London. Small smile, big performance at Tottenham’s big stadium in the Premier League.
Dejan Kulusevsky is good at keeping his feet on the ground.
It’s nice to watch when it takes off from the ground.
He’s not the one who floats away, Dejan Kulusevsky. Or, alternatively, the kind of public personality he wants to exude.
A goal and assist in the first of the season Premier League-Meeting? Man of the Match award in competition with his teammates like Harry Kane and Hong Min Soon?
The Swede is still standing firmly with both feet on the sumptuous parquet at Tottenham’s stadium, not emitting much strong emotion in front of the media.
But when asked if this could be called the ‘perfect start’, he couldn’t help but let out a mischievous and satisfying smile.
– Yes, that’s enough.
personal revenge
4-1 against Southampton is a good start to the fall for Antonio Conte and perhaps a big personal revenge. Kulusevsky’s debut in the league against Ralph Hessenhuttl’s men at the start of 2022 ended with the Austrian falling to his knees in torrential rain and theatrically stretching his arms in the air.
For his part, Conte gritted his teeth after the snow fell. Perhaps he longs to go home for a more reliable weather in Italy.
The weather was more stable on Saturday afternoon, as were Spurs conditions. The starting lineup consisted largely of the same as the previous version, but on the bench sat Yves Bisoma, Clement Lenglet and Ivan Perisic (Richardison provided commentary as usual).
Vital Wings
It should be noted that the host team did not breathe in the title hunt during large parts of the first half. Spurs are full of skilled footballers, but sometimes, when they have to get into the match, they run with offensive power.
When James Ward-Prowse, in the 12th minute, hit a superb shot on the edge of the penalty area, Spurs started promising but without creating any tangible chances to score. The stats columns shouted zero, zero, zero – and the Saints advanced 1-0.
That hind wings are so vital in Conti’s system is nothing new. As long as those are pressing on the edges, the spurs can overload themselves in dangerous areas and not become too dependent on Kane and Son. It took Ryan Sessegnon and Emerson Royal preparing for the attack to start clicking.
Furthermore, Kulusevsky has shown that he not only acts as a kind of extended arm for Kane and Son. On several occasions he searched for the flying left-back Secinion and they found each other many times. As with the equaliser, a well-placed cross passed over the defenders and stung Sisson’s brow.
Tottenham’s favorite scenario
Son, whose full effort caused some frustration in many (including his friend Ken), didn’t want it to be any worse in accuracy. The cross from the left after just over a half-hour was clever but so low that Eric Dier almost hit his head in the grass when he nodded 2-1.
Spurs’ preferred scenario in all categories would probably be to go into the second half with them leading behind them. Players know that opponents must expose themselves for the sake of power. They are also aware of their own ability, including toxic metamorphoses.
For a while, Dejan Kulusevski seemed to have gotten off the ground. His love for football was evident in his eagerness to get the ball back, to always make himself playable and to take out passes. As a spectator, it’s great to follow.
Then nothing is impossible
Kulusevski’s first goal at Tottenham is a testament to how far this young Swede has progressed since that miserable day in February. Surprisingly, this is rarely the case, although it often is. The number of assists in 2022 (nine), the most of any player in the Premier League, suggests that the main objective is to help the team rather than create it himself.
He admits it’s important to celebrate individual victories, even those in the first round. Tottenham intend to stay top of the table for the rest of the season, not just get three points against limited Southampton. If the rest of the team can balance heaven and earth as well as Dejan Kulusevski, nothing is impossible.
