De Zerbi took charge in April with Spurs struggling at the bottom end of the table following a long winless run. In his very first match, a trip to Sunderland on 12 April, Cuti Romero picked up an injury, forcing Van de Ven to step up and take the captain's armband for the remainder of the campaign.
Spurs responded well, collecting 11 points from a possible 18 in their final six matches. Key victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, and a decisive final-day 1-0 win over Everton at home secured survival and lifted them to 17th place, just two points above the drop zone.
Reflecting on the turnaround, Van de Ven said the change in atmosphere was immediate.
"We've been through a rollercoaster and since Roberto came in, a new positive flow came into the group and we played better football and got the points," he said.
He also highlighted the personal impact of De Zerbi's man-management during a difficult period.
"The gaffer has been unbelievable. I spoke a lot with him because he could see I was not in the best mood even at the training ground," Van de Ven explained.
"He told me, 'you're going to be a really important player for me in these last couple of games and I'm going to rely on you. You need to trust me and I trust you'. He said he had watched me before at Brighton and Marseille and believed in me."
Van de Ven added that similar conversations took place across the squad, helping restore confidence when it mattered most.
Tottenham's season ended with survival secured, but only after a 15-game winless start to 2026 and one of the most testing campaigns in the club's recent history.
