Bergvall hails Tottenham’s ‘clean sheet mentality’ after beating Villarreal | OneFootball

Lucas Bergvall says Tottenham’s determination to improve defensively this season is paying off.

The Swedish midfielder helped his side to a 1-0 win over Villarreal in Tottenham’s first game back in the Champions League when his cross was spilled into the net by goalkeeper Luiz Junior.

And Bergvall says boss Thomas Frank is already helping the side to improve defensively.

“We talked a lot about ‘clean sheet mentality’ this year because we conceded a lot last year,” Bergvall told Amazon Prime Sport after the game.

“My relationship with him is really good. I just want to get back to the form I had at the end of last year, and I feel like I am. I have help from him and the video analysts to get better every day.”

The 19-year-old has so far played in a more attacking role this season compared with the previous campaign, and he says he is working on improving his runs forward.

“Yes definitely [been working on it],” he said. Especially when Mo [Kudus] gets the ball, to run in behind. The goal I scored last game against West Ham, to make the run in behind when the centre half can ping it. There is space there [to run into] and we can score goals.

“Of course I always want the ball but when I play as a 10, as I do now, we need those runs forward. Last year I played as a six and an eight but this year I’m in the 10 and need to do those runs.”

On the victory, he added: “It was really tough. Villarreal did a great performance but a 1-0 win at home is amazing. We managed to get three points today and we talk a lot about ‘clean sheet mentality’ and they did not have a shot on target, so we did a really good job.”