It’s the big one, the one not many Tottenham Hotspur fans have probably been looking forward to.
Champions League football is on the line for Ange Postecoglou and his players ahead of their Premier League clash against title-chasers Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Aston Villa’s 3-3 draw at home to Liverpool on Monday night now means Tottenham must win their game to stand any chance of finishing fourth.
Shaun Wright-Phillips admitted that ‘every Man City fan is nervous’ about this game given Spurs’ record against Pep Guardiola’s side, as he told Premier League Productions (13/05/24 at 2:10 pm)
Everyone is talking about Spurs doing Arsenal a favour by taking points off the champions that would given Mikel Arteta’s men the advantage in the Premier League title race heading into the final day.
But it’s not going to be as simple as that because those at Hotspur Way aren’t exactly performing amazingly well.
Wright-Phillips touched upon how Postecoglou’s style of play means they will give Manchester City chances.
But he also alluded to how Tottenham are ‘relying so much’ on Micky van de Ven, especially after the season-ending injury to Destiny Udogie.
Tottenham’s reliance on Micky van de Ven
“Every Man City fan you speak to will be nervous about this game based on (Tottenham’s record),” said Wright-Phillips.
“I have been at those games and Man City have played well. They have dominated – and then Harry Kane would work wonders and make things happen. That is the biggest difference in this game now that Harry Kane isn’t playing for them, so who can turn the game on its head at any given time?
“We know Spurs are going to give us chances with that high line. Without Udogie in the back and playing that inverted midfield role and drifting into those foreign places, in many ways, they have come unstuck and they are relying on van de Ven so much to clear up a lot of mess.”
Tottenham’s Player of the Season
There have been many standout performers and it will be interesting to see who fans vote for their Player of the Season.
Tim Sherwood gave his vote to van de Ven, the 23-year-old Dutchman has been brilliant since his summer transfer and is pivotal in the way Tottenham perform.
READ MORE: Paul Merson says Tottenham Hotspur star has ‘earned the respect’ of the opposition
The likes of Udogie also deserve a mention, including Son Heung-min, who has 17 Premier League goals and 9 assists, but his form has fallen off lately.
James Maddison could have probably won it had he been more consistent, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if someone like van de Ven does walk away with the prize.
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