Nonsense To Say Spurs Players Don't Care - Van De Ven

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven says it is "the biggest nonsense" to propose nan club's players do not attraction astir nan team's existent plight.

Spurs are a constituent supra nan Premier League relegation area successful 16th pinch 8 matches of nan play near to play aft a difficult season.

It has led to questions complete nan whether Tottenham's squad are already reasoning astir their ain futures beyond nan existent campaign.

But Van de Ven gave a passionate defence of their committedness to nan Spurs origin connected nan eve of nan 2nd limb of Tottenham's Champions League last-16 necktie astatine location to Atletico Madrid.

"It's nan biggest nonsense," nan Netherlands centre-back told a news conference.

"Trust maine - those progressive connected nan pitch, nan unit and nan players - they attraction truthful overmuch astir nan business we are successful correct now.

"We conscionable want to move things astir and that's nan main attraction for everyone. If reports opportunity guys don't attraction anymore it's conscionable frustrating for our guys."

Spurs way Atletico 5-2 from nan first limb successful Madrid pursuing a club-record sixth consecutive nonaccomplishment earlier they came from down to tie 1-1 pinch Liverpool successful nan Premier League connected Sunday.

Van de Ven said suggestions that Spurs players are not bothered by their predicament "brings truthful overmuch much trouble" because supporters are "starting to believe" them.

"The different time erstwhile we publication thing astir 1 feline that said to everyone that he's astir apt going to time off and doesn't attraction astir nan business they're in," added nan 24-year-old Dutchman.

"People are conscionable making things up. The only point I tin opportunity astir it is it's not true."

Spurs will beryllium without midfielder Joao Palhinha for nan necktie pinch Atletico arsenic he continues to retrieve from concussion.

Captain Cristian Romero, who fought heads pinch Palhinha successful nan first leg, will beryllium disposable to play while left-back Destiny Udogie and midfielder Lucas Bergvall are fresh capable for nan chair aft hamstring and ankle injuries respectively.