- Micky van de Ven produced a stunning assist to set up Brennan Johnson
- The Spurs defender’s fine run started when he took the ball off Marcus Rashford
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Micky van de Ven produced his second athletic assist of the season to set up Tottenham’s opening goal away at Manchester United on Sunday.
The Dutch defender pounced upon a heavy touch by Marcus Rashford before dribbling forward at pace for more than 60 yards and crossing to give Brennan Johnson a tap-in.
Ex-United captain Gary Neville reacted to the goal by praising the Dutch ace. ‘Brilliant,’ said Neville live on Sky Sports. ‘Absolutely brilliant from Van de Ven. One of the best runs I’ve ever seen from a centre back.’
However, many fans took to social media to blame Rashford for losing the ball too easily and not trying hard enough to win it back.
One wrote: ‘Rashford could have shown commitment and foul or tackle Van de Ven right there and then. But as usual he gives an attitude and swings as if he was mad then we got punished. He lacks the aggression, the will to win and fight for the team. Rashford is talented but a waste.’
Micky van de Ven (left) intercepted the ball after a heavy touch by Marcus Rashford (centre)
Van de Ven then carried the ball forward at remarkable speed before providing an assist
After sprinting past several Red Devils players, Van de Ven produced a precise low cross
Van de Ven raised his fist in celebration after Brennan Johnson (not in shot) scored for Spurs
Rashford looked frustrated during the first half at Old Trafford and he was criticised by fans
Another fan fumed: ‘Typical Marcus Rashford. All his fault that goal. Terrible touch.’
A third message on X (formerly Twitter) read: ‘Marcus Rashford made a massive contribution in the Tottenham opening goal, lol. Such a rash run to take two sturdy defenders.’
Before losing the ball to Van de Ven, Rashford had run past Destiny Udogie. But Van de Ven’s remarkable run then saw him bust away from Rashford, Manuel Ugarte, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt before his cross evaded Lisandro Martinez.
A fourth fan suggested that both Ugarte and Rashford deserved blame for Johnson’s goal.
They wrote: ‘Rashford had absolutely no interest whatsoever once he lost it and Ugarte, the player they signed to be the ball winner, couldn’t get anywhere near Van de Ven’.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk