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Son Heung-min sends three-word message to Micky van de Ven after Tottenham wonder goal

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Son Heung-min has shared his disbelief at Micky van de Ven’s solo goal on social media.

Tottenham beat FC Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, as Van de Ven was yet again on the scoresheet for the Lilywhites.

The goal means that Van de Ven is still Tottenham’s current top goalscorer, as Thomas Frank continues to struggle with striker options.

Spurs legend Son will forever be remembered at N17, as he has now shared some love for his former teammate after somewhat of a replica of one of his own goals.

Son Heung-min could not believe Micky van de Ven’s goal

Tottenham were down to 10 men in the second half as Brennan Johnson saw red despite scoring earlier in the game, as Frank’s men remained resolute despite obstacles being thrown their way.

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Van de Ven’s goal all but sealed Tottenham’s win as he added the third against Copenhagen, though few expected him to produce a strike like he did.

The Spurs Express shared a screenshot on X, which featured an image of a message that Son left van de Ven on Tottenham’s Instagram page.

Son said: “Wow… just wow.”

The emojis that Son used suggest he may be a little bit worried that Van de Ven’s goal was better than his own iconic, award-winning strike at Tottenham against Burnley.

Who did it better – Son or van de Ven?

Son was awarded the Puskas Award in 2020 for his out-of-this-world, solo run and goal that he scored against the Clarets in a 5-0 drubbing on 7 December 2019 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The goal was freakishly similar to the one Van de Ven scored on Tuesday, meaning the Dutchman has a great chance of winning the award himself.

Van de Ven looks like the complete package at Tottenham: fast, strong, great in defence, and now seems to be the Lilywhites’ biggest goalscoring threat.

The Dutchman is on the right track to becoming a Tottenham legend, just like Son, as fans will have to decide whose goal was better.

Son is set to make his return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December and once again be reunited with his Spurs family.

Tottenham given good omen by new reveal ahead of Premier League clash vs Man United

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Tottenham given good omen after new reveal ahead of Premier League clash vs Man United

Tottenham are desperate for a Premier League home win against Manchester United on Saturday.

Spurs’ 1-0 loss to Chelsea on 1 November sparked fury amongst supporters who expected far better from their side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank has come under scrutiny for some of the performances, yet Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Copenhagen has fans hoping they can translate that display to their domestic form.

They take on a Ruben Amorim side that looks revitalised this season, and Spurs will have to be wary of their threat in attack.

Tottenham have excelled against Man United in recent meetings

Tottenham’s Europa League final win was the last time these two teams faced each other, and Spurs boast an impressive record over Amorim’s side.

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Manchester United are winless in their last seven meetings with Tottenham in all competitions (D2 L5), losing each of the last four.

The last team to win five in a row against the Red Devils was Liverpool between 2000 and 2002.

Defeats to Bournemouth, Villa, and Chelsea have affected morale, whilst the draw at home to 20th-placed Wolves was incredibly disappointing.

It sparks a huge contrast to their impressive away form, and since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, the number of losses they’ve suffered in N17 is unacceptable.

The Red Devils are a much-changed outfit from last season, and whilst they sit on the same points as Spurs, it’s still a brilliant opportunity for Frank to quieten concerns over his time in charge.

Whilst Tottenham were expected to beat Copenhagen, the manner of the win will be what pleases fans the most in the Champions League.

Tottenham’s performance against Copenhagen shows promising signs under Frank

The Lilywhites have made a very respectable start to the season, and the 2-0 win against Man City showcased how far Frank can take this side.

It’s evident that injuries have hampered Spurs’ season, and the absences of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have been hugely impactful.

Tottenham created 0.10 expected goals (xG) against Chelsea, and Man United have only kept one clean sheet in the Premier League this season, meaning there is no excuse for Frank to set his side to attack from the very first minute.

Tottenham face trips to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain after the United clash, and November could be a season-defining month for Frank.

