Lucas Bergvall responds to Pep Guardiola and outlines what's not been fair at Tottenham
by Rob Guest · football.londonLucas Bergvall has admitted "it's fun" to receive praise from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Having suffered two defeats against Tottenham earlier in the season, City secured a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of February following Erling Haaland's first-half goal.
On a night where much didn't go Tottenham's way, Bergvall was a big positive for Ange Postecoglou's side with another impressive performance in the middle of the park. It was a performance that caught the eye of Guardiola.
“Bergvall, every time he has the ball and runs, he’s unstoppable," said Guardiola in his post-match press conference, as reported by Manchester Evening News. "Spence, Pedro Porro, Udogie, Kulusevski, Son. It’s an incredible physical team with a clear idea to play, and they play really good.”
Now on international duty with Sweden, Guardiola's comments were put to the Tottenham ace and he delivered his verdict. “Of course it’s fun, but in the big picture it doesn’t really matter," he said in an interview with SVT Sport.
"I just try to play football and develop all the time and help the team. It’s always fun to get praise and you should take it in. But I try not to put too much emphasis on it."
In a dismal season for Tottenham with the club languishing 14th in the Premier League table, the performances of youngsters Bergvall and Archie Gray have been a rare bright spot for all connected with the club. Amid the host of injuries Postecoglou has had to try and deal with, Bergvall doesn't believe "it's been a fair season" and that "it's not human" for certain players to have played virtually all of the minutes.
"I don't think it's been a fair season to be honest. Not considering how much damage we have had," confessed Bergvall in an interview with Swedish publication Aftonbladet. "I don’t know what the reason is but as we have talked about with Dejan [Kulusevski], there are many who have played an incredible number of minutes. It’s not human, so of course it’s a big factor.”
Bergvall currently has four senior Sweden caps to his name but he has yet to start for his country. That will change this weekend, though, when he starts in their friendly against Luxembourg following confirmation from boss Jon Dahl Tomasson.
"It's fun but it's not something I've thought about that much," he said on his upcoming first start. "Jon and I have talked a little bit but nothing more specific, we'll do it during the days here I think. I'll just play like I did at Tottenham and be able to contribute as much as possible."
Postecoglou falls into a trap, Pochettino's vow and the Bissouma problem - click here to listen to the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham
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