There is a 'new Messi' in the Champions League

Micky van de Ven scored a "crazy" goal in the Champions League.

With his team down to 10 men and under pressure from Copenhagen, no one expected Van de Ven to do anything other than clear the ball. But instead of clearing the danger, he chose to create a storm. From the edge of the penalty area, Van de Ven picked up the ball, accelerated, passed one, then two, then three opponents. He dodged two more in the middle of the field, accelerated away from everyone, and coolly finished with a cross-angle shot. The ball landed in the net. The whole stadium erupted.

Thomas Frank just shook his head and laughed: "It's like Messi entered Van de Ven."

That goal not only gave Tottenham a 4-0 win, but it was a moment that will be talked about for years to come. A centre-back running halfway across the pitch, making his own way, finishing his own way. There was no tactic to describe it, just instinct, power and belief.

Van de Ven arrived at Tottenham in the summer of 2023, for £34 million from Wolfsburg. At the time, no one thought he would be the man to change the mood in London. Strong, fast, but few saw him as a player who could score goals. Yet now, he scores regularly: in the European Super Cup against PSG, at West Ham, at Bodo Glimt, at Everton. But none of them have reached the level of perfection as the one against Copenhagen.

Micky van de Ven does the unthinkable by scoring in striker style.

After the match, Van de Ven said simply: “I just thought about whether they could catch up. They couldn’t. I felt like I could keep running forever.” A light sentence, but it said it all: the confidence of a player at the peak of his form.

Owen Hargreaves on TNT Sports exclaimed: “One of the best goals you’ve ever seen. He goes past players like they don’t exist. Perfect finish. Goal of the season.”

Nedum Onuoha, former Man City defender, also nodded: “When a centre-back runs like that, no one knows who to stop. He has the speed of a striker, and the mentality of someone who is fearless.”

Curtis Davies added: “He tried to pass, but there was no one to pass to. So he just ran. Once he got going, there was no stopping him.”

The whole of England immediately recalled Son Heung-min's masterpiece against Burnley in 2019, the solo goal that won the Puskas award in 2020. Van de Ven has just continued that tradition, but in his own way: a defender turned into Messi.

Micky van de Ven has a goal of a lifetime in the Champions League.

The win also relieved some pressure on Tottenham, who had just picked up one point in three home games and were booed after losing to Chelsea. Frank called for patience and the team responded with a strong, spirited performance.

Brennan Johnson opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Wilson Odobert doubled the lead early in the second half. When Johnson was sent off, many feared Tottenham would collapse. But Van de Ven appeared, a 70-yard run erased any doubts. Joao Palhinha rounded off the brilliant night with a fourth.

Frank breathed a sigh of relief after the match: “We are improving, not at the level we want, but the important thing is how we react after the defeat. From the first minute, the team was in control and did not panic.”

Ironically, just a few days ago, Van de Ven was criticized for refusing to greet the crowd after the defeat to Chelsea. Now he is a hero. Frank laughed: “If he keeps being angry with me and plays like that, I’m ready to be ignored a few more times.”

In that moment, Van de Ven not only saved Tottenham from crisis. He reminded fans that football still has room for the absurd, for seemingly impossible breakthroughs, for the moment when a center-back can make the world call him… Van de Messi.

Source: https://znews.vn/co-mot-messi-moi-o-champions-league-post1600008.html