Muhammad Awwal AbubakarAnge Postecoglou has confirmed that Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has suffered a hamstring injury during the club’s recent Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City.
The setback comes as Spurs look to build momentum in the competition, but Postecoglou remains hopeful about the fitness of Cristian Romero and Timo Werner, who were also substituted during the match.
Van de Ven, who started at left-back, sustained the injury in the early stages of the game while attempting to tackle City’s Savinho.
After the challenge, the Dutchman clutched the back of his right leg and was visibly in distress as he was replaced by Destiny Udogie.
Postecoglou later revealed that Van de Ven had “felt his hamstring,” indicating a potentially serious issue that would require further assessment.
“I haven’t got the full update on him but he definitely felt something, and we’ll see how he is,” Postecoglou stated.
The Spurs manager will be anxious for news as Van de Ven has a history of hamstring problems, having missed two months of the previous season with a similar injury at this point in the campaign.
The injury to Van de Ven is particularly concerning as it comes amid an already challenging season for Spurs, who are still trying to establish consistency under Postecoglou. The club will be keen to discover the full extent of the injury as they navigate a busy schedule.
Romero was also substituted early in the second half, while Werner hobbled off after pulling up while taking a corner kick.
Postecoglou suggested that fatigue was a key factor in their exits, stating, “Cuti was a bit tired. I contemplated changing him at half-time, but after losing Micky as well, I didn’t want to lose another centre-half. He said he felt okay, but my gut was telling me there’s no point taking a risk.”
The absence of Van de Ven could put additional pressure on Tottenham’s defensive line, particularly with crucial fixtures on the horizon.
Postecoglou’s decision to take a cautious approach with Romero reflects the need to manage player fitness carefully in a demanding season.
Despite the injury concerns, Spurs secured a vital 2-1 victory over Manchester City, thanks to first-half goals from Werner and Pape Matar Sarr. This win sets up an enticing quarter-final clash at home against Manchester United.
“It was an important win,” Postecoglou remarked. “In cup competitions, you have to win to continue, so that is the first thing.
Look, you’re playing against an unbelievable side, and they’re going to ask you all sorts of questions, and they did today.”
The manager praised his team’s defensive performance, noting that they limited City’s clear-cut chances.
“I thought we defended well and didn’t give away many opportunities, but we did have to defend, and I thought we did that well,” he said.
However, he also acknowledged missed opportunities to seal the game earlier. “In our attacking moments, we had some really top-quality chances to finish the game off that we didn’t take.
But great resilience from the boys to hold out. When you play City, they’re going to ask you every question there is, and for the most part, I thought we handled it okay.”
As Tottenham prepares for their next matches, the health of Van de Ven, Romero, and Werner will be crucial in determining how the squad can maintain its momentum in both domestic and cup competitions. The club and its fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on Van de Ven’s condition in the coming days.
Muhammad Awwal Abubakar
