When Lucas Bergvall limped out on crutches for the first leg of our Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt, it felt like the world was caving in.
The eventual 3-1 victory over the Norwegians ensured one foot was placed in the competition's showpiece event. However, Bergvall's ankle injury, combined with the setback James Maddison sustained on that wonderful night, epitomised the rotten luck the Lilywhites endured in 2024/25.
The Swedish midfielder had taken a little while to get up to speed, having arrived with plenty of promise from Djurgåden, but in a bleak campaign, Bergvall quickly came the function as a beacon of hope for Ange Postecoglou's flawed Lilywhites.
Bergvall on crutches… pic.twitter.com/THzULwOTZD
— Tottenham Tiers (@TottenhamTiers) May 1, 2025
So when that big old boot came out on May 1, with crutches deemed necessary, it was clear that Bergvall, the potential saviour, was done for the year. It was a big deal, but, as is so often the case when football supporters preach doom, such fears were overblown.
Nevertheless, that shouldn't detract from Bergvall's impact this calendar year. He's been nominated for Tuttosport's Golden Boy award for a reason. His breakout debut season means the Swede remains a beacon, but manager Thomas Frank is taming his current illumination.
Lucas Bergvall should not be Spurs' No. 10
The No. 10 role within Frank's framework is built for Pape Matar Sarr. There's a reason why the Senegalese star was so impressive at the start of the season. It's predicated on duels, second balls and running. Lots of running.
It's a physically taxing and, ultimately, primitive function. In a way, the demands thrust upon his No. 10 are epitomising Frank's emphasis on a functional collective, and the mavericks are suffering.
Bergvall has been in and out of the team, but the bulk of his minutes have arrived from the most advanced midfield position. The per 90 numbers provided by FBRef summarise the change of role. Compared to 2024/25, Bergvall is completing fewer passes (18.4 from 42.5), taking fewer touches (36.35 from 60.8), and receiving more progressive passes (4.7 from 2.74). He also scored his first Premier League goal, when he headed over West Ham's Mads Hermansen after ghosting in behind the defence and receiving Cristian Romero's pinpoint pass.
Thus, there have been sequences which have shown Bergvall can be effective higher up, but the Swede's breakout arrived when he wasn't constantly asked to receive ahead of the ball. He was a box-to-box dynamo, who supplied so much energy and dynamism when shuffling between the boxes. At the start of 2025/26, his influence has been minimal, and his slow start to the new campaign came to a head when he struggled mightily in Wednesday's goalless stalemate with Monaco.
Bergvall touched the ball a measly 16 times and attempted just nine passes in the principality, as he suffered from the same problems Xavi Simons has had since he joined the club. With the ball arriving at their feet so infrequently, there's greater onus and pressure on them to make something happen whenever an opportunity arises.
And given what we've seen from the midfield pivot, isn't Bergvall, who has the courage to get on the ball and is capable of compromising pressing schemes, exactly what this Spurs team needs?
This No. 10 role simply isn't built for him.