Bruno Saltor: Micky van de Ven substitution was “tactical,” not due to injury

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Igor Tudor Head coach of Tottenham Hotspur with assistant Bruno Saltor during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Atletico de Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 18, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images Igor Tudor did not face the media after Tottenham Hotspur’s shambolic 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, but for a very good reason — he received word right after the final whistle of a sudden bereavement in his family. So assistant coach Bruno Saltor took the microphone in his place , and whoo buddy I don’t think I’d want to be in his position after what just happened at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

There’s a LOT to unpick from that match, but one of the biggest ???? moments had to be Tudor’s second half and halftime substitutions. Although it would be a stretch to call Spurs “good” in the first half, they did thoroughly outplay Forest in the opening period until Igor Jesus’ 45th minute header off of a corner kick put Forest up 1-0.

Tudor then opted to make some truly bizarre substitutions, starting by bringing on Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall for Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven. The sub of Van de Ven was incredibly bizarre, and seemingly nullified a lot of Tottenham’s attacking impetus. It also affected Tottenham’s defense and eliminated a lot of dynamism, with Micky liking to drive forward with the ball at his feet.

Micky looked like he might have picked up a mild knock in the first half after being involved in an end-line challenge that saw him tumble down the slope at the edge of the field. But when asked, Saltor said Tudor’s substitution was not due to injury, but was tactical. “No, it was a sub with the intention to give more dynamic in the left side and have more legs going forward.