Postecoglou has shown that he is an excellent communicator in his interactions with the media and he uses that skill to good effect when he addresses his players.

Spurs fans will have already seen footage of some of the inspirational team talks that he has given over the course of his managerial career (Optus Sport).

The Standard reported last week that the Tottenham head coach’s team meetings do not just revolve around tactics but can also span topics such as morality, the need for hard work and the importance of family.

Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Kulusevski is having a lot of fun in Spurs training

The outlet also stated that the ‘full cultural reset’ that Postecoglou has overseen at the North London club since his arrival is underpinned by empathy and emotional intelligence.

When asked about the Aussie coach’s impact, Kulusevski has now told Fabrizio Romano: “Postecoglou, excellent manager. He speaks about life stories, not just football.

“It was clear already in pre-season, training sessions under Ange are funny and we work a lot with the ball, we press a lot. But also, we learn from him. We’re really enjoying”.

Spurs Web Opinion

It was well documented that training sessions under Conte were repetitive and involved a lot of off-the-ball work. That is perhaps why the Italian’s methods have an expiration date as the players tend to get bored of it sooner or later.

By the sounds of it, Postecoglou and his coaching staff have made a concerted effort to ensure that the training sessions are quite varied so that the players actually look forward to coming to Hotspur Way on a regular basis.

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Most Spurs fans had accepted before the start of the campaign that this would be a transitional season, given that Ange Postecoglou had taken over from Antonio Conte and there was a lot of player turnover in the summer.

With the Australian’s philosophy being the polar opposite of the counter-attacking approach that Tottenham were used to over the last few years, many expected the players to take their time to adjust to the new approach.

However, the Lilywhites have started the season like a house on fire, sitting at the top of the Premier League table after ten matches.

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Spurs form has even taken Kulusevski by surprise

When asked about Tottenham’s start, Kulusevski told Sky Sport Italia (as relayed by Corriere Dello Sport): “I didn’t expect us to do so well because last year we finished badly and this year we’ve changed a lot of things.

“We’re doing very well, we’re first in the standings, we haven’t lost yet. We are very happy.”

Several Tottenham players, including James Maddison, have spoken recently about Postecoglou’s brilliant team talks and how the players are not able to take their eyes off the Australian when he is in full flow (Men in Blazers).

Kulusevski has now become the latest to rave about the 58-year-old’s team meetings and his training sessions.

The Swede added: “Postecoglou is a great coach, you can already tell from the way he talks to the group. He also tells life stories, he doesn’t just talk about football. 

“Training sessions with him are fun, we work a lot with the ball. Tactically he proposes a different but beautiful, offensive football, we all move forward, pressing high. We young people have a lot of fun playing with him. Every day when he speaks we learn something.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It is not surprising that the players are loving life now that Postecoglou’s methods are working on the pitch. The real test will come when the team has a bad run of form, which is bound to happen at some point in the season.

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Opposition fans have been waiting impatiently for Spurs to falter over the last few weeks but the Tottenham train continues to run.

Ange Posetecoglou’s men produced a professional performance to overcome Fulham 2-0 on Monday and can now focus on a tricky game at Selhurst Park on Friday.

A win against the Eagles will see them build up a considerable lead at the top ahead of Man City’s trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Pundits have showered praise on Spurs for their start to the season but have continued to maintain that they have no chance of winning the Premier League title, given their lack of squad depth (talkSPORT).

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Dejan Kulusevski wants Spurs to keep fighting

Kulusevski has called on the Tottenham players to take things one game at a time and continue fighting for each other.

When asked if the Lilywhites have an opportunity to be successful this season, the Swede told Radiosporten (as relayed by Fotbollskanalen): “Absolutely, as long as we work hard for each other and are humble, fight and respect each other, we’ll see how it goes. We are there right now and the idea is that we should continue like this.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I do not think the Tottenham players are thinking of any particular objective at the moment, be it top four or a potential title tilt. They appear to be focused on winning every game that they play, which is the right approach.

