Micky on Madders and Deki’s return: “It was a bit emotional”
Micky van de Ven said Dejan Kulusevski ‘always believed’ he’d step out again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – a moment that lit up N17 on Monday night.
The Sweden playmaker – and so often, difference maker – finally made that step after almost 18 months on the sidelines when he made a late substitute appearance in our 3-1 win against Coventry City. It was his first action since 11 May, 2025.
Micky, back in the starting XI and wearing the captain’s armband, spoke to us in the tunnel after this important victory and gave this response to Deki’s return.
“It’s a bit emotional, I would say. If you see what he went through for the last 15, 16 months, the work he kept putting in and the belief he had over and over again that he will come back as quick as possible.
“He always believed. There was no day where he didn't believe.
“So, deep, deep respect for him and we’re all so happy to see him back on the pitch. He deserves every word of praise from everyone, because if you've seen what he's been going through, big respect for him.”
As for Madders, Micky wasn’t surprised to see the midfielder score one of the most different strikes in the book to open the scoring – whipping the ball from in to out into the top corner from 25 yards – a true moment of magic on his first start since 1 May, 2025.
“Madders, I think, showed again that he's a really big player, a really important player for us,” added Micky. “He showed his qualities again on the pitch – he’s big for us off the pitch as well, obviously - but on the pitch you can see what he can bring to us.
“It was a top win, really important and something we need to build on.”