De Zerbi's Bold Call on Lucas Bergvall at Brentford

Roberto De Zerbi admitted he rolled the dice on Lucas Bergvall at Brentford – and paid for it – but insisted he would make the same call again.

Tottenham were outplayed and beaten 3-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium in their Premier League opener, a bruising start to De Zerbi’s “new project” and a harsh introduction for the 20-year-old Swede.

A Risk De Zerbi Knew He Was Taking

With Mateus Fernandes managing calf fatigue and Rodrigo Bentancur only recently back in training after the World Cup, De Zerbi chose Bergvall to partner Sandro Tonali in the heart of midfield. It was a selection made out of conviction as much as necessity.

“In the pre-season, we worked with Lucas Bergvall,” De Zerbi explained. “I think at the beginning of the season, at the beginning of the new project, it was good, it was right to play with Lucas Bergvall.”

He knew the danger. He picked him anyway.

“I knew before the game, Lucas Bergvall, in this type of game, maybe he could suffer more than Rodrigo Bentancur, 9 years older, and Lucas, 20. I knew before the game, but at the end you have to think.”

The thinking, clearly, is long term.

Midfield Exposed, Project Laid Bare

The intensity of Brentford’s midfield swallowed Bergvall up. Spurs never got control, and the youngster’s most painful moment came when he surrendered possession in the build-up to Brentford’s second goal, a giveaway that underlined the gulf in physicality and rhythm on the night.

By half-time, with Brentford already 2-0 up inside 33 minutes, De Zerbi had seen enough. Bergvall was withdrawn at the break as the head coach chased a response that never truly arrived.

Yet De Zerbi refused to hang his young midfielder out to dry.

“Lucas Bergvall, the second goal. I think he didn't play bad today, even if I substituted in the half-time,” he said, pushing back at the idea that the Swede had collapsed under pressure.

For De Zerbi, this is part of a wider reset. He pointed to the overhaul behind Bergvall as context for the chaos.

“If you analyze last season, the defensive line, Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie. And today, Archie Gray, Jean Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, four new players.

“Two midfielders - Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha. Today, two midfielders, Bergvall, why not Bentancur? Because he came late in the pre-season.”

The message: this is a different Spurs, still learning each other, still learning him.

Faith in Bergvall’s Future

Bergvall’s summer had already been complicated by his desire to leave the club, but he has forced his way back into favour. De Zerbi’s decision to start him here was as much a statement of trust as it was a tactical call.

“We go, and we try to build something good for the club,” De Zerbi said. “We need also Archie Gray, we need also Lucas Bergvall, or we work for today. And tomorrow, I don't know.”

The defeat hurt him. He admitted as much. But he is clearly prepared to endure some pain now to shape the players he wants later.

On Bergvall, his verdict was pointed, and optimistic.

“Lucas Bergvall in the next two years, he will not lose that ball in that moment of the game. But there are steps to become better.”

Spurs have taken a heavy hit on opening day. The question now is whether De Zerbi’s commitment to players like Bergvall accelerates their growth fast enough to keep pace with a league that rarely waits.