Ange Postecoglou has praised the influence of several young talents following Tottenham Hotspur’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Southampton, exclaiming, “How many Premier League clubs can say they’ve started two 18-year-olds in a game?”.
Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall and English defender Archie Gray both made their mark at St Mary’s, contributing significantly to Postecoglou’s tactical setup. For Bergvall, it was his first Premier League start. The 18-year-old impressed with a composed display, notably playing a key role in James Maddison’s opening goal just a minute into the match. Gray, stepping into the breach as a makeshift center-back amidst injury woes for first-choice defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, continued to earn his stripes with a selfless performance.
Despite usually operating as a right-back, Gray had shone in a more central role during the Europa League clash against Rangers mid-week, and Postecoglou couldn’t hide his delight at the promising duo’s contributions. “Lucas is making strides every week, and Archie is also just 18. It’s a rarity to see two teenagers in the line-up at this level, and they didn’t disappoint,” he affirmed.
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Another significant figure in the victory was Djed Spence, who also played a part in the build-up to Maddison’s opener. The right-back, having struggled for game time since joining Spurs in 2022 and spending several loan spells away from the club, made an immediate impact in his first Premier League outing of the season.
Postecoglou lauded Spence’s character, stating, “He’s had to show immense patience. With the depth we’ve had this year in that position, he’s had to wait for his chance. Today, he stepped up and made a real impact. His perseverance has truly paid off.”
Addressing the mounting pressure that had gripped his side amid a dismal run of form, Postecoglou acknowledged that the comprehensive win was a relieving boost. Spurs had gone five games without a victory across all competitions before turning their fortunes around against Southampton.
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With injuries ravaging the squad during a tough fixture schedule, Postecoglou’s men face stern tests ahead, including a crucial Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United and a Premier League encounter with league leaders Liverpool fast approaching.
Reflecting on the result, Postecoglou praised his players for their effort despite the exhausting week. He noted, “It was an outstanding performance considering we had ten first-team players sidelined. The energy and quality shown were remarkable. We had to set the tone early, knowing fatigue would set in as the game progressed.”
“You want your players to feel accomplished and receive rewards for their hard work. They’ve earned this triumph tonight, and now we’ll regroup ahead of a pivotal match on Thursday.”
His star attackers, Maddison and Son Heung-min, were also singled out for their match-defining performances. Maddison netted twice and provided a constant threat, while Son’s contribution was felt throughout, even as he was substituted at half-time to manage his workload.
“They were phenomenal; they understood the importance of this match,” Postecoglou said. “We’re heavily reliant on our young players and those not used to such minutes, but both their mindset and execution were crucial today. We needed to start on the front foot, particularly coming off a European match so soon before. The players knew the stakes, and they delivered.”
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