Spurs vs Atletico Madrid, UEFA Champions League | Every word of Micky van de Ven’s pre-match press conference

Micky van de Ven joined Igor Tudor in speaking to the media at Hotspur Way on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of our UEFA Champions League Round of 16, second leg against Atletico Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night (8pm UK).

Here's what he had to say...

There are reports that some players have switched off, thinking about next season. Have you heard that and how unfair do you think that is?

Micky: “Of course, I've seen things coming by, passing by. That's not something I look at a lot, to be honest. It's just like reporters just say some things… how do you even come up with this? That the players have switched off or don't care about the situation that's happening right now? The only thing I can say about it is it's not true. It would be strange if a player would be in the dressing room now and say, ‘I'm going to leave, either way’ or ‘I don't focus about the situation, because everything that's going to happen, it doesn't affect me’. I think it's just nonsense. It's only when people just start believing it and, what I said, it's the biggest nonsense, everybody's just focused on what's going ahead and what's in front of us.”

How determined are you and how positive do you feel after that point at Liverpool on Sunday that the team can get out of this situation?

Micky: “I wasn't there at the weekend, I watched the game at home and I've seen some unbelievable mentality from the team. I think they showed big character and big mentality. It was a massive point over there. Obviously, we're in a difficult situation right now, but what I saw from the guys at the weekend, it's just unbelievable, the mentality is just so strong. We need to bring it tomorrow and then after tomorrow, we'll see again to the next game on Sunday.”

How did you feel after the Palace game, the first red card of your career – what did you say to your team-mates?

Micky: “I apologised to the team, obviously. It was a game-changing moment. In the game, it's just split-second decisions you make on the pitch, and obviously it was not the best decision I made at that point. I was devastated, obviously, when I saw the red card, and at half-time I just apologised to the guys.”

What's it been like for you, personally?

Micky: “We’re struggling this season, a lot, and I think that's the most important thing for me, is that we just turn this around, we just start playing better and just get results, that’s the most important part for me, that's my main focus, to turn this around with everyone.”

You described some of the stories as ‘nonsense’ - are they just made up by people outside the dressing room, and what do you guys inside the dressing room feel about these stories?

Micky: “The other day when we read something about one guy that said to everyone that he's probably going to leave and doesn't care about the situation they're in, and then someone reads this and we're just like, ‘how does this come out?’ Like, people just making things up, and it's just frustrating for us as well, because it brings so much more trouble as well, because the fans are starting to believe this, and I start saying like, ‘oh, the guys, they don't care anymore what's going to happen in the club, about the situation’. Trust me, all the people involved on the pitch, the staff, the players, everyone, they care so much about the situation we're in right now, and we just want to turn things around. That's the most important, that's the main focus for everyone. Then, if some reports just start saying that guys don't care anymore, it's just frustrating for our guys.”

How frustrating is it to hear fans who've been chanting your name now worrying that they might feel differently about you because of these stories that have come out?

Micky: “You know what I said, for me it's just frustrating because people start making things up and then people start thinking about me in a different way. That's what I think, and I can't change something about this, so for me it's just the most important that I keep playing like I do now, and I just want to stay fit and just turn things around. Obviously, the last game from my side hasn't been the best, and I know that as well, and for me it's just the most important that I keep showing to everyone that I always give 100 per cent for this club, and I will always do, as long as I play, obviously. It's just for me the most important that we turn things around right now, and if people say things, people say things, and obviously people are going to believe things that are not true, so there's nothing I can change about that.”

How much can you use that spirit, that experience from last year going all the way in the Europa League to help you in the Premier League and with your task tomorrow?

Micky: “Tomorrow is just a really beautiful game, we have nothing to lose. We want to do something special, obviously. We're going to give everything to change it around, and of course we're going to know it's going to be difficult because we're three goals down, but we're going to do everything to change things around. I want to say, tomorrow first and afterwards is the Premier League games coming up, and I think the guys showed some great character last weekend against Liverpool, and we can build on that.”

Can you talk about your emotions while watching the Liverpool game at home on Sunday?

Micky: “You see the guys fighting every second of the game. Even if we came behind 1-0, you just see the guy keep going, create chances, and then you're just sitting there on the sofa and just hoping that the guys score a goal, because it's what they deserved, what they showed, the character they showed, that the game was unbelievable. Then, when Richie scores for 1-1, it's just happiness at home as well, screaming towards the TV, just happy for him and just happy for the team.”

Can I just ask you personally how it's been the last few weeks - away from the pitch?

Micky: “It's obviously difficult. When you're not in a good flow with the team and then people start saying things about you, that's never easy, but it's also part of life, and it's something you have to deal with. I just try to not read a lot of things and just stay off my phone the most and spend time with my family and friends. Aas long as I'm back here, I'm just trying to do everything to change things around, and I think that's what's important.”

In the first leg, you slipped for the second goal. Was that due to the pitch, your boots, or was that just the pressure? Is it just a one-off thing that happened?

Micky: “I think you can't really do something without slipping. It just happened. I played with the same boots I always play with, so it has nothing to do with the boots. After a moment, and after the game, you start thinking as well, ‘did I do something different?’ No, it's just a bit unlucky that it just happened at this moment. You saw it with Toni as well with the first goal. A lot of guys slipped as well this game, so it was not something where I was like, there’s something I can do about it.”

How have Tottenham got themselves in a situation where you're struggling to win at home, and you're almost in a relegation zone? From your perspective, what's this season been like?

Micky: “Tough - that's the only word I have for it, to be honest. If you see how we've been playing, how we ended last season, that's obviously a tough thing, and then how you end up now this season, that's really tough for everyone in the club. This is not a position anyone wants to be in. It's just what I said, it's just a thing we need to change around everyone together. It's been a tough season overall, but it's not finished yet, so we have some more games to come, and we'll see after the season ends where we end up.”