Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall says Sweden manager Graham Potter has to decide on his minutes for the clash against Poland.
The midfielder was a regular under Thomas Frank, playing 26 matches under the Dane’s orders and managing a goal and four assists.
Tottenham parted ways with the manager in February and appointed Igor Tudor until the end of the season.
Bergvall hasn’t featured regularly under Tudor because of an injury setback. On January 20th, he suffered an ankle injury in Spurs’ 2-0 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund at home.
Last month, Potter said it’d tough for him to be fit on time for the ongoing international break.
However, he returned to the pitch in Tottenham’s 3-2 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid last week. At the weekend, he again came off the bench in Spurs’ 3-0 league defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Despite his earlier doubts, Potter included the youngster in his list. On Thursday, Bergvall played 13 minutes in Sweden’s 3-1 win over Ukraine in the World Cup playoff.
Tottenham man proves doubters wrong
After yesterday’s match, Fotbollskanalen spoke to Lucas Bergvall about his fitness and other topics.
On his early return from injury and making it to the national team squad, he said: “It’s been tough. But it was incredibly fun to be back and that we won.
“Yes, it went quickly. But it’s hard to say when you get an injury like that. It varies from person to person how quickly it goes. I was lucky to get back in time.”
The Tottenham Hotspur player’s main goal was to make it to Graham Potter’s squad.
“Yes, that is the way it is. And this was the goal. Getting back to the national team squad. I think most people counted me out when I got that injury. I just tried to rehabilitate as quickly as possible and get back,” Bergvall explained.
Sweden must beat Poland on Tuesday, to make it to the World Cup. The midfielder, for his part, feels ready to start in this crucial tie.
“It’s up to the coach but I’m ready,” he added.
Prior to yesterday’s match, Potter said the Spurs man is “super important” for the national team.
On this comment, Bergvall said: “Did he say that about me? First of all, it’s incredibly fun to hear him say that. I’m just trying to come here and help the team as best I can now after the injury. Contribute what I can so that we can get to the World Cup.”
Sweden squad for March international break
Graham Potter’s squad to face Poland on March 31st:
Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Melker Ellborg, Noel Tornqvist
Defenders: Victor Lindelof, Isak Hien, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Carl Starfelt, Daniel Svensson, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Herman Johansson
Midfielders: Mattias Svanberg, Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari, Hugo Larsson, Lucas Bergvall, Besfort Zeneli, Gustav Lundgren, Williot Swedberg, Eric Smith, Elliot Stroud
Forwards: Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga, Gustaf Nilsson, Benjamin Nygren, Roony Bardghji, Taha Ali