Tottenham star Micky van de Ven breaks silence on Ange Postecoglou’s sacking after Europa League win – as Spurs close in on Thomas Frank appointment

By DOMINIC HOGAN

Tottenham star Micky van de Ven has called the decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou ‘strange’ after delivering the club’s first trophy in 17 years last month. 

The former Celtic manager was dismissed by Daniel Levy after a hugely disappointing Premier League campaign with Tottenham finishing 17th, however he did claim the Europa League final. 

He beat a Manchester United side that had been almost as poor domestically, but it was not enough to save his job, as Spurs looked to part ways over the summer to give his replacement an opportunity to bed in and rebuild the side ahead of the new season. 

‘That was ultimately a choice from the club,’ Van de Ven told Voetbal Zone of Levy’s decision. ‘We, as players, have little to say about that. Of course, he is the first coach in a long time who has won a trophy has had success at Spurs. So if you look at it that way, it is of course a strange choice.

‘It is a choice from the club about which we have little to say, so we will see what happens now. Of course, we see some rumours about the Brentford head coach [Frank], who it will probably be. So yes, a choice from the club about which we have little to say.

‘I think many of the players got along with [Postecoglou] well. And of course, what I say, he is the first coach who has brought success to Spurs in a long time. That also shows that he has a certain quality. That also means that he has a winning mentality. 100 per cent.

Micky van de Ven won the Europa League with Tottenham last month for their first trophy in 17 years

He has now broken his silence on Ange Postecoglou’s controversial sacking last Friday

Thomas Frank is soon to be announced as Tottenham head coach following positive talks

‘From that, you would of course say that it is strange that he was fired. What we have shown in the Premier League is, of course, unacceptable. That would, of course, have multiple factors, but that would not only have been the coach.’

As Van de Ven mentioned, Spurs are expected to appoint Thomas Frank as Postecoglou’s successor in the coming days, with the Brentford manager’s release clause set to be paid out. 

Mail Sport reported on Monday that Frank has a release clause thought to be around £10million, but those with knowledge of the situation believe it is heading towards a positive conclusion.

Negotiations have now started, with chairman Daniel Levy representing Tottenham and Phil Giles, Brentford’s director of football, in talks. Aside from the release fee, discussions are also likely to focus on Frank’s backroom staff, and the level of compensation needed to allow them to follow him from west to north London.

The Bees will demand suitable recompense for a manager who has been with the club for close to a decade and who has overseen a period of remarkable success.

Frank arrived at the club in 2016 as assistant head coach and was appointed manager in 2018. In his first full season in charge he led them to the play-off final and followed it up with promotion to the Premier League. Over the past four years he has firmly established Brentford as a top-flight club.

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Tottenham star Micky van de Ven breaks silence on Ange Postecoglou’s sacking after Europa League win – as Spurs close in on Thomas Frank appointment

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