Tottenham Hotspur captain Micky van de Ven was interviewed by ESPN for the latest "20 Questions" program. In the second part of the interview, van de Ven discussed topics such as the toughest forward he's faced, the pressure of being Tottenham Hotspur captain, the North London derby, his personality, and his pick for the Ballon d'Or winner.
Reporter: Question 11: Who is the toughest forward you've ever played against? Or who do you often face that you find particularly difficult to deal with?
Van de Ven: Haaland is obviously a top forward. Isak is also a very good forward, and he always performs well against me. There's also another striker who almost always scores against me.
Reporter: Who is that?
Van de Ven: Evanilson.
Reporter: Really?
Van de Ven: The forward from AFC Bournemouth.
Reporter: What's special about him?
Van de Ven: I can't put my finger on it, man. Believe me, he's a very good forward. He's good at making runs into space, holding up the ball with his back to goal, and once he's in the box, he's extremely dangerous. He's really a very good player.
Reporter: Question 12: Who is the greatest player in Dutch football history?
Van de Ven: Cruyff.
Reporter: Nice. The Cruyff Turn was the first football move I learned in my life.
Van de Ven: Really?
Reporter: Yeah, in grassroots youth training, it's basically the first basic skill your coach teaches you. Before any fancy moves like step-overs, the standard Cruyff Turn is taught first. He truly was a groundbreaking, era-defining figure.
Van de Ven: He truly was, no doubt. Although I didn't witness much of his playing era firsthand, he is simply the greatest of all time.
Reporter: Question 13: What's your favorite away stadium?
Van de Ven: In terms of atmosphere, I think Anfield is incredibly impressive, and Old Trafford is also very...
Reporter: Old Trafford too?
Van de Ven: Yes, the atmosphere there is also incredible. So for an away ground, I'd pick Old Trafford.
Reporter: Great. I've played at Old Trafford too, but there was no one in the stands then.
Van de Ven: But even so, it's still impressive, isn't it? It's a magnificent stadium.
Reporter: Exactly, it's truly massive.
Van de Ven: Yes.
Reporter: Question 14: What's your favorite goal you've scored for Tottenham Hotspur?
Van de Ven: The one against Copenhagen.
Reporter: Very good. Question 15: What are some pressures of being Tottenham Hotspur captain that outsiders might not expect or realize?
Van de Ven: It's a weighty responsibility in itself. This is a prestigious club with a rich history. Most of the time, when things go wrong, people tend to look at the captain first, believing the captain should bear more responsibility. It's a role with both honor and accountability, and I'm happy to accept that responsibility and carry the pressure. However, it's very easy for outsiders to attribute blame to the on-field captain. But within the team, I always feel strong support from my teammates, the coach, and everyone at the club.
Reporter: In terms of day-to-day club management, if someone is late, do you fine them? Are you responsible for organizing team dinners or team-building activities?
Van de Ven: We do organize team dinners. Sometimes if there's a new activity planned, I need to communicate and discuss it with the coach. As for fines, we don't really use that method much. But if some guys are consistently late, I obviously need to have a private chat with them.
Reporter: Question 16: Who is the greatest player in Tottenham Hotspur history?
Van de Ven: Kane.
Reporter: Question 17: Which specific match-up do you most enjoy playing in?
Van de Ven: The North London derby.
Reporter: Fantastic. What's the atmosphere like there?
Van de Ven: It's a completely different level of intensity, man.
Reporter: Yes.
Van de Ven: Whether it's home or away, the feeling is completely different. It's hard for me to put into words exactly what that atmosphere is like. For example, when we play at the Emirates, you can truly feel the hostility coming at you—you feel it 100%, you know what I mean?
Reporter: Question 18: If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
Van de Ven: Composed.
Reporter: Indeed, you always exude a calm demeanor. You give off a very composed, unhurried impression.
Van de Ven: Yes, I think it's composed.
Reporter: But on the pitch, you're like a beast. How do you make that switch?
Van de Ven: On the pitch, it's a completely different story, man.
Reporter: When is that switch triggered?
Van de Ven: It's like the moment you step into the player's tunnel, you know?
Reporter: I understand.
Van de Ven: Before that, we're obviously preparing in the locker room, but from the start of the warm-up, and from the moment the warm-up ends, you have to quickly flip that mental switch and instantly become a completely different person. I think every player is like that.
Reporter: Question 19: Who is the funniest player at Tottenham Hotspur?
Van de Ven: Gray.
Reporter: What does he usually do? Is he a prankster?
Van de Ven: No, he's just naturally funny, man. The jokes he tells, you know what I mean. Richarlison is also incredibly funny, but Richarlison is the kind of funny who doesn't even realize how funny he is, you know what I mean?
Reporter: Question 20: Who do you think should win the Ballon d'Or this year?
Van de Ven: Are you talking about this year?
Reporter: Yes, this year.
Van de Ven: I'd still have to pick Kane, man. I think this year still belongs to Harry.
Reporter: His performance this past year has truly been incredible.
Van de Ven: The Ballon d'Or has to go to Harry. Obviously other players have had incredible seasons too, but in my opinion, Harry's performance is unparalleled.
Reporter: Excellent, a perfect answer. All 20 questions are done, thank you very much, man.
Van de Ven: You're welcome, man.
Reporter: I wish you all the best for the rest of the season.
Van de Ven: Thank you.
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