The Boy Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur picked up a 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League last night.

Micky van de Ven put in an impressive performance for the London club, and he scored a stunning goal, which is certainly an early contender for the goal of the season in the tournament.

The Netherlands International ran the length of the pitch and beat a couple of players to slot the ball into the back of the net.

Micky van de Ven scored a stunner

An unseen fan footage (h/t talkSPORT) has now shown how the Tottenham players were reacting to his remarkable solo run from one end of the pitch to another, and the way he finished in the end.

The Dutch defender has been outstanding for Tottenham since joining the club, and his contributions at both ends of the pitch have been remarkable. He has established himself as one of the best defenders in the league, and if he continues to perform at this level, elite clubs will be circling for him soon.

Van de Ven has been a star for Spurs

OH MY WORD MICKY VAN DE VEN 🤯

Incredible goal by the Spurs centre half, as he runs the full length of the pitch before a fantastic finish past Kotarsi – INCREDIBLE GOAL!

Watch live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/txG6v8s8jH

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 4, 2025

Meanwhile, Tottenham fans will be delighted with the way he has performed since joining the club. The defender will now look to build on his impressive performances and improve further in the coming months.

He was instrumental in their UEFA Europa League win last season, and he will look to help them win another major trophy this season.

Meanwhile, the convincing defeat over Copenhagen will give Tottenham a huge confidence boost. They will look to put together a winning run now. After an impressive start to the Premier League campaign, they dropped quite a few points, and they will look to get back to their best once again.

Apart from Van de Ven, there were other impressive performers last night, including summer signing Xavi Simons, who has struggled since joining.

Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to sign the Wolfsburg defender, Konstantinos Koulierakis.

The 21-year-old central defender has done quite well for the German club, and he has attracted the attention of top teams. Clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham have sent Scouts to watch him in action. According to TBR football, Tottenham are hoping to sign the player in January.

Tottenham plan Wolfsburg raid for Koulierakis

They have previously signed Micky van de Ven from the German club. The Netherlands International defender is currently one of the best players at the club, and they will hope that Koulierakis can follow in his footsteps.

The young defender is highly rated across Europe, and he has a bright future. Apart from his qualities defensively, he is quite effective going forward as well. He could develop into a complete player for Tottenham like Van de Ven.

It will be interesting to see if Spurs follow up on their interest with an official proposal. The report claims that they have made it a priority to sign a quality defender in January.

Premier League move could tempt Konstantinos Koulierakis

Koulierakis could be tempted to join the North London club in January. It will be an exciting opportunity for him, and he will look to prove his quality in England. However, the German outfit are currently sitting in the mid-table position and they will not want to lose one of their best young prospects. It could be a devastating blow for them, and it could derail their season.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have looked vulnerable defensively at times, and they could use more quality in that area of the pitch. The 21-year-old would be a long-term acquisition for them. He has the potential to develop into a reliable Premier League defender.

It remains to be seen how the situation develops over the next few weeks.

The Champions League is where players get truly found out. Micky van de Ven showed the world what a world-class footballer he is, and Richarlison dies another slow death. Here are our player ratings and some fan reaction!

Guglielmo Vicario 5 was largely untested; this was very much a one-sided affair

Pedro Porro 7 produced some good stuff, but I will keep warning you, this was not European royalty. See you at the Manchester United game!

Cristian Romero 7 set up Paulhina’s goal with one of his creative sparkaroonies.

Micky van de Ven 9 Scored a Puskás-contender solo goal; untroubled at the back.

Destiny Udogie 6 driving runs caused problems. Passing accuracy 82%.

Rodrigo Bentancur 7 instrumental in transitions, Micky’s goal being a fine example.

Pape Matar Sarr 7 Picked up after the red, driving passes and an 88% passing accuracy.

Xavi Simons 8 drew high praise from all around. Let’s see this in the Premier League.

Brennan Johnson 6, great to get a goal, but ineffective is an accurate appraisal.

Wilson Odobert 6 A growing threat. Let’s see this in the Premier League.

Randal Kolo Muani 6 is there a player in there, isn’t there?

Joao Palhinha 6 solid, and another great goal.

Richarlison 0 Please just go. Quite why he felt the need to take the penalty kick is anyone’s guess. Fan reaction to the utterly redundant Brazilian, who so many fans were wildly supportive of, despite his having never been a great striker for anyone, was predictably poor.

The incident involved a high-studs challenge on Copenhagen defender Marcos López, catching him on the Achilles tendon away from the ball. Referee Erik Lambrechts initially issued a yellow card, but after a VAR review by Bram van Driessche, it was upgraded to a red for serious foul play. This made Johnson the first British player to both score and be sent off in a Champions League game, as he had opened the scoring earlier in the match.

As ever, measured stuff from our current Spurs coach, Thomas Frank, who has more on his plate than some might readily care to admit.

