the pitch; you suffer more. I would maybe say, on the other side, you suffer as well when you're injured, because you can't help the team.
FOLLOW OUR TOTTENHAM FB PAGE! Latest Spurs news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
"But still, the situation we're in now is really tough, and we just need to make sure that we get some points, and just make sure we look up the table a little bit more."
Van de Ven continued: "If you are a club like Tottenham Hotspur, you have this quality of place (training ground), and you are, what I say, as big as the most, it's unacceptable that you're standing at this place on the table, and the results need to be way, way better.
"It's fair that [the fans] are disappointed, but they need to know, as well, that we keep working every day and day out to do everything about changing this around, because even for us, the vibes in the dress room, the vibes after the games, if we lose, the meetings, it's tough. It's really tough. So we do everything to turn things around."
On whether the leaders in the squad need to step up during an injury crisis, the Netherlands international said: "Of course, we still have some quality players left.
"We have a really talented squad and some top players, but we also miss some key players for us, and it's really important for the players who are fit right now to step up."
On who those players could be, Van de Ven said: "You have some young players, obviously, in the group, and you can't really ask them to be the guys that need to push us forward.
"So, then, normally, I have Cuti next to me, who is now unfortunately suspended, but you have [Guglielmo] Vic behind me, who has a lot of experience, Joao Palhinha, in the midfield, who has a lot of experience, [Dominic] Solanke, who has a lot of experience.
"So you have some experience in the group, and then you just need to make sure that all the young guys speak out – just get everyone together. And I think that's now most important, especially with the injuries we have."
On the key to turning things around, Van de Ven said: "Getting points. That's the most important, I think, right now. Even if you don't play the best game, it's just important you, at the end of the whistle from the referee, that you're standing there with the three points, and I think that, at this point, is most important."