🔗 Share this article Spurs Centre-Back Micky van de Ven Expresses Shock At Ange Postecoglou Dismissal Micky van de Ven signed for the North London club from Wolfsburg in August 2023. Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has admitted he "was completely surprised by" the club's decision to dismiss former manager Postecoglou. The Australian's two-year tenure was terminated a just over two weeks after he led Tottenham to a win in the European final, securing the team's first major trophy in 17 years. Yet, this continental triumph was not mirrored in the domestic league, with the side ending up in a disappointing 17th position in his last season at the helm. He was replaced by ex-Brentford manager Frank during the summer, but Tottenham currently sit 11th in the table, with 22 points from 16 games, following a 3-0 defeat to Forest at the weekend. "He was a really good manager. I have a lot of respect for him," the Dutch defender stated on a podcast. "I'm not sure how everything went behind the scenes. It came as a shock. It was odd how everything went after - he's the manager that brought a trophy to the club," he added. "Afterwards, when he got sacked, I texted to my father and my mates and said, 'I never expected this.'" Spurs beat Man United 1-0 in the final in Bilbao. The Rise and Fall Postecoglou joined Spurs from Celtic before the 2023/24 campaign, replacing Antonio Conte. He enjoyed early success with his offensive philosophy of play, amassing an impressive points haul from his first ten Premier League games. Nevertheless, that fine start was halted with four defeats in five games, and the team's season tailed off, eventually failing to secure Champions League qualification by a mere two-point margin. In the next campaign, they won just 11 of their 38 league matches. Lacking a Plan B Although he enjoyed the attacking approach, Dutch international the defender thinks the squad lacked a "alternative strategy" and revealed he and fellow centre-back Cristian Romero discussed taking a more defensive approach with the manager. "I liked the attacking football under Postecoglou but I appreciate what we have now with Thomas Frank. We are more secure defensively. I don't like being vulnerable every game on the break," he said. "At the beginning under Postecoglou, no team was accustomed to playing against our system. We were playing unbelievable football." "However, coaches study everything and people figured out what we were doing. At times we didn't really have a backup plan and we were being caught out. We lacked answers to get out." "On one occasion Romero and I walked up to the manager and said we should adjust tactically and be more defensive to make sure we secure victory in those games. He was responded, 'I understand with you but I expect you two guys to handle this on the pitch, make sure everybody knows.'"