Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham Hotspur
Dejan Kulusevski has been the top man for Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou believes Dejan Kulusevski is just getting started. The Swede has been Tottenham ’s star of the season so far having been moved into a central midfield role.
No player across the league has created more opportunities in open play than his 48 and on a per 90 minute scale he has covered more ground than anyone.
But Postecoglou believes Kulusevski’s laser focus, which he considers comparable to that of Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo, will ensure the 24-year-old continues to improve.
“He's very ambitious about how good he can be and that's a great thing,” the Spurs boss said ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Fulham. “He's still relatively young and there's a lot of improvement in him.
Mikel Arteta told to make immediate transfer move for Arsenal's 'missing link'
[
Ange Postecoglou rules out Tottenham transfer - 'We have to deal with this shock'](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ange-postecoglou-tottenham-transfer-vicario-34199894)
“I've just got a feeling with Deki that he's not going to settle for any level apart from being the absolute best and it's great for us.”
Kulusevski said last week that he is so determined to become one of the top players in the world that he no longer uses his phone. He has even taken to measuring the pH level of his drinking water to optimise his condition.
And while he does not possess the league’s most devastating burst of acceleration, Postecoglou reckons few can match his endurance.
Ange Postecoglou is thrilled with how Dejan Kulusevski is performing.
Ange Postecoglou is thrilled with how Dejan Kulusevski is performing.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
“It’s not a fluke, it’s a lot of hard work,” he added. “There’s some science there, some genetics or DNA. He just has a real capacity to be able to run at a certain level consistently.
“His recovery rates are really elite in that he can go and rest quickly and go again. But there’s also that mental strength to do it. A lot of players have the capacity but maybe reach the limit where they naturally get tired and don’t go again until they need to.
“But Deki will keep going and going. It’s a big part of his football, it’s a big strength of his. I’m not a biomechanist but his running efficiency is really good. He doesn’t seem to use too much energy. Or that’s how it looks to me. That could be a load of crap, I don’t know. But he does.”
Equally, Postecoglou is wary of squeezing him dry. Apart from the opening weekend draw at Leicester, he has started every league game and racked up 1,278 minutes across three competitions.
“We have to be mindful of not overburdening him because he’s played a lot,” the Australian added. “And with the squad we’ve got he’s played in the middle and on the wing. We don’t want to diminish that [influence] but at the moment he still feels really good.”
James Maddison starred for Spurs against Man City. (
Image:
Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Kulusevski’s shift in from the wing, where he spent most of last season, has also had an impact on James Maddison. The England international’s importance appears to have waned slightly but he has bounced back well from being dropped for two games earlier this month.
Postecoglou said he has no problem if a player is upset when left out of the team, adding: “I’m not in the happiness business.”
But the sight of Maddison using that sense of grievance to respond with a rip-roaring performance in last weekend’s big win at Manchester City has quickly looked like rather effective man management. “If he misses a couple of games, he’s disappointed, that’s fine,” Postecoglou added. “What I am looking at is when you do play, make your biggest possible impact and that’s what he did.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches discounted Premier League package £46 (was £56)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky
Get the deal here