Daily Star

Spurs whizkid Lucas Bergvall has opened up about his baptism of fire in the Premier League when he got a rollicking from Guglielmo Vicario.

The 18-year-old hotshot, who made an £8.5million move from Djurgarden, has been wowing Ange Postecoglou and the Tottenham coaching staff since jumping ship to North London, snatching him right from under Barcelona's nose.

Though he's just a teen, Bergvall has already come off the bench in all three of Tottenham's season openers. But his debut against Leicester was almost a nightmare, when he made a dodgy pass that could've cost his team big time.

Introduced in the dying minutes with Spurs fighting for a victory at 1-1, the youngester slipped up, nearly gifting Leicester the win. And goalkeeper Vicario didn't hold back, givinghim a piece of his mind. But according to Bergvall, it's all water under the bridge now.

"Sometimes you do slightly worse things, sometimes you do better things," Bergvall confessed to Aftonbladet. "We were 1-0 up with a fairly comfortable lead. We conceded 1-1 and then that happens (when he lost the ball)," reports the Express.

Where do you think Spurs will finish in the league this season? Let us know in the comments section below

"All is calm now. We have talked about it. Vicario said that there are hot feelings and things like that that happen."

Spurs' summer signings have turned their midfield into a battleground, with Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pape Sarr now joined by newbies Archie Gray and Bergvall, all vying for a spot in the starting XI.

Bergvall, who made the leap from Sweden's Allsvenskan to the Premier League, admitted the transition was challenging but exciting. "The only thing I knew was that it would be tough," he said.

"It was a motivation when I came to a new league with new people, new team-mates, new coaches, new facilities, diet, training, physical activity, everything. It feels like I have taken very big steps in these two months.

"The quality of the players and the teams you face... it's incredible quality, everywhere. It is not possible to make that many mistakes or any mistakes at all.

"You must always be ready. This is the case regardless of where you play, but now it can be punished a little easier."

In a unique twist of deadline day business, Tottenham Hotspur struck two interconnected deals with Spanish club Real Betis involving a player who isn't going anywhere for now.

The first deal was fairly standard, seeing Giovani Lo Celso return to the La Liga side after failing to make his mark in north London following his £27million transfer in January 2020. Given that he spent the last season-and-a-half on loan at Villarreal and wasn't part of Ange Postecoglou's plans, his exit was expected, albeit for a surprisingly low fee of £3million.

However, this nominal figure is tied to Spurs' other deal with Betis, which has turned heads. The Lilywhites have reportedly secured a 'priority option' on highly-rated US international midfielder Johnny Cardoso.

This means they will have first dibs to sign the 22-year-old for £25.2million in the future. But that's not all. Spurs are also believed to have negotiated a sell-on clause for Cardoso, meaning they would pocket a portion of the fee if the player signs for another team.

So Tottenham could financially gain from the sale of a player who never even steps foot on the pitch for them. However, considering Cardoso's growing reputation at both club and international level, it would be surprising if Spurs don't exercise their option to sign him.

With a midfield already brimming with options, Ange Postecoglou can afford to play the long game. Spurs are keeping silent on the Cardoso deal and that is not expected to change.

What do you think of Tottenham's transfer business? Tell us in the comments section below.

Premier League fans might find the Cardoso agreement a bit out of the ordinary, but these sorts of deals are pretty standard fare abroad. It could be a savvy move from Spurs, ensuring they stay ahead in the queue for a hot prospect who has also caught the eye of clubs like Barcelona and AC Milan.

'Johnny', the name on his jersey, has roots in Brazil, though he was born stateside in New Jersey. His Brazilian parents had moved to the US seeking a better life but decided to head back to their homeland after Cardoso arrived.

After racking up 144 appearances for Internacional, Cardoso made the jump to Betis earlier this year and hasn't wasted any time becoming a key player. Despite his dual heritage, when it came to picking a national team, Cardoso chose the Stars and Stripes over Brazil.

"When the chance came to play for the US, I didn't think twice," he is quoted by The Athletic. "I'm representing a country that my parents love."

Cardoso's reputation as a no-nonsense defensive midfielder means he could bring some much-needed grit to the Spurs squad if he ever ends up donning the iconic white shirt.

Guglielmo Vicario’s dream is to become a Tottenham legend - by ending the club’s painful 16 years without silverware.

Not since the League Cup final victory in 2008 have the North Londoners and their long-suffering supporters experienced the joy of lifting a trophy.

Hence, live-wire Italian keeper Vicario would love nothing more than to help bring that desperate drought to a conclusion - and etch his name into the N17 history books...forever.