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A 2-0 win at home against a London rival would normally be cause for celebration, but Ange Postecoglou has demanded better from his team in the wake of the victory over Fulham and claimed his players took ‘liberties’ in the second half of the game (BBC Sport).

A fine goal from Heung-min Son in the first half gave Spurs the lead going into half-time, and James Maddison scored his first home goal for the club in the second half to double Tottenham’s advantage and kill the game.

While the Lilywhites didn’t really look like losing the game at any stage, they didn’t quite set the world alight as they have done in previous weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Swedish midfielder #21 Dejan Kulusevski controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on August 19, 2023. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Dejan Kulusevski knows the team can do better

Speaking to Standard Sport after the win, Dejan Kulusevski insisted the team should do better and pinpointed a couple of areas they have to improve on.

He said: “We felt it of course, when we were playing. Normally in the ­second half, we play our best so it was a little bit strange but we have just got to come back stronger and keep the ball better.

“In attack, we lost too many easy balls, it can happen. We are humans so we have to come away from that and think of Friday.

“Number one, we have to keep playing [our] football. That is why we are winning. We have to get back to playing the way we can and be ready for Friday.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I don’t think Spurs were necessarily bad in that second half, but it could have been better. To me, it felt like a bit of game management, ensuring the win was secure, but it’s important that the team continues to keep up their intensity at all times.

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We are now nine games into the Premier League season, and Tottenham remain unbeaten under new manager Ange Postecoglou. The 2-0 win over Fulham last night saw the Lilywhites extend their record to seven wins and two draws.

It is early days, of course, but with Spurs firing on all cylinders, the North London club are now being mentioned as potential challengers for the title this season.

Indeed, the whole squad appears to have adapted to Postecoglou’s methods very quickly, and the instant success is exhilarating to watch.

Players such as Heung-min Son and James Maddison are stealing the show right now, but a rejuvenated Dejan Kulusevski has been an important figure in the early stages of the season.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Kulusevski thinks Spurs have title race advantage

Speaking to Standard Sport, Kulusevski was asked whether Spurs can benefit from not being involved in European competitions while their rivals travel for midweek fixtures.

He said: “It helps a lot, honestly. Physically, I remember last season was very hard playing three games a week. You feel very tired in the warm-ups. Also, mentally, not having to travel to Spain or Italy to play games helps. You are at home, with your family, you have a good rest mentally.

“So it is a huge thing that we have and we have to take advantage of that this year.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The disappointment of missing out on the Champions League last season was a tough one to take, but we always knew there would be some kind of silver lining, especially given how much of a transitional year this would be. Failing so miserably last season could end up being an absolute blessing in disguise.

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A fairly simple, yet unexceptional 2-0 win over Fulham on Monday night helped Tottenham return to the summit of the Premier League. The Lilywhites are now two points clear of both Arsenal and Manchester City.

Ange Postecoglou‘s side have made an incredible start to the season and remain unbeaten after the first nine league games, with seven wins and two draws.

Up next for the North London club is a trip across the city to take on Crystal Palace. Spurs will be hoping Heung-min Son and James Maddison can maintain their excellent form and fire them to a win that will take them five points clear of their nearest rivals.

(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Kulusevski says having fun is most important thing

Speaking to Standard Sport after the win over Fulham, Dejan Kulusevski looked ahead to the game against Palace, and also reiterated how important it is that the Spurs squad continue to enjoy their football.

On the prospect of going five points clear, Kulusevski said: “It is early [for title talk], we will see what happens. Everything can change so we don’t need to talk about that but we must live for the day with a smile, train hard and not forget who we are. We must try to get better every day.

“It is not important what people say. The important thing is to work hard, be humble, listen to the coach and keep the smiles on faces. Then at the end of the season, we will see where we are.”

On the topic of smiles, Kulusevski added: “You have got to have fun. It is more important than everything, of course! You have got to have fun when you work and when you are playing. That is number one.

“Of course, we are very disappointed with the second half but it was still very good to come away with three points.

“[When I played for] Atalanta Under-19s we had the same kind of feeling. We had very, very much fun. Every day was fantastic. We just played football every day. I now have that little feeling now.”

