Tottenham Hotspur were not able to break their winless ways against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon in one of the marquee matchups of the Premier League weekend, but they were at least able to salvage a point with a scrappy late goal in the 92nd minute to avenge Luke Shaw baiting Stuart Attwell into handing Rodrigo Bentancur a red card after a faux headbutt.
Bentancur will be suspended after what transpired in the 1-1 draw, and he just might lose his starting job, too, if young Lucas Bergvall continues his upward momentum. Bergvall was actually supposed to be the one starting in that role last season, but he lost his job to a breakout season from Archie Gray and for the fact that Thomas Frank just did not know how to use him.
Frank shattered the confidence of a lot of players, but the most disheartening case was probably Bergvall, who went from the organization's biggest gem to an outright afterthought, nearly pushing his way for a transfer to Nottingham Forest in the summer.
Lucas Bergvall was monstrous defensively
But Roberto De Zerbi managed to convince the young Swedish international to stay, and after a rough start against Brentford on Matchday 1 in which Bergie was the worst player on the pitch, by some distance the U21 talent has steadily worked his way back to top form for his club and his country.
While Bergvall was not all that impactful on the ball against Manchester United, he wasn't bad either and did more than Conor Gallagher to move the ball up the pitch cleanly. He played a mistake free game on offense and was elite on defense with two tackles, three interceptions, and some beautiful pressing to gift Dominic Solanke and Gallagher multiple golden opportunities they should have done more with.
And on the subject of golden opportunities, Lucas Bergvall has one right there for him to take from Rodrigo Bentancur after the red card. He started against Manchester United, which is a massive spot for him, and he even outplayed Sandro Tonali, regardless of the late assist.
Roberto De Zerbi clearly believes in Bergie, and if he can shine in another presumed start on Monday Night Football next week against Coventry, he may be ready to push Mateus Fernandes for starts next to Tonali and fully usurp Bentancur in that top trio of a rotation at the base of the De Zerbi midfield.
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