Tottenham vs Manchester United result predicted by supercomputer

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Tottenham are expected to overcome Manchester United in their upcoming clash against the Red Devils on Saturday.

Thomas Frank will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League on the weekend after an inconsistent run of form.

Thankfully, Tottenham’s 4-0 victory over Copenhagen on Tuesday showed signs that Spurs are capable of putting teams to the sword, in what was a needed performance after the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Now, the task for Frank is to ensure expectations are met on Saturday, with Opta predicting the result on 5 November ahead of the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham heavy favourites to beat Manchester United

Spurs fans will have plenty of good memories against the Red Devils in recent times.

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Last season, Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, ending the North London club’s wait for a trophy.

Now, Opta is expecting Spurs to repeat this feat in their latest prediction of the impending Premier League fixtures.

The supercomputer believes that Frank’s side have a 46.2 per cent chance of coming away with three points.

In comparison, Manchester United’s odds of a win sit at 27.2 per cent, while the chances of a draw are 26.6 per cent.

Tottenham’s head-to-head record against Man United

While the Red Devils have traditionally overcome Spurs with ease, recent years have seen Tottenham dominate matches.

In their past seven meetings, the North London club are unbeaten, winning their last four matches in a row.

This is also without including Tottenham’s famous 6-1 victory over Man United in 2020, which shocked the Premier League.

Therefore, while Man United may have seen Spurs as a routine three points back in the day, this is no longer the case, and it is evident in Opta’s current prediction of the impending clash.

Virgil van Dijk replies to Micky van de Ven after Tottenham wondergoal

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Virgil van Dijk was among those to respond to Micky van de Ven online after the defender’s stunning goal for Tottenham in the Champions League.

Tottenham overwhelmed Copenhagen 4-0 at home on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Joao Palhinha and a stunner from the Dutchman.

Van de Ven scored the goal of the Spurs season so far when he picked up the ball on the edge of his own box just after the hour mark and proceeded to motor through the entire visiting team at speed before firing an excellent low finish in at the near post from just inside the area.

The win was exactly what Thomas Frank needed after losing to Chelsea, followed by an apparent issue between the Tottenham boss, Djed Spence and Van de Ven on the way off the pitch.

Van de Ven strike stuns teammates and rivals

After the game, which leaves Tottenham on eight points from four Champions League matches so far this term, Van de Ven posted a series of images showing him celebrating the strike along with the caption: “Well, that was a nice goal.”

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Commenting on the post was his Netherlands teammate and Liverpool captain Van Dijk who responded with a fire emoji, while fellow Dutchman and Bournemouth forward Justin Kluivert posted a train emoji.

Spence himself also replied, sarcastically playing down the feat by commenting: “Average goal mate”.

Thomas Frank gets ideal response to Chelsea defeat

A run of just three victories across the last 10 outings in all competitions, culminating with the limp defeat to Chelsea and the focus on Frank’s minor flashpoint with his unhappy players, was starting to become a concern.

The Dane will need to see his side follow the European win up with more of the same but or a mid-week response he pretty much got exactly what he was looking for.

Van de Ven’s goal was reminiscent of Son Heung-min‘s December 2019 strike against Burnley which won the Puskas award so may put the defender in with a shout of doing the same.

The only minor gripes Tottenham will have from the win is Johnson’s red card and no goals for strikers, particularly Richarlison who hit the bar twice, including once from the spot.

Randall Kolo Muani had multiple excellent chances that he failed to take but did well to assist Odobert, while Dane Scarlett’s introduction was positive as he won the penalty which Richarlison couldn’t convert.

Destiny Udogie is missing piece as ‘confidence’ vital in Tottenham win vs Copenhagen

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Destiny Udogie could be exactly what Tottenham have been missing, with his display against FC Copenhagen highlighting the left-back’s importance.

Thomas Frank will be delighted at Tottenham’s 4-0 win against Copenhagen in the Champions League, which has lifted the mood around N17, after a controversial loss to Chelsea on Saturday.

