Ange Postecoglou Hails Bergvall's Technical Ability and Maturity

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou discusses Lucas Bergvall's development, praising his technical ability, physical growth, and improved discipline, highlighting the young player's potential for success.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou addressed the media ahead of his team's match against Fulham on Sunday. He began by providing an update on team news, stating, “Yeah, pretty good. Nothing from last night. Everyone got through it well, and no one is coming back in. Obviously, Reguilon and Werner are available. Rodrigo Bentancur is available. Yeah, from last night, nothing untoward.”

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Postecoglou also discussed the recent England squad announcement by new head coach Thomas Tuchel, which saw Tottenham players Djed Spence and James Maddison omitted. The Australian manager acknowledged that team selection is always subject to criticism, but expressed confidence that his players will eventually earn recognition if they maintain their consistency. “I'm not across it. I'm pretty critical myself when people question my selections because every manager has all of the information they need.”

Postecoglou specifically highlighted the qualities of Maddison, saying, “Madders, in a really challenging season for us, has grinded his way through, and his quality has really come through in the last few weeks - especially when we have been able to give him a spell (rest) every now and then. Again, last night I thought he was a real catalyst for us in an attacking sense and also worked hard for the team.” He also praised Spence, stating, “Djed has been super this year.”

The Tottenham manager expressed his belief that both Spence and Maddison will be considered for future England squads if they continue to perform well. “I always feel with these things, particularly with national team selection, it's never a kind of thing where you just draw a line through it,” Postecoglou said. “I have no doubt if Djed keeps performing how he is and Madders keeps working hard, I'm sure Thomas will be looking across the board at his squads over the next period, and I'm sure both of them will be in the frame.”

The conversation shifted to Lucas Bergvall, with a focus on his physical development and the efforts he has made to improve this aspect of his game. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou praised Bergvall's dedication, saying, “I think everyone has worked with him, the coaches have worked with him, he's worked on it. I don't think he's left Deki's side since he's been here and Deki is in the gym all the time. He's a great role model for him and I think if nothing else, Deki has forced him to get in there and work hard on his game.”

Postecoglou also highlighted Bergvall's technical abilities, stating, “He's also an outstanding technical player. I think his technical proficiency is still his greatest asset. He's growing, you've got to remember he's only just turned 19. He's still a very young man and if he keeps building up physically as well, to the standard the Premier League, particularly in that midfield position, you need, if you have that physical ability and that technical proficiency then you've got a decent player on your hands.”

The Tottenham manager then discussed Bergvall's discipline, revealing that the club has been working with him to improve this aspect of his game. Postecoglou said, “I think he's had to work on that. Fair to say when he first got here the coaches spent a lot of time with him, working on his tactical awareness and being disciplined and again a big thing you look for in players is their coachability and their ability to take in information and then the ability to take that information to help them improve. He's certainly taken that on board.”

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Postecoglou reflected on Bergvall's progress, noting that he has simplified his game and become more disciplined. “At the start it took him a little bit of time. He tended to run too much. I remember a couple of early games in Europe when he just ran out of steam because he was running too much. He was maybe overplaying the ball at times. He's simplified his game and the coaches have given him feedback and he's taken that on board.”