Micky van de Ven opens up on his response after Alexander Isak injury incident

 

 

Micky van de Ven has faced heavy criticism following his late tackle on Alexander Isak.

Liverpool secured a victory over Tottenham on Saturday night, but the win was overshadowed by serious injury to Isak, who later required surgery after suffering a broken fibula. The incident came from a late challenge by Spurs defender van de Ven, though it appeared he was focused solely on winning the ball.

Despite this, the Dutch defender has been widely criticised in recent days, much of which may feel harsh given that such accidents are part of the game. What happened after the match, however, could soften opinions among some Liverpool supporters, as van de Ven made it clear he had no intention of harming Liverpool’s £125m forward.

Van de Ven has been one of the Premier League’s standout defenders this season, earning praise from fans and pundits alike for his strong performances at just 24 years old. However, this incident has led some Reds fans to turn against him, with online backlash growing.

The defender later revealed that he immediately contacted Isak to check on his condition, underlining that the collision was unintentional.

“I sent him a message because I never wanted to injure him or hurt him in any way,” he told Sky Sports.

“I was just trying to block the shot. It was unlucky how his foot landed between my legs. I wished him well and hoped to see him back on the pitch soon. He appreciated it and replied.”

Isak will understandably be frustrated by the setback, but the injury was beyond his control, and patience will be needed during his recovery.

The Swedish striker has since spoken out for the first time, sharing a message on Instagram while already focusing on his comeback.

“Devastated to be sidelined for a while. Now it’s time to recover and support the team from the sidelines,” he wrote.

“I’ll work as hard as possible to return as soon as I can. Thank you to all the Reds and everyone else for the kind messages — they truly mean a lot.”