Micky van de Ven scored one of the goals of the season, as Brennan Johnson made history, but not particularly for the right reasons.

Udogie returned to the Lilywhites’ starting line-up on Tuesday, with Tottenham’s performance seeming to improve with his comeback.

Destiny Udogie was crucial for Tottenham

Udogie has suffered with injuries at Tottenham, as the young Italian has had a far from perfect time at N17.

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However, when he has played, Udogie has always shown promise, and his statistics against Copenhagen prove how good he can be when fully fit.

Udogie won 100 per cent of his ground duels against the Danish outfit, as his athleticism and willing running have been sorely missed.

Lilywhites insider, Paul O’Keefe, touched on Udogie’s importance on X, and explained why his inclusion may have added more “confidence” to Spurs.

O’Keefe said: “Udogie adds so much more balance to the team and one defensive midfielder. Good opportunity now to build some confidence.”

With Udogie not even back to full fitness, the prospect of him now building on this performance can only be exciting for Tottenham fans.

What has Thomas Frank previously said about Udogie?

Against Chelsea, Tottenham started with Djed Spence at left-back in Udogie’s absence. However, the England international is naturally a right-back and that showed versus the Blues.

Tottenham fans will be praying that Udogie can stay fit, but Frank also understands how pivotal the young defender is.

In September, Tottenham drew 2-2 with Brighton, which came as Udogie’s first competitive start under Frank, as the left-back made a good first impression on his head coach.

Frank said, as quoted by The Standard: “Exceptional, he was exceptional today. He was unstoppable, almost, going forward.”

Now, the Italian will look to avoid further injury woes for Tottenham and keep building.

Thomas Frank unlocks Xavi Simons for Tottenham after what he did vs Copenhagen, now he must stick to it

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Thomas Frank unlocks Xavi Simons after what he did vs Copenhagen, now he must stick to it

Thomas Frank’s decision to bench Joao Palhinha meant that Xavi Simons had his best game in a Tottenham shirt in their 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Tottenham signed Simons from RB Leipzig over the summer as a replacement for James Maddison, who sustained an ACL injury against Newcastle United during pre-season.

However, the Dutch international has struggled with his performances since arriving in North London, which has left Spurs supporters wondering if he’s fit to wear their shirt.

But it now seems that fans will finally see the version of Simons that most believed they were getting when he put pen to paper.

Where Thomas Frank went wrong with Xavi Simons

Simons has recorded 0.12 expected assists and accumulated 0.06 non-penalty expected goals in the Premier League, according to NathanAClark via X on 2 November.

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This is a poor record, but it’s unsurprising given that he is receiving progressive passes at a 15th percentile rate with 4.76 per game.

This means that his teammates are not feeding him the ball in areas where he is most effective, and this is evident considering how many touches he’s averaged this season.

Indeed, the attacking midfielder has averaged 42.6 touches in the Premier League this season. To put that into perspective, he averaged 68 touches in the Bundesliga last season.

Given the context, the fact that he’s almost in the top 10 per cent percentile for carries into the final third and has averaged 1.76 passes into the final third is a testament to the player Xavi could be.

Joao Palhinha is a problem for Xavi Simons

According to Markstats via X on 1 November, Palhinha generated a 0.03 expected threat against Chelsea.

Despite this, he won the ball five times in a game where he made 37 pass attempts and completed 28 of them.

Palhinha is an excellent defensive midfielder, but he can also be a liability in the build-up phase. This is one of the reasons why the Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur partnership has been criticised.

As a result, it is not difficult to see why Simons has been struggling at Tottenham while playing in a conservative attacking system with defensive-minded players.

What changed against for Xavi Simons vs Copenhagen?

Frank opted to bench Palhinha against Copenhagen on Tuesday in favour of a midfield trio of Pape Matar Sarr, Bentancur and Simons.

This was the best choice the Dane could’ve made for the Dutch international.

The more attacking set-up meant that the Lilywhites were able to progress the ball more easily in the midfield, which meant Simons saw more of the ball.

