Brentford manager Thomas Frank has issued a staunch defence of his defender, Micky van de Ven, following strong criticism from Liverpool's Arne Slot over a tackle that left Newcastle's Alexander Isak with a fractured leg.
Slot's 'Reckless' Challenge Accusation
The incident occurred during Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Isak scored the opening goal but was injured in the process when Van de Ven made a desperate, sliding attempt to block the shot. The momentum of the challenge caused the striker's leg to twist awkwardly.
In the aftermath, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was forthright in his condemnation. He labelled the tackle as 'reckless' and argued that such a challenge carried a high risk of serious injury. 'If you make a tackle like that 10 times, there is a high chance the player suffers a serious injury,' Slot complained.
Frank's Firm Defence of His Defender
Thomas Frank, however, strongly disagreed with this assessment. The Spurs head coach insisted that Van de Ven's actions were those of a committed defender doing his utmost to prevent a goal. 'Obviously I disagree on many levels,' Frank stated.
'We are talking about a defender, Micky van de Ven, who will do everything he can to stop the goal,' he explained. 'So it's a transition. He is sprinting back. There is a ball sliding across and he does everything to see if he can block the shot. So he slides.'
Frank attributed the severity of the outcome to an unfortunate placement of Isak's foot. 'Unfortunately, Isak plants his foot directly there and that makes it look worse than it is. I think it would be a natural reaction for any defender,' he said. Frank emphatically added, 'If my defenders don't do that, I don't think they are true defenders. So I don't see that at all.'
Player Reaction and Club Update
The Dutch centre-back himself stressed there was no malicious intent. Van de Ven revealed he immediately checked on Isak after the collision. 'I just went to him because I saw he was injured,' he said post-match. 'Obviously, I went for the ball and I hit him at that moment. I don't know exactly what happens in that moment... I obviously want to try and block the ball and I don't want to hurt the person.'
Frank also highlighted that the two players had spoken afterwards, calling it 'a good sign' of how they resolved the matter. Separately, Tottenham confirmed that first-team coach Matt Wells has left the club to take over as head coach of MLS side Colorado Rapids. The club will replace Wells but is in no rush to appoint a successor.
When questioned about reported interest from Italian club Fiorentina in sporting director Fabio Paratici, Frank dismissed the speculation, branding it mere 'rumours'.
