Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in the Europa League quarter-finals with a commanding second-leg win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday. The result secured their progression, but it was not as straightforward as they would have hoped.
The north London club had suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat in the first leg at the hands of the Dutch side, leaving them with work to do back at home.
However, returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, there was little doubt they would back themselves to turn things around.
Their home form in the competition has been exceptional, with four wins and a draw from five matches. Only Athletic Club have a better home record, winning all five of their fixtures.
Their quarter-final opponents, Eintracht Frankfurt, present a difficult test, and van de Ven is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
When asked if Spurs were favourites to win the tournament, the Dutch defender refused to be drawn in, instead choosing to focus on the task ahead. Speaking to TNT Sports, he made Spurs’ intentions clear.
He said: “Of course, we play against a difficult opponent, I think it is Frankfurt.
It is going to be a really difficult game, we know our quality and we know we can play at home; we are a really, really strong team.
“Like you saw in the last game, we did not really play well away, so now it is really important we play a good away game in Frankfurt.”
While Tottenham have built a fortress at home in the Europa League, Frankfurt have struggled on their travels.
The German side have played five away games in the tournament, losing twice and winning three. They have conceded eight goals while scoring nine.
That record could give Spurs confidence as they prepare to host the first leg in north London. With their strong home form and Frankfurt’s inconsistencies away from home, Ange Postecoglou’s side will be keen to take full advantage before the return leg in Germany.