Micky van de Ven, Tottenham's defender, expressed his satisfaction with his team's 1-0 victory over Villarreal in the match held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as part of the first round of the group stage in the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League.

Van de Ven said: "It was a tough match, not easy at all. We did not deliver our best performance today, but the win was necessary and extremely important."

He added: "We started the match very well, and of course we wanted to build on this strong start, but Villarreal is a team that is difficult to face; they have a great threat on counter-attacks and keep their forwards up front all the time, which makes them always dangerous."

The Tottenham defender continued: "Despite everything, we managed to maintain our lead until the end, and we got the three points, which is the most important thing."

Van de Ven emphasized his team's defensive and organizational strength, saying: "I think we have become a team that is very hard to beat. In terms of organization, we position ourselves well on the field, and every player knows their role clearly, which makes us difficult for any opponent."

Regarding the yellow card he received in the final minutes of the match, Van de Ven said: "No one knows what the referee will do in such situations; I think I went for the ball, and that’s why it wasn’t a red card. I haven't seen the incident clearly yet, so I can't judge it now."