Everything went through Simons. In 61 minutes played, he created three big chances, made one key pass and assisted Brennan Johnson’s first goal in the Champions League.

He also completed 100 per cent of dribbles and had one unsuccessful touch, according to Sofascore.

It was a complete attacking performance from beginning to end, and the onus is on Frank to continue with this tactical formation moving forward.

Indeed, now that he has finally unlocked Simons, the task that lies ahead is consistency.

Tottenham star Destiny Udogie named as player threatened by agent – Everything we know so far

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Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie was allegedly threatened at gunpoint by a football agent in September.

The defender started on Tuesday night, as Tottenham beat FC Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League.

Goals from Brennan Johnson, Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Joao Palhinha saw Thomas Frank‘s side respond to Saturday’s disappointment in spectacular fashion.

Udogie was missing from the Tottenham squad to play Aston Villa in October, although his manager explained that this was due to a minor injury.

The Italian featured when Tottenham beat West Ham 3-0 in September, a game that took place days after the alleged incident, in which he has been named.

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Everything we know so far about Destiny Udogie incident

Udogie returned from injury against Chelsea on Saturday, after the defender had spent around a month on the sidelines.

His form has been up and down so far this season, although it is not clear whether the incident that took place in September has had any further effect on the Italy international.

News had emerged of a Premier League player having been threatened at gunpoint on Monday, with Mail Sport sharing on Tuesday that the player in question was Udogie.

The 22-year-old is understood to have been targeted while walking with a friend in Barnet, North London, by a football agent, who cannot yet be named.

The confrontation allegedly concerned Udogie’s decision not to use the agent’s services, with police called to the scene at 11:14 pm on September 6 to reports of two men having been threatened with a firearm.

The agent has been arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms with intent, blackmail and driving without a license but has been bailed, with police yet to issue charges for the alleged offences.

What have Tottenham said about Udogie incident?

In a statement on Tuesday, Tottenham said: “We have been providing support for Destiny and his family since the incident and will continue to do so.

“Given this is a legal matter, we cannot comment any further.”

Udogie played for 73 minutes of Tottenham’s superb victory on Tuesday, with the defender still completing his return to full fitness.

Keith Hackett in no doubt about 'reckless' Brennan Johnson moment in win vs FC Copenhagen

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Keith Hackett in no doubt about Brennan Johnson controversy vs FC Copenhagen

Keith Hackett has insisted that Brennan Johnson should not have been sent off in Tottenham’s win against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday.

Tottenham beat Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League, on what was a confidence-boosting night for Thomas Frank‘s side.

Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Micky van de Ven, and Joao Palhinha scored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, despite the red card.

After the winger’s yellow card was upgraded to red after a review, Johnson became the first British player to score and be sent off in a Champions League game.

The moment will go down as a footnote on a superb night, however, with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium seeing a great response after Tottenham lost 1-0 to Chelsea on Saturday.

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Keith Hackett questions VAR intervention

Johnson’s challenge had not looked to be much of anything at the time, with Copenhagen defender Marcos Lopez not even going down.

Referee Erik Lambrechts issued a yellow card, but video assistant referee Bram van Driessche halted play while he viewed the incident more closely.

On closer inspection, Johnson’s studs had been raised and were not near the ball, making contact with the Achilles of Lopez.

There appeared to be little force in the challenge, however, which looked far worse when played in slow motion.

An on-field review was recommended and Lambrechts overturned his decision, issuing a straight red card.

Hackett exclusively told Tottenham News that both the video assistant referee and the on-field official made a mistake.

“The referee in a good position clearly judged that the challenge was reckless and was correct to sanction the challenge with a yellow card,” the former PGMOL chief said.

“There is no clear and obvious error and VAR should not have intervened. The referee is wrong to show a red card.”

What games will Brennan Johnson miss?

Johnson’s red card will see him handed a three-game ban in the Champions League due to serious foul play.

The winger will serve the first game of that suspension when Tottenham travel to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of November, before ruling him out of a clash with Slavia Prague in December.