Ahead of today’s trip to Newcastle, the former-Empoli man outlined the main aims of the new campaign for Ange Postecoglou’s troops..

And while cracking the Premier League top four, or even higher, is one obvious priority, he insists to be part of a Spurs side that actually won something would be career-defining.

Vicario explained: “The target is to try to be a team until the 25th of May. And try to build a big team until the 25th of May.

"Of course, we are athletes and we want to win. We are born to try to win things and to be remembered by our fans because we know, if we do it at Tottenham, we will be remembered for life - for eternity.

“It would be one of the biggest things that could happen in your career - in your life.

“Maybe, one day you come back to the stadium, walk into the tunnel, into the corridor and see some pictures of you and say: ‘Ok, 40 years ago I did this!’

“If it’s me in the pictures, it’d be very nice.”

Vicario’s desperation to achieve glory is clear - whether performing on the pitch or talking off pitch. He now has an unofficial role looking after the youngsters in the squad.

However, he admits his public blasting of new teenage signing Lucas Bergvall in the closing stages of Spurs’ 1-1 draw at Leicester two weeks ago was over the top.

A repentant Vicario, 27, said: “I was too aggressive with him. I apologised. Maybe at that moment it was because we’d dominated a game for 70 mins and then conceded.

“I had a feeling in the last five minutes we could lose the game. Maybe it’s to understand where the game’s leading us or not.

“But it was not the right way, screaming to him. But he understands. He’s a good guy.

“It’s part of football. We are men. I suffered this too when younger.

“We are good friends and speak about sometimes having feelings of the game, the environment, when you, maybe, play away games and everybody is more excited.

“It was the first game back in the Premier League, the fans were pushing us. My action at that moment was not the best but the message came from the right place.”

St James Park is certain to provide an electric atmosphere this afternoon as both clubs look to build upon decent starts

Last season Spurs were thrashed 4-0 away to Eddie Howe’s men nd Vicario added: “We’re playing in a tough place, against a very good team but, of course, we have very good players.

“Now I think we are a different team.”

Jermaine Jenas was sacked from the BBC while live on air with TalkSPORT– but it is not the first time he has been given the boot.

The former footballer lost his job at the Beeb over unsolicited flirty text messages he allegedly sent to a female colleague at The One Show.

According the the Sun, some other women have since come forward to complain about the presenter who was muted to replace Gary Linekar on Match of the Day.

But ironically, while the news was breaking yesterday (August 22), Jenas, 41, was speaking live on TalkSPORT about his brutal ‘cut throat’ axing from Tottenham Hotspur.

He realised he was no longer wanted after turning up to Spurs’ fancy new training ground – only to be denied access.

The former England star was speaking about Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell being shunned from Chelsea when he relived his own experience.

He said: “Mine was bad like that. Spurs had built this brand new training facility and I was there for about six months and I thought, ‘this place is absolutely stunning, it’s beautiful’.

“But what it was, when you walked in through reception - so at this point Andre Villas-Boas had just joined the club. I did the whole pre-season.

“My achilles weren’t great, I’ll be totally honest. So I wasn’t anywhere near my best but obviously thought I’d be given a bit of time to kind of get myself up to speed and maybe around Christmas time I could fight for my place in the team.”

But Jenas did not get the chance to show his worth, after being savagely denied access to training eight years after joining in 2005.

Remembering the bonkers story, he told listeners: “I literally walked through the door, and we used to have this turnstile type thing where it had a fingerprint ID, so you put your thumb on it, it would spin through and you’d go in.

“And I put my thumb on it and it just went [error sound]. It just went red! So I went ‘oh, wipe my thumb a bit’, it just went red. I looked at the people at reception and they put their heads down, everyone just dived for cover. Nobody even spoke to me or pulled me to say, ‘look this is not going to be happening' or anything like that.

“It was just cut throat as that. But that’s the way it is, unfortunately, in football it’s a business and that’s what happens.”

Jenas played 202 times for Tottenham where he scored 26 goals and made 23 assists. He was also in the last Spurs team to win a trophy when they beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final in 2008.

After leaving the club, he had spells at Nottingham Forest and QPR before later hanging up his boots to become a TV presenter and pundit.

I turned on Monday Night Football last night in the hope that it would finally be our year.

In Big Ange we trust and before Tottenham's game against Leicester City the loveable Aussie - who has brought back swashbuckling football to White Hart Lane - made a bold statement.