The problem with rules and technology in sport is always a case of interpretation. Frank was stoic in respect of attacker Brennan Johnson’s sending off.

“I think I understand”, said the Norwegian, faced with having to imagine how the officials saw the incident. Here’s the full quote for context.

“I think I understand why it can be given, but that still footage is where it looks bad. There was no recklessness in this tackle from Brennan… It was a little bit unfortunate and was harsh.”

At the time of the dismissal, Spurs were leading 2-0, with goals from Johnson and Wilson Odobert. Reduced to 10 men, we faced pressure but held firm, extending our lead to 4-0 with stunning solo strikes from Micky van de Ven and João Palhinha.

The win certainly provided a morale boost after a recent Premier League loss to Chelsea, leaving Tottenham with eight points from four Champions League group games.

Johnson will return for Eintracht Frankfurt on January 28, 2026. The suspension is confined to Champions League fixtures, and obviously, this won’t affect domestic games, such as the upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Appeals are possible but unlikely to succeed, as straight reds for serious foul play rarely get overturned without clear evidence of error.

For Tottenham, Johnson’s absence could strain their attacking depth in key fixtures, especially with his recent form (he’s the team’s top scorer this season).

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, and they will look to compete with clubs like Arsenal for his signature.

The 18-year-old has joined the German club at the start of the season, and he is in very impressive form. He has already registered six contributions this season, and he will only improve with coaching and experience.

Graeme Bailey told TBR: “He really is special, I am told Red Bull think he could be their greatest prospect since Erling Haaland. Leipzig say there is no release clause, and already he is being talked about in the £88 million category.”

Yan Diomande could be a future star

The Ivorian youth international has the potential to develop into a quality player with the right guidance, and moving to England could be ideal for him. Regular football in the Premier League could bring out the best in the player.

Spurs have done well with young players, and they could play a key role in his development. Working with a quality manager like Thomas Frank could bring out the best in the attacker.

The 18-year-old is a wide player, and he will add pace and flair to the side. Tottenham need someone who can take on defenders in one-versus-one situations and add some unpredictability in the final third. The 18-year-old seems like the ideal option for them.

Can Spurs sign Diomande?

The German club paid around £17.6 million to sign him, and it will be interesting to see if they are willing to sell him for a reasonable amount of money. Spurs recently dealt with the German outfit for Xavi Simons, and it remains to be seen whether they can use the amicable relationship with RB Leipzig and get the deal done in future.

Arsenal are interested in the player as well. They need more quality in the final third, and they could be an attractive destination for the 18-year-old. It remains to be seen what the player decides. He will probably want to join a team capable of winning trophies, and the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham will be attractive destinations for him.

History and form

Tonight’s game will be the first meeting between Tottenham and Copenhagen, 3-2 win versus Aalborg in the UEFA Cup in November 2007. The Danes don’t have a tremendous record against English sides, having won just two of their previous encounters. So, this is potentially a repeat of our recent games, where neither side is set to look particularly dominant. Spurs are favourites, at around 1.45, and Copenhagen are out at 8.2.

Tottenham sit 15th in the 36-team league phase, unbeaten so far with a win over Villarreal and draws against others. Copenhagen are 32nd, with a draw against Bayer Leverkusen but losses to Qarabağ and Borussia Dortmund.

Jacob Neestrup’s team drew 1-1 with Midtjylland domestically. Left-back Marcos Lopez is doubtful after a recent withdrawal, and midfielder Gabriel Pereira is sidelined by illness. Expected lineup (4-3-3): Grabara; Jelert, Vavro, Diks, Boilesen; Falk, Cornelius, Bardghji; Claesson, Hojlund, Elyounoussi.

Team selection

Thomas Frank’s side is looking to bounce back from a 1-0 Premier League loss to Chelsea. Key returns include defender Cristian Romero and left-back Destiny Udogie from the bench last weekend. Midfielder Lucas Bergvall is out with a concussion. Here’s our plausible XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Werner. Wide options include Brennan Johnson or Wilson Odobert.

How to Watch in the UK:

Joao Palhinha joined Tottenham on loan during the summer transfer window, and he has impressed with his performance so far.

He has added more defensive steel and physicality to the midfield. The Portuguese International has scored some important goals as well. However, Tottenham have struggled when it comes to driving the team forward from the middle. They are lacking progressive passers in the middle of the park.

Jamie Carragher on Joao Palhinha

Former Premier League defender Jamie Carragher has now explained that Palhinha is a good player, but he is not capable of producing line-breaking passes from the deep, and that is the reason why top teams in the Premier League did not want to sign him. He also added that it is one of the reasons why Bayern Munich did not play him too often.

The former Liverpool defender believes that Palhinha is lacking in adventure and vision. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can bring in a central midfielder to support him in that area of the game. There is no doubt that Tottenham need a midfielder who can break the lines with his passing.

Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports Monday Night Football: “That’s the problem, and for me, for Thomas Frank, that’s something he has got to grow; he’s early in it, and one of his first signings is Palhinha.

“Now, he is not capable, I don’t think, of doing this. There is a reason why teams in the Premier League didn’t buy him from Fulham, and there’s a reason why Bayern Munich bought him and didn’t play him. That’s a worry.

“But for Thomas Frank moving forward, you think of pragmatic managers in the past, they’ve made that jump from a smaller club to a bigger club. That has always been the problem: Can they coach the rotations, the build-up play to break the lines?”.

Palhinha has started well

Meanwhile, Palhinha has other strengths, and there is no doubt that he has been a successful signing for Tottenham so far. He will look to build on his impressive start to life at the London club and establish himself as an indispensable asset for them.

Tottenham Hotspur are very interested in signing the Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo.

The 25-year-old Ghanaian International has been in impressive form this season, and he could prove to be an exceptional acquisition for Tottenham. They need more quality and cutting-edge in the final third, and the 25-year-old will add goals and creativity to the side. Semenyo has six goals and three assists in 10 league matches this season.

As per Fichajes, Spurs are most determined to get the deal done.

Antoine Semenyo would be ideal for Spurs

He is capable of operating anywhere across the front three, and his versatility will be an added bonus. The Bournemouth star is naturally a left-sided winger, and he could be the ideal replacement for Son Heung-min, who left the club at the end of last season. Spurs signed Xavi Simons during the summer transfer window, and they have used the Netherlands International in that role. However, the former Bundesliga attacker has not been able to make the desired impact. He is still adapting to Premier League football.

Signing another attacking player would be a wise decision. Dominic Solanke has not been able to score a goal consistently either. Semenyo will score goals and help create opportunities for his teammates. His ability to take on defenders and beat them in one-versus-one situations will add a new dimension to the Tottenham attack.

Seemenyo deserves a big move

He has been labelled as an “extraordinary player” by Pep Guardiola recently. There is no doubt that he is good enough to play for the biggest clubs in the country. He will be hoping to take the next step in his career and join a top club. The opportunity to move to Tottenham could be quite exciting for him.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are willing to pay up to €80 million to get the deal done. It will be interesting to see if Bournemouth are prepared to sanction his departure.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Samu Aghehowa from FC Porto in the coming months.

Chelsea are interested in securing a signature as well, and the two London clubs are currently in the lead as per reports via SportWitness.

It will be interesting to see if either of them can sign the 21-year-old striker in the coming months. He is a talented player with a bright future, and he could develop into a top-class Premier League goal scorer with the right guidance. He has already found the back of the net 11 times in 14 matches this season. He has shown his quality with Porto last season as well.

Spurs could use Samu Aghehowa

Tottenham are in desperate need of another quality goal scorer, and the Spanish striker would be ideal for them. He could compete with Dominic Solanke for the starting spot. The England International has not been able to find the back of the net regularly.

More competition for places will help them improve as a team and fight for major trophies.

Do Chelsea need Aghehowa?

Meanwhile, Chelsea have already invested in two strikers, and it would be quite surprising if they decided to make a move for Aghehowa. It seems that Tottenham might have an advantage in the race. The striker will want to join a club where he will play regularly, and he will be reluctant to move to Chelsea, where there are two strikers ahead of him in the pecking order.

The report claims that €80 million (£70m) could get the deal done, and it remains to be seen whether Tottenham are prepared to pay. They have the resources to get the deal across the line.

Aghehowa is a young player with a bright future, and he could end up justifying the outlay in future.

Tottenham crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Premier League yesterday, and Thomas Frank will be disappointed with some of the performances.

Summer signing Xavi Simons is yet to show his quality in the Premier League, and he continues to disappoint with mediocre performances. The Netherlands International put in another horror show against Chelsea.

The 22-year-old lost the ball 14 times, and he was dribbled past three times during the game. He failed to create any meaningful opportunity either. He has not been able to contribute to the attack or defence so far. The player is clearly lacking in form and confidence right now. He will need time to adapt to the Premier League, and perhaps taking him out of the firing line would be ideal for now.

Thomas Frank should seriously consider dropping the attacker for the upcoming matches so that he can regain some confidence in training.

There is no doubt that he is a quality player, and he has shown that in the Bundesliga and with his country. Tottenham will need to be patient with him.

He has the technical attributes to develop into an important player for the north London club, but he needs to work on his physicality as well. Furthermore, his decision-making has been quite poor since joining the club. He is clearly under a lot of pressure.

Simons needs to improve

Simons will be fully aware of his performance levels right now, and he will be desperate to improve. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can manage the situation diligently and help the player bounce back strongly.

The 22-year-old is a long-term investment, and there is no reason why he cannot fulfil his potential at the London club. That said, Tottenham paid £51 million to sign him, and they would have expected an immediate impact.