Lucas on the Champions League: “This has been my dream since I was a little boy” | OneFootball

Lucas Bergvall can remember listening to the UEFA Champions League anthem as a little boy back home in Sweden - now he’ll be pitchside as it plays out live for the first time in his career.

The all-action midfielder enjoyed a first at West Ham at the weekend when he scored a superb looping header, the second goal in our 3-0 win – his first goal in the Premier League.

Now he’s after another as we take on La Liga side Villarreal in MD1 of the UCL league phase at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (8pm).

You can imagine just how much it will mean to the 19-year-old who agonisingly missed the UEFA Europa League Final triumph against United last season with an ankle injury sustained in late April having been an ever present up that point – 12/12 appearances, 10 starts – only to have to sit out the semi-finals and that glory, glory night in Bilbao in May.

Now it’s time for another new chapter for the Sweden international - whose performances saw him sweep the board at our Player of the Season awards in 2024/25.

“It’s been a dream since I was a little boy to play (in the Champions League) so I’m really looking forward to it,” he told us. “I don’t know how I’ll feel when I hear the anthem, just like a kid, watching the Champions League, always wanting to play.

“Tuesday is the first game, so, looking forward to it so much. It’s one of the biggest things you can accomplish in football, to play Champions League, the highest level so, yes, it will be emotional for me.”

Lucas said it felt ‘unbelievable’ to score his first Premier League goal in such an important game and victory at the London Stadium on Saturday. “I’m so proud, for my family as well,” he said. “I saw the goalkeeper coming out and thought, ‘this is my chance’. It was a great finish, great pass from Cuti. Perfect timing.”

Another thing catching the eye in Stratford was Lucas’ long throws, a real threat, as we were throughout from set plays. However, it appears he’s a way from emulating our long throw master – Kevin Danso. “Kevin is next level, I have to practice a bit more,” he beamed. “Maybe I have to ask him for a few tips!”