“Usually in my second season I win things,” he told Sky Sports. “That’s the whole idea. First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully the second year is going onto win things.”

It was music to my ears and I was confident we would start the campaign with three points away at the King Power Stadium - especially when I heard the team news.

Surely there was no way Jamie Vardy, who is 37 and missed pre-season, was going to cause problems for World Cup winner, Cristian Romero, and the fastest player in the Premier League, Mickey van de Ven?

I smiled to myself when I realised he was leading the attack and I was even more smug when his manager, Steve Cooper, spoke to Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville before kick off.

Asked why Vardy was playing, the former Nottingham Forest gaffer said he simply had no other senior strikers available.

In a text I now regret, I wrote to my dad, a fellow Spurs dreamer, and said: “Cooper looked a bit defeated already to me. Poor team compared to what we've got on pitch. Expecting comfortable win.”

My old man, who also never learns, replied with similar enthusiasm before making a prediction of a 3-0 victory.

Spurs started the game just as I hoped and we could have been 3-0 up within the first 10 minutes.

And it was about the 10 minute mark when my partner walked into the room, saw we were playing Leicester, and asked me: “Does the relic still play for them?”

Of course, she meant Vardy, and I should have known then that it was only going to end one way…

But what is football without hope and in the 29th minute Pedro Porro headed the Lilywhites in front and texting my dad again, I said: “Deserved. We’ve been near perfect so far.”

It was the final message I sent that night, and we all know what happened next.

Vardy came out for the second half swigging a can of Red Bull and in the 57th minute he found himself in acres of space between Romero and Porro to equalise with a header.

The ‘relic’ celebrated like he had won the Premier League all over again and although it pained me - it was one of the best moments of the opening weekend of the season.

He even outdid himself shortly after when he was substituted.

Swaggering off the pitch, he pointed to the Premier League logo on his shirt and held a finger to the travelling Spurs fans to remind them how many titles Leicester had won. And as if we needed a history lesson, the striker then formed a zero with his hand and again pointed at the infuriated away supporters. Great sh*thousery to be fair.

The gesture irked Romero, who made his way towards the cult hero - something that would have been more useful before he equalised.

It ended 1-1 and it felt like a defeat for Spurs who showed promise but lacked the ruthlessness to kill off Leicester. Having said that, I’m sticking to my Daily Star Premier League predictions.

I had thought the days of Vardy haunting my dreams were over after he pipped us to the title in 2016. But the forward, who will deservedly go down as a Premier League legend, caused me to lose sleep once again as I mourned the loss of two points.

However, today is a new day and I remain optimistic for the season ahead. Everton at home next week is always a banker for Spurs, I’m going for a comfortable 3-0 win…

Leicester's clash with Tottenham at the King Power Stadium was halted in the second half due to a concerning head injury to Rodrigo Bentancur.

The game was delayed for more than eight minutes after Spurs' Uruguayan star collided with Foxes player Abdul Fatawu as he jumped for a header in the Leicester area from a corner. Play was immediately halted by the referee Christopher Kavanagh who called for assistance and a worried hush fell over the stadium as medics carrying a stretcher rushed onto the pitch.

Players from both teams gathered around Bentancur as Sky Sports commentator Bill Leslie observed that it appeared the stricken star had been "knocked out cold". However, minutes later he relayed that the midfielder had seemingly sat up and been given oxygen.

The injured player was then escorted off the pitch to applause from both sets of supporters. Following the break in play, Bentancur was replaced by Archie Gray.

Sky Sports later reported that Bentancur was up and talking in the dressing room, though Tottenham's team doctor confirmed he would continue to be monitored, in line with the Premier League's concussion protocols.

Tottenham then posted the message "We're all with you, Lolo" on their official X account. Leicester sent a message themselves, writing: "Sending our best wishes to you, Rodrigo."

Fatawu appeared to be unaffected physically by his collision with Bentancur. The Spurs star also ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the King Power in February 2023, which kept him out for eight months.

The scores were level at 1-1 at the time of the incident, after veteran Leicester striker Jamie Vardy cancelled out Spurs full-back Pedro Porro's first half goal, and that is how the game ended.

Tottenham Hotspur's 'biggest' fan admitted that the squad need a 90s hero if they want to win the Premier League – but fears there will be no one like him.

Britt, 26, from Lancashire, is a Spurs-obsessive who has supported the North London club since the womb. Her entire family back the side, currently managed by Ange Postecoglou, so she inherited the unwavering loyalty to the club.

