Spurs in Japan | Together in Tokyo | Deki and Lucas

Lucas Bergvall describes Dejan Kulusevski as an ‘amazing player’ and that respect is certainly mutual – as we found out when the Sweden internationals sat down together for a chat at our hotel in Tokyo.

Deki is a firm favourite in N17 after his performances in Lilywhite since first arriving in January, 2022 – he’s already up to 96 appearances for us, appearing in 39 of our 41 matches last term, including eight goals and three assists in the Premier League.

Still just 18, Lucas was snapped up from Swedish top flight side Djurgarden in January this year, joining us on 1 July. The pair have followed a similar path – both played for Swedish side BP in their early days – and they are now together at Spurs.

Here’s what they had to say...

How are you guys?

Deki: “Yes, we’re good, life’s good.”

How has training been? The heat on the first morning looked brutal for training...

Deki: “Yes, the first two minutes of yesterday’s first training session was worse than anything we’ve done, just because the heat was crazy. It was like training in a sauna.”

Lucas, it’s your first pre-season and tour with us, how important are these days with the squad?

Lucas: “Yes, of course, it’s a chance to get to know everyone and train with the lads.”

Deki, what did you think when we signed Lucas?

Deki; “Fun, because he’s done everything I’ve done. He’s from the same team in Sweden, we know the same people… he’s much younger than me, but we still have so much to talk about, because he’s made the same journey. It’s fun for me also to be here for him and to help him become a better player.”

What have you told him about life away from football in London?

Deki: “Everything. He has some questions, and we speak about everything. The fun thing is because I’ve done it a little, so I know I can tell him, prepare him for things, then he’s his own man, he’s intelligent, so he doesn’t really need that, but it’s always good to speak with an older guy.”

Lucas, what’s it like to have a guy like Deki around?

Lucas: “He’s much smarter than I thought! He’s really smart…”

We’ll take that as a compliment!

Deki: “I don’t know about that!”

Lucas: “No, he’s really smart. He reads a lot of books and knows a lot about life. Yes, really smart.”

Deki has won the Guldbollen (for Sweden’s best male player) for two years on the trot, so what are people saying about him back home, Lucas?

Lucas: “Amazing player, top, top player, and an amazing guy. I think a lot of people see him as a big profile player and want to be like him."

What are people saying back in Sweden about Spurs having two Swedish players at the moment?

Deki: “It’s huge for Sweden. There are a lot of Swedish fans who love Spurs, then, when I came, there was even more interest, and now Lucas is here as well, I think it will be a completely different thing for him. Two good young players - I think Spurs is going to be Sweden’s favourite team!”

Deki, you love the graft of pre-season, what are you looking forward to in the next two weeks?

Deki: “To become better, stronger and as ready as possible, because we want to start the season like we did last season (we won eight of our first 10 in the Premier League in 2023/24), coming out flying, and even better. Always try to be better every year, faster, stronger, play better as a team. Every year is a new challenge, but I’m really thinking that it’s going to be good.”

The final word to Lucas, how excited are you for our Premier League opener at Leicester City on 19 August?

Lucas: “I’m really excited for the season to start. Hopefully, I’ll make my Premier League debut this season, so really excited to start.”