Antonio Conte doesn’t usually explain to his players why they are being pricked.
With Dejan Kulusevski, the Tottenham coach made an exception.
– Perhaps he wanted to check how weak I was, says the Swede.
Diane Kulusevsky He’s had a very impressive development at Tottenham since arriving at the London club in January last year.
Antonio Conte snatched the Swede under his arms and calmed him down after a very difficult period at Juventus.
– This move is the best thing I’ve done. I go training and have fun – and I train hard. I’m with people I look up to. I learned a lot from Conti. I like his style that you have to work hard to get everything in life, says Dejan Kulusevsky the day after Sweden lost to Serbia 4-1.
“I wanted to check if I was weak”
So far, there have been six goals and 11 assists in 25 matches.
But before the national team break, the Swede was sitting on the bench for three games in a row. Usually, Antonio Conte does not tell his players because of their inability to play. But with Kulusevsky he felt compelled to violate his principle.
I played well in that period, so there was no explanation for not playing all three matches. It was more than he wanted to talk to me and check my condition. It was a good conversation and we were joking a lot.
Still deviating from his principle not to do it normally?
– Perhaps he wanted to check how weak I was, but I was calm, says Dejan Kulusevsky with a smile.