And the model and content creator has often made the long pilgrimage to see the lads play at home – she even infamously gambled away her car for the side, who are yet to lift the coveted Prem trophy.

Check out the latest exclusives from the Daily Star

But, football super fan Britt thinks she knows exactly how Spurs can achieve success. Though, a time machine might be needed in this case.

As the transfer window is on the verge of completion, Britt exclusively spoke to us about her thoughts and shared that she would love none other than Paul Gascoigne to make a surprise comeback.

She said: "Prime time Gazza, if we could have him in our current squad we'd be unstoppable. I'd have him in our current squad if it was possible, I don't think we'll ever see another player like him."

While we won't see 57-year-old Gascoigne making a comeback anytime soon, perhaps even more controversially, Britt would love to see Spurs buy some Arsenal players.

The superfan is all for buying players from the north London rival. However, her reasoning isn't just to create a stronger team; Britt also thinks it would wind up Gunners fans.

Britt continued "It would be about time we bought an Arsenal player, they've had a couple of decent players from us over the years so it would be nice for it to be the other way around.

"It would p*** off Arsenal fans, which is always amazing and imagine the scenes if they then went on to score against Arsenal. However, I'd rather we didn't sign a player from Arsenal. There are players from other clubs that suit Spurs and Ange's style a lot more."

The Spurs devotee fears that, regardless of bringing back Gasgoine's football career and pinching some Arsenal hotshots, her beloved side will never win the Premier League due to a "curse."

Though, she is hopeful about some of the potential signings so far. It is reported that teenager Mikey Moore, 16, has agreed to sign a professional contract with the side later this week.

Whoever ends up as a new signing, Britt just hopes that they can help assist in defeating the supposed 'Spursy' ways of the team.

She said: "We need to break this weird curse that has been set upon us, there's definitely something weird about Spurs - we just don't seem to ever win.

"We either have a curse on us or Spurs are just some football conspiracy theory.

"We've got to see a couple of the new lads and some of the younger lads during pre-season, they all looked like they could be part of the missing pieces that let us down last season.

"We need to be able to continue to play well even if some of the first team are out injured. That's what cost us last season, but it looks like we could be solving that.

"Although, we'll never be able to replace Van De Ven - so we'll just wrap him in bubble wrap instead."

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma has been suspended by the club for the game against Leicester City after a video posted on social media appeared to show him inhaling laughing gas.

Bissouma had posted a video of himself appearing to inhale nitrous oxide in a chauffeur-driven limousine and laughing to his private Snapchat account.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed the 27-year-old would miss the opening day of the season against newly-promoted Leicester as a punishment, adding that the trust between them has been broken.

Postecoglou said: “Been in the game for a long time, when a situation like this arises, I've tried to look at them in a couple of ways. First there's a person and it's Biss and he's made a poor decision.

“There are still sanctions involved, and some of those are educational. He is a footballer with responsibilities. He won't be available on Monday.

Where do you think Tottenham will finish this season? Let us know in the comments section below.

“We've suspended him from Monday's game. He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group.”

When asked about how Bissouma can earn his trust back, Postecoglou replied: “Behaviour mate. It's that simple. It's about making better decisions. He was very apologetic to me, the club and everyone involved but that's just part of it.”

Bissouma later acknowledged the shortcomings in his behaviour and issued a public apology in a statement, saying: "This was a severe lack of judgment. I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously."

Nitrous oxide, often referred to as laughing gas or ‘hippy crack’, was made illegal last year with possession and sale for recreational purposes considered a criminal offence. Individuals found in possession could face a caution or an unlimited fine. Repeat offenders could serve up to two years in prison.

Tottenham Hotspur didn't have much luck in the last Premier League season – and neither did one super fan.

Britt, 26, from Lancashire, was 'born' a hardcore Spurs supporter. Her passion for the north London team didn't even waver when she gambled her beloved Subaru WRX on the team finishing in the top four.

As Spurs finished fifth on the table, Britt has been left without her blue motor since May and came painfully close to getting it back last weekend when she betted on England to win the Euros (we all know how that panned out).

Check out the latest Exclusives from Daily Star

The up-and-coming social media content creator admitted she's dedicated herself to 23-hour days just so she can watch Ange Postecoglou's team play 'Spursy' games at home.

And now it's going to take even longer as Britt is reliant on her heelys (trainers with wheels) and unreliable train services to make the pilgrimage to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"Heelys and the trains, there's no quick way for me to get to the stadium," Britt told us about her predicament when travelling to watch Spurs' home games when the season kicks off next month.