Spurs Web Opinion

You can tell the Spurs players are having fun and really enjoying their football, and it is clearly bringing positive results. That is all down to Postecoglou and the way he has changed the atmosphere at the club, and long may it continue.

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Spurs fans will certainly not have great memories of Hazard, who always seemed to turn up in the London derbies and often gave nightmares to Tottenham defenders.

The pacy winger was unplayable at his best, regularly making something out of nothing with his ability to go past players with ease and apply the finishing touches in the final third.

The latter part of Hazard’s career flattered to deceive as he struggled to deliver following his switch to Real Madrid in 2019, and to people’s surprise, he announced his retirement from international football last week at the age of 32.

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Dejan Kulusevski was a big Eden Hazard fan

Kulusevski has now opened up on the admiration that he had for the former Blues star, remarking that watching him play gave him plenty of joy.

The Swede told talkSPORT: “My idol in the football world is Eden Hazard. He was an unbelievable player and by far, my favourite player. I think football is love. Football is about love and he gave me such happiness watching him play, but not just me.

“He was an unbelievable player and I remember going to school and being happy because he had a game after school, so he changed the days. The days went faster and then when he played I just enjoyed.”

Kulusevski admitted that his one regret was that he never actually got a chance to play against the former Los Blancos star.

The Spurs star added: “I actually met him one time and it was a good moment, but I’m so sad that I never played against him or with him because now I played Belgium on Monday and he’s retired, but the thing that people remember is what a great player he was.

“I want to say thank you to him and wish him all the best for his career.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Putting all rivalry aside, I have to agree with Kulusevski that no player was more exhilarating to watch than Hazard at his best.

Had the 32-year-old had the same drive as the likes of Ronaldo or Kane, he could potentially have been in the conversation for the best of all time by the time he hung up his boots.

However, he perhaps was not as committed to getting the most out of his career as some others, and seemed to play for the love of the game, which he evidently lost over the last few years.

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Luiz Diaz’s goal in the first half of the clash was incorrectly ruled out for offside, with VAR failing to intervene to overturn the call.

The PMGOL subsequently released the audio from the incident, with the tapes clearly demonstrating that there was a miscommunication between the referee and VAR, with the latter thinking that the goal had been given on the field (Sky Sports).

A few days after the incident, Jurgen Klopp controversially stated that a fair resolution would be to have the game replayed (Guardian).

Klopp’s statement was met with widespread criticism for his comments (Mirror), and it has since been reported that the Premier League have made it clear that there is no prospect of replaying the fixture (Football Insider). 

(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

The Liverpool drama should be put in the past

Kulusevski has said that while he understands Liverpool’s frustration, refereeing mistakes are part of the game.

When he was asked about Klopp’s comments, the Tottenham man told Fotbollskanalen: “I don’t think anything will happen. Mistakes happen in every game.

“It was just a mistake and they were very angry that they got zero points even though they played a good game, and I understand them. That (that a match is replayed due to a ruling) has probably never happened and I don’t think it will happen.

“There are so many mistakes every match, it’s absolutely insane. Sure, it was a big mistake in a top game and they were obviously very disappointed because it affected the game. But I can find mistakes in every match. So it’s part of the game and you move on.

“We were really good. We played really well when it was eleven against eleven. Then they got a lot better when they got a man sent off and we got a little worse.

“Then they got another man sent off. Both red cards were fair, 100 per cent. Then we had a hard time scoring a goal and in the last second, they scored an own goal. It was incredibly heavy for Liverpool and really important for us.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I think it is time for everyone to put this incident to bed and move on. The important thing is that VAR has learned from the error and the communication protocol has been changed in order to avoid this happening again in the future.

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After struggling to impose himself on matches for much of last season, Kulusevski now looks much more like the player we saw when he first arrived at Tottenham from Juventus.

The Swede has found the back of the net twice so far this season and has worked tirelessly for the side.

The winger covered a whopping 13km in the Lilywhites’ 2-0 win over Bournemouth back in August, which is the most by any player in the Premier League this season in any game.

