Spurs Edge Liverpool as Young Stars Shine: Postecoglou Praises 18-Year-Olds Bergvall and Gray in Carabao Cup Victory
Premier League Museum Admin 
ange Postecoglou
Spurs beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night. Two of the stand-out performers on the evening were 18-year-old midfielders Lucas Bergvall, who scored the winning goal, and Archie Gray, who has been filling in as a centre-back in recent weeks. Postecoglou, the manager of Spurs, had some words of praise for both players after their latest impressive performances.
Ange Postecoglou said “Lucas was brilliant. Like I said, I haven’t lost sight of the fact that we’ve got two 18-year-olds, one who’s playing at centre back, it’s not even his position. I just don’t think people really understand the level of performance that these young guys are giving us at the moment. We had a goalkeeper on his debut. Djed’s playing left-back, unbelievably well. Lucas is just growing all the time. He’s got that ability as a footballer to create space for himself. He’s got the quality, but he works awfully hard for the team as well.”
Postecoglou was asked about Gray’s performances as a centre-back and playing every three days alongside Radu Dragusin. The experienced manager expressed a genuine desire for him to continue to be a part of his two teenagers’ journeys for the future.
Ange Postecoglou said “And in a position he’s never played mate, you know, he’s never played! An 18-year-old. Name me another Premier League team that’s got two 18-year-olds and one playing out of position consistently. I’m so happy they’re at our football club and you know, in two or three years’ time, I just pray to God I’m the beneficiary of their talent, mate, because if somebody else is getting it, I won’t be happy.”
Postecoglou, who has rarely spent more than two or three years at a club, has already been at Spurs for 18 months. Seeing Bergvall and Gray start to hit their stride in terms of their career could take him well into his sixties and stay longer at a club than anywhere else previously in his career. However, he must first survive in the Premier League and at a club that only has roughly an average of 18 months for managerial tenures. If Postecoglou is still around when Gray, Bergvall and their other gifted young players reach their stride then something will have clearly gone very right at Spurs.
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