Tottenham sit 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone following a winless start to 2026.
Spurs were thrashed 5-2 in the first leg against Atletico Madrid as their Champions League hopes waned this week, placing the side in an awkward position as they collapse both mentally and physically.
Speaking after the defeat, Van de Ven was asked how he felt as the side edge closer to the Championship.
“Terrible, to be honest: a doomsday scenario. Everything that could go wrong in the first twenty minutes went wrong. Everyone slips, including me. Those are moments you simply can’t do anything about. I can’t just stand here and start blaming the pitch.”
"How am I feeling mentally? It’s tough, I can tell you. Really tough. I have to keep going; this is life," he said. "I’m not on my phone anymore; I’m completely done with it. Only family and stuff.
"I could, of course, give the standard talk that we all have to stick together and work hard, but we’re just being dealt a blow after a blow. It’s just really difficult.”
Spurs host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday before crunch matches against Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Brighton and Wolves.
If manager Igor Tudor does not pick up points in the next two games, he could be sacked and players like Van de Ven may become even more lost in the side who have totally collapsed this season.