Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, has candidly admitted that one of his key players has had a challenging season. This article delves into the ups and downs faced by this player during the campaign and provides insights into his performance.
Tottenham ended their campaign on a positive note with a 3-0 victory against Sheffield United. This win secured them fifth place in Ange Postecoglou's debut season, ensuring their return to the Europa League. However, amidst these highs were some lows as well.
Kulusevski played in many new roles
Postecoglou had to experiment with his team following an injury to Richarlison. Pape Matar Sarr was primarily used as a false nine in their 2-0 defeat against Manchester City while Dejan Kulusevski stepped into a similar role later on.
Kulusevski found himself playing from the bench in the Manchester City match but soon proved his worth by scoring twice at Bramall Lane in his new role. His exceptional finish from the left-hand side marked his first goal of that game.
Despite having an inconsistent season, Kulusevski impressed Postecoglou with this display which led him to comment on it publicly. In conversation with Tottenham’s media team after their recent win, Postecoglou was asked about Kulusevski’s performance throughout the season. He acknowledged that it had been frustrating for the £25 million forward but also commended him for maintaining high work-rate levels despite these challenges.
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, said:
“Deki was good today, he’s had a bit of a frustrating year, he has worked awfully hard.
“I just felt playing him there today might give him some freedom to move around and cause problems which I thought he did. Pleased for him to get the goals but worked hard for the team which was important.”
Kulusevski’s 2023/24 season stats tell same story
Kulusevski started off strong under Postecoglou's management and played in every Premier League match where he was available until a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park in February. However, his form has been inconsistent since the turn of the year, leading to him being benched five times.
Despite these setbacks, Kulusevski remains one of Tottenham’s most creative players. According to Statmuse, he created 65 chances for his teammates this season. However, his impact in the final third doesn't quite reflect in his numbers as he registered just 11 goal involvements in 39 appearances this term.
The upcoming season looks set to be a crucial one for the young forward. At just 23 years old and with Tottenham on the hunt for attacking reinforcements, it will be interesting to see how Kulusevski responds to these challenges and whether he can regain consistency and improve upon this season's performance.
