Micky Van De Ven Defended By Thomas Frank After Isak Challenge Sparked Slot Critique

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Thomas Frank has backed Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, rejecting Arne Slot’s view that the challenge on Alexander Isak was reckless. Frank insisted Van de Ven’s attempt to stop the goal during Liverpool’s 2-1 win was a normal defensive action and argued such tackles are part of committed Premier League defending.

The incident occurred when Van de Ven tried to block Isak’s shot, which still went in, during Saturday’s match at Anfield. Isak’s leg buckled under the weight of the challenge and the forward has since undergone surgery on a broken leg, prompting strong criticism of the tackle from Liverpool head coach Slot.

Slot told reporters that the tackle would cause a serious injury "10 times out of 10" and labelled it careless. Van de Ven did not receive a booking for the incident, yet discussion has continued, especially after confirmation of Isak’s surgery and the length of recovery Isak is likely to face.

Asked about Slot’s assessment at his press conference, Frank firmly defended the Tottenham defender’s intentions and technique. "Obviously I am disagreeing [with Slot], Frank said. In many ways, we're talking about a defender that'll do everything to avoid conceding a goal. It's a transition so he is sprinting back in. There's a ball slid down the side and he does everything he can to block that shot. Unfortunately, Isak has planted his foot straight there, which makes it look worse than it is. That would be a natural reaction for any defender. Or, put it this way, if my defender doesn't do that, I don't think they are true defenders. I dont see that at all. I think reckless challenges, normally, you haven't seen any from Micky, as I remember it. I see him as a very fair and competitive player. That's one thing. I also know the two players have sorted it out, so that's a good sign."

Frank stressed that Van de Ven’s track record supports that view, pointing out that previous challenges have not raised similar concerns. The head coach also highlighted that Van de Ven and Isak have already spoken after the collision, which Frank considered an important sign of respect between the players involved.

Referee John Brooks faced several major calls in the same fixture, beyond the Van de Ven tackle. Xavi Simons was dismissed following a VAR review for raking studs down the calf of Netherlands team-mate Virgil van Dijk, while Cristian Romero was also sent off near the end as Tottenham finished with nine players.

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Simons initially received a yellow card before VAR intervened and Brooks upgraded the sanction to a straight red. Despite Frank’s frustration, Tottenham have decided against challenging that dismissal. "I would like to do it," he said. "But it doesn't make sense because of the way the rules are. We won't get anything out of it, I've been told. That is the way it is."

The defeat left Tottenham 14th in the Premier League table, adding pressure ahead of Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace. Frank is seeking a strong reaction from the squad but noted that limited time on the training ground has shaped their preparation between fixtures.

Explaining the approach, Frank said the staff focus on messages and habits as much as drills. "We enforce good messages, good habits and then how can you install that in training, but we haven't been able to train that much," he said. "We keep talking about it before, during and after gamesthat's a big part of it. Overall, the team did well against Liverpool. After watching the game back, I was super happy with the first 30 minutes, which is really good, promising."