Johnson’s ban will then extend into January, when he will miss a game against Borussia Dortmund at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Frank will be able to deploy the Wales international once again for Tottenham’s final Champions League group stage game, against Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of January.

Thomas Frank laughs off Van de Ven controversy after Tottenham heroics vs Copenhagen

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Thomas Frank has put the recent Tottenham controversy involving Micky van de Ven behind him after the centre-back shone against Copenhagen on Tuesday.

Tottenham smashed Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League, as many individuals had standout performances.

Xavi Simons looks to have finally arrived for Spurs in his best game so far at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Wilson Odobert scored his first goal of the season.

Brennan Johnson was sent off for Tottenham, but even down to 10 men, it didn’t stop Van de Ven from stealing the show.

After Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, Van de Ven was caught walking past and ignoring Frank in a heated moment that now seems to be forgiven.

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Frank says van de Ven can ‘keep walking past him’

During the game against Copenhagen, Van de Ven scored a goal that may be nominated for the Puskas Award.

The defender picked up the ball from just outside his own box and ran the full length of the field before placing a shot into the back of the net.

In his post-match comments, Frank has swept their previous controversy under the rug, claiming van de Ven looked like Lionel Messi against Copenhagen.

Frank said, as quoted by football.london: “It seems like we had Lionel Messi turned into Micky van de Ven, roaring down from his own goal all the way to the other end and scored a fantastic goal.

“I think he’s our top scorer in all competitions, so he can keep going. He can keep walking past me if he’s angry after a game.”

Van de Ven has already tallied two goals more than his best scoring season at Spurs, but what’s been the biggest difference this campaign?

Frank has transformed Van de Ven at Spurs

Right now, it would be hard to argue against the fact that Van de Ven is Tottenham’s best player.

This season, the centre-back has taken his game to the next level and is the Lilywhites’ top scorer, looking a genuine goal threat every game.

The difference is Frank. For all the stick he gets, the head coach needs to be praised for the work he’s done with Tottenham’s backline, and Van de Ven in particular.

With Van de Ven still only 24 years old, the Dutchman is showing promise that he can one day captain Tottenham full time, as he looks like a true leader at the moment for the Lilywhites.

Spurs chiefs have serious issue to fix as sad image circulates from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

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Tottenham may have beat Copenhagen 4-0 on Tuesday, but it was not all smiles in North London.

Brennan Johnson opened the scoring for Tottenham and was also sent off in the Champions League clash.

It was a big result for Thomas Frank‘s side after a run of just one win in their last five matches beforehand.

However, the most notable aspect of proceedings was something that supporters did at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham fans show their discontent in Copenhagen clash

Tottenham supporters have voiced their discontent recently, despite the Europa League victory at the end of last season.

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Some fans clearly protested against ticket prices in the Copenhagen clash, as they were priced at around £60 for a match against a lesser opponent on a Tuesday evening.

An image shared by John Wenham shows the extent of the issue, with lots of empty seats at kick-off at the state-of-the-art stadium.

Wenham, who goes by Lilywhite Rose on social media, shared the sad image, saying: “Many voting with their feet.

“South Stand, 8pm. £60 in between two Category A games.”

Tottenham chiefs need to unite the club and supporters

Spurs have a brilliant stadium, a great playing squad and a huge supporter base.

The club’s chiefs have to fix it, they must unite all factions of the N17 outfit, to ensure that success is repeated in the future.

If there is division between the club, players and supporters, that will lessen the chance of them winning the highest honours.

The departure of Daniel Levy was supposed to bring everyone together and put the club on the right track, but it seems like there are still issues that need sorting out.

It will only hamper Frank and Co. on the pitch, as they try to take Spurs forward into a new era where they challenge for the Premier League and Champions League.

There has been a lot of progress, but it could all stall, if everyone is not on the same page.

For starters, the prices need to be reflective of the quality of the game, £60 for Copenhagen is simply unacceptable.