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Spurs centre-back Micky van de Ven has admitted he "never expected" the club's move to part ways with former manager Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou's spell in charge came to an end a just 16 days after he led the team to victory in the Europa League final, securing the team's first piece of silverware in nearly two decades.

Yet, this continental triumph was not mirrored in the Premier League, with the side finishing in a disappointing 17th position in his last season at the helm.

He was replaced by ex-Brentford manager Thomas Frank during the summer, but Tottenham currently sit in 11th place, with 22 points, following a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

"He is a really good manager. I have a lot of respect for him," the Dutch defender stated on The Overlap podcast.

"I don't know how everything went backstage. It came as a shock. It was strange how everything went after - he is the coach that brought a trophy to the club," he continued.

"Later, when he was dismissed, I sent a message to my father and my friends and said, 'This was the last thing I thought would happen.'"

Initial Success and Subsequent Struggle

Postecoglou arrived at Tottenham from Scottish champions Celtic ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, replacing Conte. He made a bright start with his attacking style of play, amassing 26 points from his first ten Premier League games.

Nevertheless, that fine start came to an abrupt end with four losses in five games, and the team's form deteriorated, eventually failing to secure a top-four finish by a narrow two-point margin.

In the next campaign, they managed only 11 out of 38 league matches.

Tactical Concerns Revealed

While he appreciated Postecoglou's style, Dutch international Van de Ven thinks the squad lacked a "plan B" and revealed he and defensive partner Romero spoke about taking a more cautious style with the coach.

"I liked the attacking football under Postecoglou but I appreciate what we have now with Thomas Frank. We are more solid at the back. I don't like getting exposed every game on the break," he explained.

"At the beginning under Postecoglou, no team was used to playing against our system. We were playing exceptional football."

"But, coaches analyse everything and people knew what we were doing. At times we didn't really have a plan B and we were getting exposed. We lacked answers to get out."

"At one point Romero and I walked up to the gaffer and suggested we need to change some things and be more defensive to make sure we win those games. He was responded, 'I understand with you but I expect you two guys to sort this on the pitch, ensure everybody knows.'"