Frank Amazed by Defender’s Solo Strike
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was left in awe of Micky van de Ven’s incredible goal during the team’s dominant 4-0 Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen, humorously suggesting it was as if Lionel Messi had transformed into the Dutch center-back. With Spurs already ahead 2-0 but reduced to 10 players after Brennan Johnson’s dismissal, Van de Ven clinched the result with an extraordinary individual run. The 24-year-old picked up the ball near his own penalty box, surged forward, evading several Copenhagen defenders with ease despite their attempts to stop him, and finished coolly into the far corner. Joao Palhinha soon added a fourth, propelling Tottenham to seventh place in the Champions League table after securing their second win in four matches, alongside two draws.
Background and Reactions to the Goal
Frank’s admiration came shortly after a slight issue where Van de Ven and Djed Spence had walked off angrily after a loss to Chelsea, ignoring the coach and supporters. He quipped that Van de Ven could continue such behavior if it led to performances like this. Highlighting the goal, Frank noted it resembled Messi charging from defense to attack and scoring brilliantly, adding that Van de Ven is now Tottenham’s leading scorer across all competitions and should keep it up. The defender has turned into a prolific scorer this season, with goals in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain in August and five more since, including a brace in the 3-0 win at Everton last month. However, Van de Ven himself played it down post-match, explaining he began dribbling, noticed no one caught him, felt strong in the run, and just kept pushing forward.
Pundit Praise and Team’s Bounce-Back
Ex-England player Owen Hargreaves, commentating for TNT Sports, was lavish in his praise, calling it one of the greatest goals ever witnessed, as Van de Ven powered past opponents effortlessly and finished with composure, declaring it the goal of the season without question. This came after heavy backlash for Tottenham’s poor showing in a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, where Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher compared it to a League Two side facing a Premier League team in the FA Cup. The convincing win over Copenhagen served as an ideal response, but Frank declined to engage with Carragher’s remarks, saying he hadn’t seen them and understood pundits need to comment, though it’s simpler than managing on the sidelines. He praised the team’s display and emphasized the value of a resilient mindset in overcoming setbacks in football and life, expressing satisfaction with how the players recovered from a tough outing.
Frank’s Perspective on the Victory’s Impact
While acknowledging the importance of quickly moving past a subpar performance, Frank was cautious about labeling this as a major shift, considering the level of opposition, though it undoubtedly lifts spirits ahead of Manchester United’s visit on Saturday. He reiterated that shaking off bad games promptly is key, and he was pleased with the squad’s reaction.
