Periodically, some football talents go through a phase, and their fans eagerly await their return to form as they get a glimpse of the best of them as evidenced in a Premier League star’s decision to reconnect with his original way of playing football.
At the end of the last summer, Kulusevski stood at the crossroads of his career. Specifically, in the first season on the new manager Ange Postecoglou in Tottenham Hotspur, he played with great energy, but he did not repel at a top level during the game. The performance he always seemed to have some trouble with what Postecoglou required from a winger — an player whose role is to occupy the area in the final third, open up space and make runs, even if this meant receiving few involvements with the ball.
In the previous season, Kulusevski was in intense competition with Brennan Johnson for a place in the right winger role. At first considered as an addition to provide backup to James Maddison in the No 10 role, it was widely thought that the Swedish player is more effective when operating wide. In this current season especially, Postecoglou has wisely deployed both players mostly in the midfield position and it has not gone wrong for Spurs.
From Winger to Midfield Maestro
Kulusevski has always been Spurs standout performer throughout the season, making him different to his fellow teammates. Those challenges have landed the spotlight on the team’s key players of Son, Maddison and Cristian Romero as the 2023-24 season has unfolded. But there’s only one player in the squad who can plausibly say they are playing at this level now since the season started in August, and that’s Kulusevski.
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Kulusevski may have had only one Premier League assist to his name this season and a superb goal on Saturday against Manchester City, but the statistic is more about the missed chances of his teammates than him about his strongman’s ability to carve out opportunities. His 23 key passes have put him fifth in England’s top flight. In open play, 18 of those have been from him – he’s now third in the division for that statistic.
Kulusevski’s never ending energy was the difference on their 2-1 win over City in the Carabao Cup, displaying his ability to charge forward in each possession, and each moment they did not have possession. Spurs hit the front in a brilliant counter attack, finishing with a perfect cross for Timo Werner. He played a crucial role in setting up Pape Sarr’s decisive goal, extending the lead, and in the second half, City faced constant pressure as Kulusevski posed a significant threat on the counterattack.
The shift into the centre allows Kulusevski to fully leverage his vision, effectively dismantling opposition defences, and he’s executing this task at an exceptionally high level. What truly distinguishes the choice to shift him to the infield is not just his knack for setting up teammates, but also his relentless drive to apply pressure and generate turnovers in the crucial final third of the field. This season, Spurs are showcasing their dominance with the second highest possession average in the Premier League at 61.7%. However, when they do lose the ball, they don’t back down; instead, they apply relentless pressure on their opponents to regain possession swiftly.
The conclusion of last season revealed a stark reality: Spurs’ pressing game was losing its edge. The team required a boost of intensity in the midfield, a player capable of pressuring the rivals and reclaiming possession before they could exploit the gaps in the Tottenham defence. It’s clear why Postecoglou held Conor Gallagher in such high regard during his time at Chelsea, especially leading up to the midfielder’s transfer to Atletico Madrid.
Driving Spurs Forward: Leadership and Impact
However, Kulusevski has taken matters into his own hands to address that challenge. In his new role in midfield, he has taken the league by storm, topping the charts with an impressive 16 possession regains in the final third. At times, the Spurs’ pressing game has shown improvement that surpasses what we witnessed last season.
He has consistently embraced a sense of responsibility, eager to take charge of the game and steer its direction. He aims to take charge on the pitch, eager to be part of every play. His role as Sweden’s captain in recent months has been incredibly significant for him.
The specific role that Postecoglou assigns to his wide players has not aligned seamlessly with Kulusevski’s style of play. Despite being deployed more frequently than Johnson last season, it was the Wales international acquired from Nottingham Forest that summer who proved to be the superior choice for the position.
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What we’re witnessing this season is the Kulusevski who is not only physically imposing but also eager to take charge and make a significant impact on the pitch at Tottenham. Postecoglou understands that for a player dedicated to reaching the pinnacle of success, the sky’s the limit for his potential.
Postecoglou has a reputation for bringing home the hardware in his second year at a club, and utilising Kulusevski in a central role might just be the key for Spurs to break their trophy drought.
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