Roberto De Zerbi admitted he knew it was a risk to play Lucas Bergvall against Brentford, after watching his Tottenham team comprehensively beaten 3-0 in their opening game of the Premier League season.
De Zerbi opted to start Bergvall ahead of Mateus Fernandes and Rodrigo Bentancur at the Gtech Community Stadium, with the pair struggling for fitness after disrupted pre-seasons. Fernandes has seen his minutes limited due to calf fatigue, while Bentancur returned late to training after the World Cup.
Decision proved costly
With neither Fernandes nor Bentancur ready to start, De Zerbi, despite his reservations, called upon Bergvall to partner Sandro Tonali in the centre of the park. It was a decision that proved costly as Bergvall struggled to impose himself on the game, and conceded possession for Brentford’s second goal.
De Zerbi said that, while he knew the risks involved, he stood by his decision to start Bergvall. He told reporters: “Yeah, I was surprised, I was suffering for this defeat, but we are working. 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. In the pre-season, we worked with Lucas Bergvall.
Faith in young midfielder
“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.
“But 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.
“We go, and we try to build something good for the club. We need also Archie Gray, we need also Lucas Bergvall, or we work for today. And tomorrow, I don't know.”
Bergvall suffered a chastening evening before being hooked at half-time, as De Zerbi looked for a reaction after Brentford had raced into a 2-0 lead inside 33 minutes.
De Zerbi, though, maintains he has faith in the Swedish midfielder, who is back in favour after agitating for a move away from the club earlier in the summer.
He concluded: “Lucas Bergvall, the second goal. I think he didn't play bad today, even if I substituted in the half-time.
“But 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.”
