Tottenham: Dejan Kulusevski demonstrates why Ange Postecoglou admires him after what he did for Sweden.
Dejan Kulusevski demonstrated why he is one of the first names on Ange Postecoglou‘s Tottenham Hotspur teamsheet as Sweden defeated Albania on Monday (March 25).
The 23-year-old was at the heart of Sweden‘s assault, assisting the sole goal in the 1-0 win with a superb cross to the back post, which Gustaf Nilsson converted past Thomas Strakosha.
Though it was simply a friendly encounter in preparation for EURO 2024 this summer, the Swede’s talent was on display as he played a key role in the game.
This comes after Sweden’s 5-2 loss to Portugal on Thursday, March 21, in which the same link-up was created, with Kulusevski assisting Nilsson, but it was simply a consolation in a disappointing loss.
In his last 11 Spurs games across all competitions, he has only one goal and an assist. despite being in the top 92 percentile for touches in the opposing penalty area. [FBref]
Postecoglou will hope that his sustained faith in the winger pays off as they aim for a top-four Premier League finish.
Can Dejan Kulusevski bring his Sweden form back to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?
The Spurs forward played a vital role in Monday’s 1-0 triumph, earning a 7.9 rating from FotMob.
Kulusevski improved his Premier League pass completion rate from 82% to 88% this season, helping Sweden finish the international break on a good note. [FotMob]
Although he plays as a winger, he is also recognised for his defensive qualities, which is why Postecoglou like him, as he had a perfect tackle record on the night.
The only concern will be that the Spurs player received another yellow card, implying that he needs to tone down some of his more aggressive challenges before a more card-happy official brings him up.
However, this is unlikely, as Kulusevski is in the top 86 percentile of tackles among wingers in the top five European leagues. [FBref]
There’s nothing wrong with getting stuck in and pushing for the ball, but Spurs will be hoping Kulusevski can cut down on his yellow cards, which have totaled 12 since January 2022.
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