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Dejan Kulusevski is putting in a shift for Tottenham

Kulusevski once again worked his socks off against Luton Town two weeks ago after Tottenham went down to ten men, with Ange Postecoglou singling the winger out for praise after the game, remarking that his ‘selfless’ displays do not go unnoticed by his teammates (Spurs Play).

FBref have now revealed that Kulusevski is also at the top of the pile for the number of progressive carries in the first eight matches of the season.

A progressive carry is defined as a piece of play that carries the ball towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 yards.

According to the stats platform, Kulusevski has completed 51 progressive carries so far, with the Tottenham man being followed by Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma (47) and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling (45) in second and third place respectively.

Spurs Web Opinion

Kulusevski’s ability to get us up the pitch is perhaps not as useful for the side as it was last season when we were a counter-attacking side under Antonio Conte. 

However, there is no doubt that the Swede is an important piece of the jigsaw under Ange Postecoglou, with his ability to counter-press incessantly helping us win back possession time and again.

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The relatively little-known Aussie is drawing plaudits from pundits and fans alike for the way he sets out his teams, his refreshing personality and his clear will to win.

His wider recognition has led to two Premier League Manager of the Month awards for his first two months in the job, the first time a manager in the league has ever achieved this.

The signings Postecoglou has made so far during his tenure in the Tottenham dugout, on paper to the average Spurs fan, looked promising but no one could have predicted the immediate impact that some of them have made.

Part of his philosophy is to develop young players, both signing them himself and from the youth system, and that is evident upon viewing a list of his additions.

Including future acquisitions and players agreeing to join at a later date, a total of ten new signings were brought in during Postecoglou’s first transfer window, and those signings will all be graded out of 10…

Rating Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham signings

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Pedro Porro – Loan deal made permanent from Sporting, reported £39m

Having had a shaky start to life in N17, with his full debut coming in that 4-1 defeat to Leicester City in February, Pedro Porro has firmly established himself as one of the league’s best right-backs.

This was evident during his commanding display against Liverpool, where not only did his late driven cross find the back of the net off the foot of the unfortunate Joel Matip, but his defensive awareness and strong tackling ensured a quiet day at the office for Mo Salah, and firmly put to bed any doubts about his defensive abilities.

He looks to have come into his own under Postecoglou, freed from the shackles of Antonio Conte’s back five for his opening two months at Tottenham, and, at 24 years of age, is likely to only improve from here. 7.5/10

Dejan Kulusevski, loan move from Juventus made permanent, reported £25m

It seems that Dejan Kulusevski has been at Tottenham for ages, even though he is technically a new signing, the former Juventus man joining in January 2022 on an initial 18-month loan, with Postecoglou triggering the option to buy the Swedish international over the summer.

Another player who looks to have come under life under a new manager, Kulusevski is quickly putting a disappointing 2022/23 behind him, and our own “ginger from Sweden” is proving undroppable and unstoppable once again on the wing.

The scorer of the winning goal against Sheffield United already this term, completing the latest comeback in Premier League history, ‘Deki’’s work rate and endless determination has won the Spurs fans over again, after a fairly turbulent previous season on a personal level. 7.5/10

Guglielmo Vicario, from Empoli, reported £16m

The first ‘proper’ new signing for the season, it has been a fine start to life in N17 for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Despite some quite unstable performances in pre-season, his shot-stopping prowess is already proving a hit with the Spurs faithful and justifying every penny that Spurs paid for him.

It is a testament to the impact of Vicario that his former side, Empoli, comfortably mid-table in the Italian Serie A last season, are struggling in the relegation zone this year without their shot-stopper.

Overall, it’s fair to say that Vicario is becoming more and more comfortable with life in England with every passing week, proving he is not just a ‘cheaper David Raya’. 8/10

James Maddison, from Leicester City, reported £40m

The first true ‘statement’ signing of the Postecoglou era, and James Maddison has exceeded expectations.

A star man of the Leicester team for so long, Spurs beat numerous other clubs, including Newcastle, to his signature when the Foxes were relegated at the end of last season, and his impact on and off the pitch has been sensational, having been appointed vice-captain before a ball was even kicked this season.