"It takes between four and five hours for me to get there. I'll use my heelys to get me from station to station and then to the ground.

"If I go with someone I'll link on to them and get pulled along, it's great. I watched the game against Burnley [last season] and even then it was a 23-hour day for me by the time I'd got home.

"Regardless, next season I'm definitely going to be going to a lot more home games and hopefully some away ones as well."

This season is looking different for Britt, and hopefully for fellow fans as Spurs are yet to lift a Premier League trophy.

Britt is still on a mission to get her car back and is currently conjuring up plans to make that happen. But, in the meantime, she's not playing around when it comes to the success of the side.

She admitted that this season will be full of good luck "rituals". And they're mainly to do with avoiding the colour of arch-rivals Arsenal.

The Spurs-obsessive said: "I don't allow anything red in the house, no red clothing, no red on shoes, no red anywhere or on anything allowed.

"If I've worn a shirt and we've lost in it I won't wear it again that season, if we win wearing a shirt, I'll wear it until we lose in it.

"If I'm going to a game I've got a game day flag with me that my dad bought me years ago."

Britt recently compared Spurs' play to that of the England squad, who both seem to edge close but can't quite finish.

She's claimed that the side are a football "conspiracy" where they only come close to winning just to keep fans "hopeful."

Either way, Britt will be watching on and has full faith in Spurs to bring home some sort of trophy next season.

She quipped: "I'm fully convinced Spurs are a football conspiracy theory at this point and we're not actually going to win anything, but we're always going to get close just to keep us hopeful.

"I did say last season I was happy we didn't get Champions League because I think we have more of a chance of winning the Europa League, even that is a big ask.

"I say it every season, but I always think the FA Cup is a good one for us. Although, we always seem to bottle that as well.

"Like every season, I fully believe we're going to win it all and act shocked when we don't."

Tottenham Hotspur didn't have much luck in the last Premier League season – and neither did one super fan.

Britt, 26, from Lancashire, was 'born' a hardcore Spurs supporter. Her passion for the north London team didn't even waver when she gambled her beloved Subaru WRX on the team finishing in the top four.

As Spurs finished fifth on the table, Britt has been left without her blue motor since May and came painfully close to getting it back last weekend when she betted on England to win the Euros (we all know how that panned out).

Check out the latest Exclusives from Daily Star

The up-and-coming social media content creator admitted she's dedicated herself to 23-hour days just so she can watch Ange Postecoglou's team play 'Spursy' games at home.

And now it's going to take even longer as Britt is reliant on her heelys (trainers with wheels) and unreliable train services to make the pilgrimage to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"Heelys and the trains, there's no quick way for me to get to the stadium," Britt told us about her predicament when travelling to watch Spurs' home games when the season kicks off next month.

"It takes between four and five hours for me to get there. I'll use my heelys to get me from station to station and then to the ground.

"If I go with someone I'll link on to them and get pulled along, it's great. I watched the game against Burnley [last season] and even then it was a 23-hour day for me by the time I'd got home.

"Regardless, next season I'm definitely going to be going to a lot more home games and hopefully some away ones as well."

This season is looking different for Britt, and hopefully for fellow fans as Spurs are yet to lift a Premier League trophy.

Britt is still on a mission to get her car back and is currently conjuring up plans to make that happen. But, in the meantime, she's not playing around when it comes to the success of the side.

She admitted that this season will be full of good luck "rituals". And they're mainly to do with avoiding the colour of arch-rivals Arsenal.

The Spurs-obsessive said: "I don't allow anything red in the house, no red clothing, no red on shoes, no red anywhere or on anything allowed.

"If I've worn a shirt and we've lost in it I won't wear it again that season, if we win wearing a shirt, I'll wear it until we lose in it.

"If I'm going to a game I've got a game day flag with me that my dad bought me years ago."

Britt recently compared Spurs' play to that of the England squad, who both seem to edge close but can't quite finish.

She's claimed that the side are a football "conspiracy" where they only come close to winning just to keep fans "hopeful."

Either way, Britt will be watching on and has full faith in Spurs to bring home some sort of trophy next season.

She quipped: "I'm fully convinced Spurs are a football conspiracy theory at this point and we're not actually going to win anything, but we're always going to get close just to keep us hopeful.

"I did say last season I was happy we didn't get Champions League because I think we have more of a chance of winning the Europa League, even that is a big ask.

"I say it every season, but I always think the FA Cup is a good one for us. Although, we always seem to bottle that as well.

"Like every season, I fully believe we're going to win it all and act shocked when we don't."