Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick are both really impressed with how Lucas Bergvall is adapting to a different role under Thomas Frank at Tottenham this season.
Bergvall had an exceptional first season at Spurs, playing predominantly as a number eight under Ange Postecoglou, but he has been asked to play further forward in the last two matches.
Bergvall put in a Man of the Match performance in Tottenham’s 3-0 win over West Ham, scoring a goal and setting up another at the London Stadium.
The teenager has followed that up with another Man of the Match performance in his Champions League debut, with Bergvall describing Tuesday evening as a ‘dream come true’.
Wayne Rooney says we are now seeing a different side to Lucas Bergvall
In his debut season at Tottenham, the Swede always wanted to get on the ball and make things happen, but Frank is using him as the most advanced of the three midfielders.
Rooney has been impressed by the maturity the teenager is showing by taking up the right positions and making the right runs as the number ten.
The Man United legend told Prime Video (16/09/25) about the 19-year-old: “Sometimes you forget how young he is because he played a lot of games last season, and the maturity with which he plays is fantastic.
“So he shows different sides to his game this season, last season he played a bit deeper, and to play as a number ten is not easy, it’s not easy to get on the ball and be in the right positions, but I thought today he showed the different side to his game, which will only improve him in the future.”
Michael Carrick praises Bergvall’s maturity and tactical awareness
The Tottenham midfielder joined the Prime Video crew for a post-match interview, where they asked him directly about the change in his role.
Michael Carrick complimented the youngster for having the discipline to occupy the right spaces and resisting the urge to drop deep to get on the ball.
Carrick told the teenager: “I thought you were fantastic, Lucas, so well played. Just an interesting one, you know, when you play in that high position, just behind their midfield and where you made your run for the goal (against West Ham). Do you find that you almost want to go a bit deeper to get a touch of the ball, or are you happy to stay high so you can run forward?”
The Swede responded: “Yeah, when I play as a 10 as I do now, we need those runs forward, and I think I did it well this and last game. Obviously, I’ve played a lot at six and eight, but this year I’ve played more as a 10.”
The former Spurs midfielder then added: “It’s not easy, as a young player especially, when you want to affect the game and get on the ball, but I thought you showed real good maturity and understanding of the position to make your runs at the right time.
“Even though you might have wanted the ball a little bit more, I thought you showed real good patience and composure playing in that role tonight.”