Micky van de Ven has shared the ‘crazy’ thing he said to James Maddison shortly before the pair linked up for Tottenham Hotspur’s winner against Burnley on Saturday.
Ange Postecoglou’s side got back to winning ways this weekend, with Spurs coming from behind to relegate Vincent Kompany’s men in North London.
Both of Tottenham’s goals came from defenders, with Pedro Porro equalising during the first-half with a thunderous drive after receiving the ball from Brennan Johnson.
And it was Micky van de Ven who scored the winner. Van de Ven previously scored one of Tottenham’s goals of the season in the win over Nottingham Forest, but he still seemed an unlikely goalscorer.
However, it seems that the Dutchman had an inkling that he may have a real say on the game shortly before finding the back of the net.
Micky van de Ven shares what he told James Maddison before Tottenham winner
Speaking to Spurs Play after the win, van de Ven suggested that he had a word with James Maddison during the second-half – which reaped rewards when the 27-year-old received the ball on the edge of the final third.
“The crazy thing was, in the game, I was walking next to Madders and I said to Madders, in five seconds when you get the ball, I run deep, just pass it to me,” he said.
“He got the ball and I just ran deep and he played it to me and my touch was straight away from the defenders, and I thought Dane was making a block and then I cut it to my left and I saw the little gap in the corner.”
Centre-back is proving to be Spurs’ secret weapon in final third
Certainly, van de Ven did not look like a player who had never previously scored more than two goals for a single club when he tucked the ball into the bottom corner against Burnley.
But he has now produced three outstanding finishes this season, with his account opening with that deft goal away at Luton earlier in the campaign.
You do have to wonder what exactly van de Ven cannot do. He is able to outpace any player in the Premier League, and gives Tottenham the freedom to push the defensive line right up.
But he is also clearly able to produce moments of remarkable quality at the other end of the pitch too, and at 23 years of age, it is frightening to think about the potential he could have in the years to come.
