Micky van de Ven takes dig at Thomas Frank as he tells Tottenham fans what to expect under Roberto de Zerbi next season

MICKY VAN DE VEN also aimed a dig at former Spurs boss Thomas Frank by praising Roberto De Zerbi’s preference to play attractive and attacking football. A number of Spurs stars grew disillusioned under Frank, who was sacked after just eight months in charge in February with the north Londoners having won just two of 17 Premier League games. Thomas Frank had a fine reputation at Brentford, but his Spurs spell was a disaster Credit: Getty Micky van de Ven has made no secret of whose style he prefers to play Credit: Alamy A disastrous spell with Igor Tudor followed that left the white-half of north London on the brink of relegation. But much of the damage was done with the squad Frank assembled and the style he imposed, which Van de Ven believes is night and day with De Zerbi. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! He said: “It’s going to be different compared to the former manager we had last season. It’s going to be more with the ball, more playing football, it’s going to be more enjoyable also for people to watch, when playing offensive football. “The last couple of weeks of last season, you saw he brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot mentality- wise, passio-n wise, on the pitch. “It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down. We started to play a lot with the ball, because he loves us to be on the ball, he loves to play the football he wants to play, and that’s also something I really enjoy. “I like being on the ball, instead of running behind the ball the whole time. He brings a lot of good energy and from preseason, we have really got the time now to bring his football into the team. That’s really enjoyable.” The 25-year-old also hailed Tottenham for their ambitious £230million recruitment drive following a relegation scare. The Dutchman, who Spurs are hoping to tie down to a new deal, says it is an important change of direction for players who have been part of back-to-back 17th-placed finishes. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK De Zerbi has made a strong early impression in the Tottenham hotseat Credit: Getty Spurs’ dismal season saw them in a relegation battle until the final day of the campaign. But they have responded by getting the chequebook out, landing club-record signing Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, as well as free transfers for Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. Boss Roberto De Zerbi has also said they are not finished. Speaking after landing in Sydney, Van de Ven said: “It’s really good that you can see the club has made some changes. They have brought a really good new manager, in my opinion, and some really good new signings that you can see the club has new ambition. “It’s something that’s really important for players that have been there for a long time. “It’s some really good signings for us. Unbelievable players so they can bring a lot to our team. “The feeling of the team is really good, to be honest. Obviously I know the gaffer from the end of the season. I have really enjoyed working with him. “That’s what we have been doing in this pre-season as well and the guys who are coming in have been unbelievable as well. They have fit in well to the group so it has been really good. “Hopefully it will be a different season, yes. It’s something we are going to work really hard on. Make some differences because last season was a bit unacceptable from our side.” Comment now