Roberto De Zerbi offers Lucas Bergvall ultimatum after surprise pre-season appearance as Tottenham stars made to work despite 30-hour trip: Tottenham 1-1 Sydney FC (4-2 on pens) TAKEAWAYS

Roberto De Zerbi has told Lucas Bergvall he would like him to stay with Tottenham – but insisted he will not beg the 20-year-old midfielder or promise him a place in his starting line-up.

Bergvall started in Spurs’ 1-1 friendly draw with Sydney FC in Australia before being replaced at half-time. The Sweden international is admired by Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, among others, and has now held talks with his manager about his situation.

De Zerbi spoke highly of Bergvall’s potential with reporters in Sydney, though told us how no elite club should ever need to try to convince a player to stay.

‘I would like that he stays with us,’ De Zerbi said of Bergvall. ‘I think he’s potentially a top, top, top player. But then I don’t want to convince anyone to stay. Tottenham is already, without me, a top club and we are not to convince anyone to stay. He can find the space if he stays with us.

‘The competition within the players will be very strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad – not just 11 players, especially considering a lot of injuries we suffered in the last two, three seasons. Football is going in a clear direction.

'To compete for the highest places in the table, you have to manage 22, 23, 24 players. I don’t want 24, but 21, 22, of a high level, for sure. I was speaking with him before the end of the last season, and during the World Cup two times, but now we are speaking better, face to face, without a competition in this moment.

‘Now I started to work. In the last season we prepared the game, we worked in the head, on the mentality, more than the style of play. His position is very clear for me now. I needed time to understand the characteristics of the players. But I would like that he stays with us. He’s very young, a very good player, a good guy. It’s not so easy so fast to find a young player of that level.’

Lucas Bergvall started for Tottenham against Sydney - despite the midfielder wanting to leave

De Zerbi did mention there is room for improvement with Bergvall as he continued: ‘It’s very clear, his idea. He wants space (in the team). He wants to play as a double pivot as a position. I can’t give, for any player in the world, the place in the first XI guaranteed. Especially for me.

‘I want to be honest with the players. I want to be clear. I don’t want to make the first mistake. In terms of position, I can’t give guarantee. It’s right when he wants to play as a central midfielder.

‘But to play as a central midfielder, sometimes it is to attack, sometimes to keep the holder, to move the ball faster. He has to improve. He’s a 2006. I would like that he stays.

'But if he doesn’t want, then what can I do? Nothing. He has to speak with Vinai (Venkatesham, chief executive) or Johan Lange (sporting director). To stay with us, we have to have the right spirit to stay. He’s a good guy. We will see in the next weeks.’

Much like when Chelsea started Liam Delap against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, Bergvall starting would suggest no move is immediately imminent, otherwise he would not have been risked. He was handed 45 minutes before being replaced.

While we must wait to see what happens with Bergvall, Spurs are not done trying to add to their squad this summer, despite their ambitious spending spree. They are now focusing on attackers in particular, and could indeed do with adding goals.

This friendly finishing 1-1 meant we had a penalty shootout to decide the winner of this Sydney Super Cup clash. Martin Dubravka and his goalkeeping coach took it serious enough to run through some instructions before the big showdown.

Spurs' scorers were Luca Williams-Barnett, the 17-year-old graduate who chose a cheeky Panenka, delicate as you like, straight down the middle. He had been shooting for fun during this match as if desperate to grab a goal, and so was allowed to step up first.

From there, Tonali, Andy Robertson and Dane Scarlett likewise scored for a 4-2 shootout win.

Luca Williams-Barnett scored a lovely Panenka penalty as Tottenham won 4-2 in the shootout

Robertson received the captain's armband when the 32-year-old Scot came on for his first pre-season minutes, and Spurs' new left back should have secured his first assist for the club.

Two of them, in fact. Min-Hyeok Yang was twice on the receiving end of crosses from Robertson – and twice the 20-year-old attacker failed to send the ball into the back of the net.

When Yang later failed to cross at the end of one flowing move, De Zerbi was jumping up and down on the spot in his technical area in frustration. The South Korea international has had three loans to Championship clubs since signing for Spurs upon turning 18 in January 2025.

Robertson continued to fly down the left flank in a highly attacking role, and only the fingertips of Sydney goalkeeper Gus Hoefsloot denied him a late winner here at the Allianz Stadium.

Andy Robertson made his first Spurs outing since joining and put in some good deliveries

De Zerbi selected a young starting line-up for Sunday's 2-0 win over Auckland FC in New Zealand, resting his senior stars aside from Archie Gray. That was partially due to their 30 hours of travelling from the other side of the world, and following a few training sessions which have been described as gruelling under this demanding coach.

But a few of their first-teamers were back for this friendly versus Sydney FC, including Richarlison and Mathys Tel. However, when Manor Solomon was substituted, he was spotted with a pack of ice on his left thigh.

Manor Solomon had to have a pack of ice on his left thigh in a worrying concern for Tottenham

There was a little awkwardness earlier this week when Tottenham and Chelsea sent representatives to an event on the Sydney shoreline to tee up this Australian tour. Spurs sent De Zerbi and Micky van de Ven, while the Blues sent Xabi Alonso and Robert Sanchez.

That saw De Zerbi briefly reunited with Sanchez, his former goalkeeper from Brighton who he essentially demoted before he left to join Chelsea. Not the nicest reunion, then, and Spurs will face Chelsea this Saturday in a friendly before they both leave Australia.