Spurs star says he has finally found his best position under Postecoglou
One Tottenham star is glad to have reverted back to his old position this season, admitting that he is enjoying the freedom that comes with it.
Tottenham attacker a player reborn this season
While Dejan Kulusevski had shown promising signs as a number ten briefly last season, the Swede has surprised everyone with how he has taken to the role since being permanently moved to the position.
The 24-year-old has been Tottenham‘s best player so far this season and is now deservedly keeping James Maddison out of the side.
The former Juventus man continues to go from strength to strength in his new role, and he has now made a confession about playing in the middle of the park.
Dejan Kulusevski started his career as a midfielder
Kulusevski reveals that playing as an attacking midfielder is nothing new to him, having started his career in the midfield before being moved to the flanks.
The Tottenham man admits that he was keen to get back to his old role, now that he has developed different facets of the game over the last few years.
Kulusevski told Sky Sports: “I’ve been playing as a winger for the last couple of years, but I’ve never been a winger, and now I’ve come back to where I started. When I was young, I always played in this role, especially at Atalanta in Italy. That’s where I played as one of the three midfielders.
“I did really well as a winger for a couple of years and developed a lot of things in that position. But now I go back to my role. I think it was time for that. It was time to take the next level, because I also matured mentally, so now I know that when I play in this position, I have to make a difference.”
Playing as the most advanced midfielder in Postecoglou’s system affords Kulusevski the freedom to receive the ball in different areas of the pitch, and it is a privilege that he is enjoying.
The attacker said about his new role: “I get a lot of freedom there. That’s very important to me. But with freedom comes responsibility. So, now, in every game, I know I have to make the team score A lot of it is instinctive. That’s the way I have played all my life and it means every game can be different.
“Sometimes you will see me more on the right, sometimes you will see me more on the left. It’s nothing planned, it’s just about deciding what is best for the team at any second.”
Kulusevski enjoys the defensive side of the game
While Kulusevski‘s creative abilities were never in question, what has surprised many is the quality of the defensive work the 24-year-old is delivering in his new position.
The Sweden international explained that it is a side of his game that got honed during his time in the Serie A.
When asked about his defensive contributions, Kulusevski said: “I actually enjoy that side of it a lot. Every young player hates to defend. We only want to play with the ball. But I started to love defending when I was a kid.
“When I play in this position, I am usually up against a guy who plays as a No 6, and for me, it’s personal not to let him touch the ball. I find that challenge really fun.
“I learned it in Italy. When I was at Juventus, sometimes they played me just to mark the No 6. ‘Don’t let him touch the ball.’ All of that. Physically, I can do it, and I enjoy it.
“I try to kill you not only with the ball but also without the ball. In basketball, you have to do both parts. The best players are also the best defenders. It’s not quite the same in football, but that is what I want to do. I want to do both parts of the game as well as possible.”
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