Pep Guardiola was full of praise for young Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall, calling him “unstoppable” even as Spurs fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night.
The match was a tale of two halves, with Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs struggling to cope with City’s intensity early on. Erling Haaland’s 12th-minute strike proved to be the only goal of the game, and Tottenham were fortunate not to concede more before halftime. However, the second half saw a resurgence from the home side, as they launched wave after wave of attacks in search of an equalizer. Despite their efforts, City managed to hold on for a crucial three points in the race for Champions League qualification.
Following the hard-fought contest, Guardiola took a moment to recognize Tottenham’s impressive physicality and attacking potential. When asked about his post-match conversation with Spurs full-back Djed Spence, the City boss highlighted the relentless running and intensity of the team, singling out Bergvall for special praise.
“Why you run too much? Should be more calm so the impact… [Destiny] Udogie is quite similar. The pace of this team? Pfft, it is difficult. Maybe Liverpool [are better], but Bergvall, every time he has the ball and runs, unstoppable. Spence and Pedro Porro, Udogie, [Dejan] Kulusevski, Son [Heung-min], an incredible physical team with a clear idea to play,” Guardiola said.
He went on to acknowledge the difficulty of facing Spurs, especially considering they were without key defensive duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. “They play really good and they play without Romero and Van de Ven, two of maybe the best central defenders in the league. The game, it was open second half because we didn’t close the first,” he added.
Bergvall’s Rise in a Struggling Spurs Side
At just 19 years old, Lucas Bergvall has made a remarkable impact since joining Tottenham from Swedish side Djurgården in the summer for a reported £8.5 million. Despite the team’s struggles this season, the young midfielder has been one of the bright spots under Postecoglou, making 20 appearances in the Premier League and proving himself to be a valuable asset in midfield.
Bergvall has also been influential in Europe, featuring in all eight of Tottenham’s Europa League matches this season. His creativity and composure on the ball have resulted in three crucial assists, keeping Spurs’ hopes alive for silverware despite a difficult domestic campaign.
Tottenham’s Season: A Battle Against Injuries and Inconsistency
While Spurs have impressed in moments, their season has been derailed by inconsistency and an ongoing injury crisis. The North London club currently sit 12th in the Premier League table with 10 wins, three draws, and 14 losses. They are 13 points behind fifth-place Chelsea and a significant 14 points adrift of Manchester City, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
Tottenham have also been knocked out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, falling short in their quest for domestic silverware. Their Carabao Cup campaign ended in disappointment after being dismantled by Liverpool in the semi-final second leg at Anfield. This leaves the Europa League as their last remaining hope of lifting a trophy this season.
Injuries have played a major role in Spurs’ struggles, with key players such as Romero, Van de Ven, Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, and Radu Dragusin all sidelined at various points of the campaign. The lack of squad depth has forced Postecoglou to rotate heavily, impacting the team’s rhythm and overall consistency.
Manchester City’s Own Challenges in a Tough Season
Even Guardiola’s Manchester City have endured a more challenging season than usual. The reigning Premier League champions have been uncharacteristically inconsistent, and despite an improvement in recent results, they find themselves 20 points behind league leaders Liverpool with just 11 games remaining.
City’s European campaign has also been disappointing. They struggled to progress through the new Champions League league phase, finishing 22nd in the standings. Their journey was cut short earlier this month after being eliminated by Real Madrid in the knockout stage, losing 6-3 on aggregate.
Despite their struggles, Guardiola’s men still have a chance to claim domestic silverware, as they turn their attention to the FA Cup. Up next, they face Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round on Saturday—a side that shocked Liverpool in the previous round with a stunning 1-0 victory.
What’s Next for Spurs?
For Tottenham, the focus now shifts to the Europa League, where they will face Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie on March 6. The competition represents their last opportunity to salvage a difficult season and secure European silverware.
Before that, Spurs return to Premier League action next Sunday when they host AFC Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With just 11 games remaining, Postecoglou’s side will need a strong finish to the season to climb the table and keep their European qualification hopes alive.
As Spurs navigate a challenging campaign, young talents like Bergvall offer a glimmer of hope for the future. With Guardiola’s glowing endorsement, it’s clear that the Swedish midfielder has the potential to develop into a key figure for Tottenham in the years to come.
“I don’t usually speak about Opposition player after matches, but I can’t hide it this time, that Very Kid is just so Unstoppable, he created problems for us left and right, Ange is lucky to have him”- Guardiola heap praises on underrated Spurs player who dominated everywhere on the pitch, Not Danso or Spence
