MY ACCOUNT
Dejan Kulusevski has suffered an injury-hit start to the season — but his return is a huge boost for Tottenham and Antonio Conte.
The Swede returned to Spurs’ first team in time for their Premier League clash with Brentford and was the man to assist the equalising goal in a come-from-behind 2-2 draw in London.
Tottenham are a different team with Kulusevski in the side. Operating on the right, he has the ability to unbalance opposing defences and offers ingenuity in the final third.
Ahead of their upcoming clash with Aston Villa, we take a look at exactly what the 22-year-old brings to the table.
Finely balanced
Tottenham need Kulusevski back in their ranks ahead of an intense battle for a place in next season’s Champions League, having taken 30 points from their first 16 games.
League leaders Arsenal, reigning champions Manchester City, dark horses Newcastle and a rejuvenated Manchester United are all staking their claims for Champions League qualification.
Liverpool and Chelsea are also in the mix and it looks increasingly likely that the battle for fourth will go right down to the wire.
Arsenal and City appear to be a cut above as they contest the title but that does not ease the pressure on Spurs in their quest for qualification.
The road to London
Kulusevski was born in Stockholm to parents with Macedonian roots.
He spent the first decade of his career in the youth system of IF Brommapojkarna before moving to Italy and joining Atalanta at the age of 16.
Three years later, he made his first team debut at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, although he failed to make an impact at the club and was soon loaned out to Parma for the 2019-20 campaign.
He joined Juventus during that January window but stayed at Parma for the rest of the year.
It was upon finally moving to Turin that he finally played a prominent role with the first team, contributing nine goals and 10 assists in 55 games.
Unbalancing opponents
Kulusevski joined Tottenham from Juventus on an 18-month loan in January of 2022.
Since then, he has played 33 games for the club — contributing six goals and 13 assists in all competitions.
This season, despite only featuring for 704 minutes, he has contributed one strike and set up a further five.
None of his teammates have contributed more assists or completed more take-ons (18) than the Swede, while only Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Ivan Perisic have created more chances than his 19.
Hard-working, tenacious and dynamic, Kulusevski is the ideal winger for a Conte side and fits seamlessly into an attacking trident with Kane, Son or — when he plays — Brazilian striker Richarlison.
Got his hunger back
Speaking after being awarded the Swedish Ballon d’Or for 2022, Kulusevski opened up on why he decided to leave Juventus for Tottenham and the Premier League.
He said: “The whole year has been absolutely fantastic, actually. I came to Tottenham to get my life back, my hunger back and my love back after they had flown away.
“I feel that I am getting better and better every day and have incredible fun when I play on the pitch. I feel like I am learning new things every day and that I am developing my understanding of the game.
“I feel really good right now — but I want more.”
Aiming high
Conte was appointed with the ambition of competing for the biggest prizes in European football and helping Spurs challenge for the Premier League title.
Instead, the North Londoners find themselves in the familiar position of battling for a place in the top four. That is nothing to be sniffed at, but will it satisfy Conte?
The question still remains over whether the Italian will continue in his post after the expiration of his contract this summer.
Either way, there is no doubt that he will be happy to have Kulusevkski back in action to terrorise opposition defenders.