Currently, the top provider of assists in the Premier League with five, and with two goals to his name, Maddison’s Spurs career has got off to a flying start, earning him a recall to the England squad, and a well-deserved Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

If he can stay fit all season, who knows how far he can help take this young, hungry Spurs team? 9.5/10

Manor Solomon, free transfer

Eyebrows were raised when Manor Solomon was brought in on a free transfer, upon the expiration of his contract at Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk.

However, the former Fulham man has proven himself to be a capable winger when called upon, as was evident with his two assists on his first start for Spurs in the 5-2 win at Burnley.

Unfortunately out for a few months due to an injury suffered in training, and subsequent operation, Solomon will look to hit the ground running when he returns, and prove himself to be the exciting winger that Ange Postecoglou is looking for. 6/10

Ashley Phillips, from Blackburn Rovers, £2m

It almost seems unfair that a grade has to be given for an 18-year-old centre back, signed from the Championship, with no first-team appearances yet for Spurs.

However, Ashley Phillips has proven a commanding presence at centre-back for the youth team, and has nine caps for England’s Under 19 team.

A composed centre-back, comfortable with the ball at his feet, and with first-team experience having made eight appearances in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers, Phillips is undoubtedly one to watch for the future. 5/10

Micky van de Ven, from Wolfsburg, reported £30m

The transfer saga that seemed to last a lifetime finally ended with Spurs getting their man, and what a signing Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven has turned out to be.

A string of sensational performances at the back alongside Cristian Romero, culminating in his first goal in Lilywhite away to Luton Town, it is clear that van de Ven is the authoritative centre-back that Tottenham so desperately desired to form a rock-solid partnership with Romero.

Being just 22 years old, van de Ven will surely have a long and successful career in North London and with the Dutch national team, who, amazingly, he is still without a cap for – only a matter of time surely. 9/10

Alejo Veliz, from Rosario Central, reported £13m

Again, it does not seem fair that a grade has to be provided for Alejo Veliz, with the young Argentine striker having played just ten minutes of Premier League football so far this season.

Moreover, he was on the pitch as the winning goal was scored against Liverpool, so it could be said that he already has a winning mentality…

An exciting signing from his native Argentina, the 20-year-old has bags of potential and, as he progresses, will surely be looking to knock on the door of the starting XI before long. 6.5/10

Brennan Johnson, from Nottingham Forest, reported £45m

Another young player with raw potential, Brennan Johnson was signed on Deadline Day from Nottingham Forest to provide competition in forward areas – however picked up a knock during the North London Derby and has not played since.

An unquestionably lively player, epitomised by the fact he scored immediately after coming on as a substitute against Sheffield United, though it was disallowed for offside, Johnson has a hunger and desire when he plays and, in the long run, will be an ideal option for Postecoglou. 7/10

Luka Vuskovic, from Hajduk Split, reported £9.5m

The only player to not pull on the Tottenham shirt for a match yet, unable to join the club until 2025, Luka Vuskovic is a highly-rated Croatian central defender, and Spurs, who are no strangers to welcoming Croatian talent, beat competition from other elite European clubs to sign him.

Provided that Ange Postecoglou stays to welcome him to the club, and therefore aids his development so that he becomes a starting centre-back, we look to have a real player on our hands. One to watch for sure. 6/10

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Tottenham go into the international break at the top of the Premier League table after an incredible start to the season under Ange Postecoglou.

The Spurs boss has bid farewell to a large portion of his squad for the next couple of weeks, as various players head out to join up with their national squads.

There are Euro 2024 qualifiers, friendly matches, youth squad action, and even some World Cup 2026 qualifiers on the way in the coming days.

On Wednesday, Ben Davies captained Wales to a 4-0 win over Gibraltar at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. The Spurs defender even opened the scoring on the night, nodding home from three yards out.

Meanwhile, Tottenham youngsters Luca Gunter and Ashley Phillips played the full 90 minutes as England U19s drew 0-0 with Montenegro. Alfie Dorrington was an unused substitute for the game, while Jamie Donley didn’t make the matchday squad.

