Ange's trusty partnership: The old "good cop - bad cop" routine is working for Micky and Cuti

Micky Van de Ven has emerged as a revelation since his acquisition from Wolfsburg, with an initial transfer fee of $42 million. His presence has been instrumental in Ange Postecoglou's revamped team, contributing to four victories in their first six Premier League matches, all while coping with Harry Kane's departure.

Although Van de Ven and Tottenham Hotspur are thriving under the guidance of Postecoglou, his journey to this point has been far from straightforward. The 22-year-old faced challenges both on and off the football field, including a period in his career when he contemplated options beyond the sport and a challenging debut season in Germany before eventually making his way to the pinnacle of English football.

During his under-19 days, Van de Ven teetered on the brink of being released by Volendam, only to have a fortuitous turn of events when former Dutch international Wim Jonk took over as manager, granting him an unexpected opportunity in the first team. Fast forward five years, and he now represents the Netherlands at the senior level, on a rapid trajectory to becoming a beloved figure among the fans in North London.

"I like to prove people wrong. My dad Marcel, helped me also a lot at Volendam. It was a difficult situation for me because when people say they don't trust you when you are 17 years old, you have to look for work or something. You have to have a second choice if you can't make it to be a professional footballer, and you have to switch. I said to my dad, 'Maybe I have to work,' but he convinced me my chance would come'. So, I kept working. There was the chance, and I grabbed it. Also, when I came from Volendam and went to Wolfsburg, everybody said the step was too big, but I wanted to prove people wrong, so that is the mentality."

The transitional period made many Spurs supporters doubt the club's chances of playing well after the shambles that were the last two years. The arrival of a relatively unknown head coach and a host of not-so-established players lowered the expectations and gave naysayers a lot of material. But the fast-footed defender and his teammates showed a lot of confidence.

"It is true for Tottenham because what I saw before I joined Spurs was that people were really negative about Spurs because Kane was going to leave, but we were there to prove doubters wrong. We are doing good now, but it is just the beginning. We need to keep pushing. We want to be at the highest level all season, so I don't know where it will end, but we want the best."

James Maddison, Son Heung-min and Yves Bissouma have taken the biggest plaudits for Tottenham's transformation from a disjointed, counter-attacking team last season into a front-foot side. Spurs have scored 15 times in six league fixtures with Son leading the way, but it is at the other end of the pitch where the bravery and boldness in possession begins with Van de Ven and centre-back partner Cristian 'Cuti' Romero.

The duo are opposites in style, with the Argentine known for his aggression and Van de Ven being calmness personified. They have quickly built a bond on and off the pitch.

"I think it naturally happened on the pitch, and we felt each other quite fast, but when I came he was also really nice to me and showed me around. It was nice the first couple of days I was there, but it felt good on the pitch. Of course, he won the World Cup, I saw him play the whole tournament in Qatar, so I knew his quality already. I think I make him more calm, and he makes me more aggressive."

While it is early days for the Van de Ven and Romero partnership, the youngest member of the duo is crystal clear about his ambitions. Van de Ven wants to become one of the best defenders in the Premier League, like compatriot Virgil van Dijk, who he will face on Saturday night when Liverpool visit Tottenham.

"I am looking forward to seeing the fans again in the stadium, and they will make it a good game for us. We will play our own way and play like we want to. We don't have fear. I think Virgil was the last couple of years and this year also one of the best defenders in the Premier League. The year they grabbed the title, he was unbelievable and showed his importance to his team. My ambition is to be one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, and I will work hard to make it happen."