Tottenham defender reaches out to Isak after injury incident
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has contacted Alexander Isak with a personal apology following the tackle that resulted in a serious leg injury to the Liverpool forward during Saturday’s match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, reports BritPanorama.
The Netherlands international reached out to the Swedish striker via text message after the incident, which occurred amid Liverpool’s 2-1 victory. Van de Ven explained, “I sent him a text because I didn’t want to injure him, or to do something to hurt him of course.”
He added, “I just wanted to try to block the shot. I think it was a bit unlucky how his foot landed between my legs.” The £125 million striker sustained a fractured fibula and damage to his left ankle during the challenge as he netted Liverpool’s opener against Spurs.
Match officials and VAR did not review the incident at the time, leading to immediate anger within Liverpool’s camp upon viewing replays. Van de Ven slid in forcefully, causing Isak’s leg to become trapped in a scissor movement. Isak underwent successful surgery on Monday.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot remains optimistic that Isak will return before the season’s conclusion, provided his recovery proceeds well, though he acknowledged the injury will keep him sidelined for several months. “It is going to be a long injury,” Slot stated. “That’s a big, big disappointment for him and, as a result of that, also for us.”
Despite his optimism regarding Isak’s recovery, Slot has not softened his stance on the nature of the challenge. “It was a reckless challenge,” he said, emphasizing the risk involved and comparing it to a previous incident with Xavi Simons that he deemed entirely accidental.
In contrast, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank defended Van de Ven, asserting that the defender had not lost control during the challenge. Frank remarked, “If he would have done nothing, everyone would have said ‘pfft, can you show a bit more effort!'”
As the matter appears to have been resolved following direct communication between the two players, Slot confirmed he spoke with Isak and understood Van de Ven’s motivation to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity. “You always want to see that he tries everything to prevent the other team scoring,” he said.
This incident serves as a reminder of the fine margins in football, where ambition and aggression can lead to unforeseen consequences. While the intensity of competition drives players to give their all, the fallout from a single moment can shape a season in ways both teams are now forced to consider.