Fellow youngster, Will Andiyapan, was in action for Wales U19s, playing the full 90 minutes in another 0-0 draw, against Austria.

SOLNA, SWEDEN – MARCH 24: Dejan Kulusevski of Sweden during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group A match between Sweden and Belgium at Friends Arena on March 24, 2023 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

When do Spurs players have international games?

Here are the upcoming international games for the Tottenham Hotspur players.

Heung-min Son: South Korea vs Tunisia (friendly) October 13 at 12pm, South Korea vs Vietnam (friendly) October 17 at 12pm

James Maddison: England vs Australia (friendly) October 13 at 7:45pm, England vs Italy (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Dejan Kulusevski: Sweden vs Moldova (friendly) October 12 at 6pm, Belgium vs Sweden (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 16 at 7:45pm

Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero: Argentina vs Paraguay (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 13 at 12am, Peru vs Argentina (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 18 at 3am

Micky van de Ven: Netherlands vs France (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 13 at 7:45pm, Greece vs Netherlands (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 16 at 7:45pm

Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario: Italy vs Malta (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 14 at 7:45pm, England vs Italy (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Yves Bissouma: Mali vs Saudi Arabia (friendly) October 17 at 4pm

Pape Matar Sarr: Senegal vs Cameroon (friendly) October 16 at 7:30pm

Richarlison: Brazil vs Venezuela (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 13 at 1:30am, Uruguay vs Brazil (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 18 at 1am

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: Denmark vs Kazakhstan (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 14 at 7:45pm, San Marino vs Denmark (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Ben Davies and Joe Rodon: Wales vs Croatia (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 15 at 7:45pm

Dane Scarlett: England U21s vs Serbia U21s (Euro qualifier) October 12 at 7:45pm, Slovakia U21s vs England U21s (Euro qualifier) October 16 at 5:30pm

Alfie Devine: Romania U20s vs England U20s (Euro Lite) October 12 at 5pm, England U20s vs Portugal U20s (Euro Lite) October 17 at 7pm

Alfie Dorrington, Ashley Phillips, Jamie Donley, and Luca Gunter: England U19s vs Wales U19s (Euro qualifier) October 14 at 2pm, England U19s vs Austria U19s (Euro qualifier) October 17 at 5pm

Will Andiyapan: Wales U19s vs England U19s (Euro qualifier) October 14 at 2pm, Montenegro U19s vs Wales U19s (Euro qualifier) October 17 at 5pm

Josh Keeley: Latvia U21s vs Republic of Ireland U21s (Euro qualifier) October 13 at 1pm

Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi: England U17s vs Norway U17s (friendly) October 13 at 12pm

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While Kulusevski has not quite hit the heights this season that he did when he first arrived at Spurs, the winger certainly looks a lot sharper than he did for much of last campaign.

The winger has already found the back of the net twice so far this season and was unlucky not to add a third to his tally in the first half against Luton as his curled effort into the bottom corner was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper.

The 23-year-old has been posting some amazing numbers in terms of distances covered, covering a whopping 13km in the Lilywhites’ 2-0 win over Bournemouth back in August, which is the most by any player in the Premier League this season in any game.

After Spurs went down to ten men at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, the Swede once again worked his socks off, leading the line on his own for much of the second half.

(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Postecoglou is impressed by Kulusevski at Spurs

When asked about Kulusevski’s effort, Postecoglou told Spurs Play after his side’s 1-0 win: “That’s the thing with Deki, he’s going to give you everything and more. And he does that every week.

“That doesn’t go unnoticed by the group and what we do. I think sometimes externally, because he’s a winger, people look at other aspects of his game. But just the sheer work-rate that he puts in for the team, and the selfless running that he does.

“He had to do the running of two men today. And I’d be surprised if he hasn’t cracked some records in terms of his running. We needed that and he gave that.”

