It tends to be difficult as fans, and even writers, to garner anything from preseason fixtures. Often, teams play opponents in matches that are a mismatch in quality and athleticism; sides heavily rotate; and fitness is prioritized above results. Coaching staff are typically measuring players on unseen metrics known only by those at the club.
Where that can change, though, is when a manager speaks out in praise of a player. That’s what has happened in the case of Luca Williams-Barnett following Tottenham
Hotspur’s win on penalties against Sydney FC as part of their preseason tour.
The young attacker displayed dazzling footwork and outstanding technical ability, often cutting the Sydney defense to shreds as he drove forward with a number of mazy runs – unfortunately unable to follow that up with a finish to match – and with his confidence on full display as he dispatched a panenka in the penalty shootout amidst boos from a hostile crowd.
In the press conference following the match, both senior player Ben Davies and coach Roberto De Zerbi were full of praise for the 17-year-old, with Ben Davies first to speak:
He’s a really top player. He’s got a lot of potential. I think you can see the qualities he’s got. He’ll now just develop the habits of the game. But to have no fear and just want the ball again even if he loses it is great.
De Zerbi followed up Davies’ comments with some of his own:
He is a precious diamond. We have to work on him in the final third and he must work hard on his physicality. I’ve worked with a lot of young players in my time and he’s a potentially special player.
That’s high praise. Circumspect, but relatively glowing from how De Zerbi tends to communicate. The question then becomes what the club opts to do with him at this point in his development. Given he’s only 17, it could be too early for a loan, with potential benefit gained from keeping him around the clubhouse and close to De Zerbi and the senior squad. It’s also vital though that he gets minutes to continue his development, and potentially U21 level is sufficient for now in that regard.
De Zerbi also discussed Lucas Bergvall, named in his XI for the first time since returning from the World Cup. The reportedly wantaway midfielder had a solid but unspectacular performance amidst questions around his future, with the Italian manager giving further clarification on the Swede’s situation:
I would like if he stays with us, I think he’s a potential top, top, top player; [but] I don’t want to convince anyone to stay. I think Tottenham is a really, without me, a top club, and we have not convinced anyone to stay.
I think he can find a space if he stays with us; the competition between the players is strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad, not just eleven players, especially considering the injuries we suffered in the last 2-3 seasons.
The football is going in a clear direction, to compete for a high place on the table you have to manage 22, 23, 24 players; I don’t want 24, but 22, 21 at the highest level for sure.
I’m speaking with him before the end of last season, during the World Cup two times… his position is very clear for me now… it’s hard to find a young player of that level.
…He wants play in a double pivot but I cannot give a guarantee to any player that he can play. He was right that he wants to play as a central midfielder.
I would like if he stays, but if he doesn’t want to I can do nothing. He will then have to speak to Vinai or Johan. He has to have the right spirit to stay.
It’s similar to his previous comments, but more direct. De Zerbi rubbished the suggestions he had not talked with Bergvall, and clarified he saw his future in the middle of the pitch, unlike the more advanced areas in which Thomas Frank tended to deploy the young Swede. It’s a reasonable response from De Zerbi, indicating that he rates Bergvall and wants him to stay but affirming that he has to build a squad of a high level, and that level of quality could mean he won’t always be playing.
De Zerbi also referenced Mateus Fernandes’ absence, indicating his exclusion from the squad was due to fatigue in his calf, and talked on the importance of rotation and managing his players’ workloads as Spurs continue a strong preseason campaign in preparation for the 26/27 season.