Spurs Web Opinion

We know that Kulusevski works extremely hard off the ball and the fact that he keeps coming at you makes him a nightmare to play against. The Swede is evidently excellent at hold-up play, which is why I wonder if Postecoglou would be tempted to start him as a centre-forward over the coming weeks.

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Both Spurs and Arsenal went into the game on Sunday with 13 points apiece, and one could argue that Ange Postecoglou’s men had looked the better side in the first five league games of the season.

Despite this, many pundits suggested that the Gunners would give their fierce rivals a reality check and run away comfortable winners (talkSPORT).

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

That is perhaps understandable, given that Arsenal were the closest challengers to Manchester City for the title last season and strengthened their squad significantly in the summer.

However, it was actually Tottenham who served a reality check to the home side on Sunday, showing that they were not afraid to take the game to their rivals.

Spurs passed their first big test of the season with flying colours, which will perhaps give their supporters optimism about what they can achieve this season, but Arteta seemed to be up to the dark arts a little.

Mikel Arteta appears to try and put Kulusevski off

Towards the end of the game, when Kulusevski was trying to break away down the right wing, Arteta stepped out of his technical area and appeared to jockey the Spurs forward.

Whether or not this pressured Kulusevski to kick the ball into no-man’s land, we do not know. But it certainly looked strange and is definitely against the rules from Arteta.

Spurs Web Opinion

It is absolutely too early to make judgements on how far Spurs or any other side can go this season. I do not think it makes sense to look at the league table until at least ten matches in.

However, there is plenty to be optimistic about, not just with the performances that Tottenham have delivered by also the character that they have shown so far.

Arteta needs to calm down on the touchline. This is not the first time he has stepped out of his technical area and gotten in the way. We all remember that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg clip.

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After an excellent start to his Tottenham career when he arrived at the club in January of 2021, Kulusevski struggled to live up to the high standards he had set for himself last campaign.

The Swede has certainly shown signs of returning to his old self so far this season, having looked quite menacing in the final third.

The 23-year-old has covered more ground than any other player across the Premier League so far this season and he has already popped up with a couple of crucial goals, including the 100th-minute winner against Sheffield United last Saturday.

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Is it now Kulusevski vs Brennan Johnson at Spurs?

However, Brown believes that unless the former Juventus man keeps delivering consistently, he could find himself warming the bench, given the forward options that Ange Postecoglou has at his disposal.

The journalist told GiveMeSport about Kulusevski: “He made a real impact when he first came on loan and he probably hasn’t quite found the same sort of form.

“The system and the way that Spurs play now should suit him, really. He’s going to get space to run into and, I think if he can rediscover his form is going to be a really important player for Spurs.

“But they do have quite a lot of competition now for places, so he’s going to be under pressure to perform to get in and stay in that team.

“Whether that brings the best out of him or not, we have to wait and see. But he’s certainly got the potential to be a big player for them this season.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I do not think Ange would consider resting Kulusevski at the moment, particularly given what the Swede is giving the side off the ball. I expect the Australian to continue using Brennan Johnson as an impact substitute for the next couple of games.

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The scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Kulusevski’s shot hit the back of the net were unlike anything we have seen at the venue since its opening in 2019.

The south stand was rocking behind the goal and the stadium was as loud it has it had ever been, with the 62,000 fans in absolute ecstacy.

(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Most of Tottenham’s substitutes ran onto the pitch to celebrate wildly while Guglielmo Vicario sprinted the length of the pitch in a matter of just seconds.

It was certainly a memorable start to Johnson’s Spurs career, with the winger having come on for his debut in the 80th minute.

Brennan Johnson definitely enjoyed his Spurs debut

The 22-year-old must have felt that it was not his day when he had a goal ruled out for offside in the 87th minute, and he admitted that it was special to be involved in such a dramatic finish in his first outing for the club.

Johnson told Spurs Play about the moment Kulusevsk’s shot hit the net: “It was crazy. I didn’t know who to run up to, to be honest. I saw Deki run off, Richy run off, I was caught in the moment, but those are the moments you dream of.

“To be involved in something like that in my first game only means there are good things to come.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The pictures immediately after Kulusevski’s strike tell the whole story, with none of the players knowing what to do, with the scenes being not too dissimilar to the late comeback against Leicester a couple of seasons ago and the infamous moment against Ajax in the Champions League semifinal.

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Dejan Kulusevski appears to be back to his best after a difficult season last year, where injuries halted his progress for Tottenham. The Swede managed just two goals in the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign (Transfermarkt).

In just five games this season, Kulusevski has already matched that tally and looks to have found real momentum under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs were trailing after 73 minutes against Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon and their unbeaten start to the Premier League season appeared to be under threat despite dominating for large portions of the game.

With plenty of stoppage time to play, Tottenham managed to draw level thanks to a goal from Richarlison in the 98th minute. The Brazilian then turned provider, playing in his teammate, Kulusevski to score the winner in the 10th minute of injury time.

(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Kulusevski stayed calm to score winner against Blades

In an interview with the club after the game, Kulusevski explained how he felt going into those final moments of the game.

He said: “I was quite calm. It’s just a game of football, and when Richy scored, then we knew we would not lose. So, I had the ball, I did my thing, and I knew that I just had to make one good thing to score and that’s what happened.

“When you see the ball go in,for that first second, it’s like a bomb. All the hard work is worth it for that second… We are very happy, [the fans] helped us through the game, they didn’t get frustrated, and in the end they helped us win.”

“All the hard work is worth it for that second.”

Hear what Deki had to say after getting the winner pic.twitter.com/rKkU5mU58i

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 16, 2023

Kulusevski also took a moment to mention Richarlison’s impact, adding: “He is a top player, I love playing with him. Unbelievable player. We just have to feed him the ball because he is always going to score like that. We have to help him on and off the pitch. He is a great guy and he helps our team so much.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Having Dejan Kulusevski back in this kind of form is huge for us and now that he is growing in confidence we should hopefully be able to see him get even better. That forward line we have, with Kulusevski, Son, Richarlison all in form, and Maddison feeding them, is incredibly dangerous.

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Spurs fans were hoping at the start of the season that Kulusevski would return to his 2021-22 form rather than the lacklustre version we saw of the winger last season.

That has not quite materialised yet, with the 23-year-old not quite showcasing his best in the first four games of the season but he has still delivered some decent displays, both on and off the ball.

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

While Ange Postecoglou would perhaps want the Swede to be more clinical in the final third, the Tottenham head coach will be over the moon with the shift that the player is putting in.

Kulusevski has the best engine in the Premier League

It has now been revealed that Kulusevski has covered a whopping 47.07 km in Spurs’ first four Premier League matches of the season, which is more than any other player in the competition.

Additionally, the wide-man has also covered the most distance in one single match, covering 13km in the Lilywhites’ 2-0 win over Bournemouth last month.

In fact, that record by Kulusevski against the Cherries is almost half a kilometre more distance than the second on the list – Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva against Burnley.

Spurs Web Opinion

Kulusevski is an absolute workhorse and always gives the full-back he comes up against a very hard game. However, I do fear that he has been found out a little by opposition defences.

While he was having plenty of success in his first six months in the Premier League since defenders did not know what to expect, they now appear to be giving themselves a yard, forcing himself to cut inside. The Swede’s effectiveness in one vs one situations has thus dramatically declined.

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Several Spurs stars have delivered standout displays over the international break, including Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Ivan Perisic, who shone for Denmark and Croatia respectively, with both sides registering two wins from two matches.

SOLNA, SWEDEN – MARCH 24: Dejan Kulusevski of Sweden during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group A match between Sweden and Belgium at Friends Arena on March 24, 2023 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Kulusevski was a shining light for Sweden yet again

Even though things did not all go according to plan for Sweden, who fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Austria, Kulusevski also caught the eye with his individual displays as he has done nearly every single time he has turned out for his national side over the last couple of years.

After finding the back of the net in the win over Estonia last week, the Tottenham man was once again Sweden’s best performer in the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Tuesday, according to WhoScored.

The outlet gave the 23-year-old a rating of 7.4, revealing that he had five key passes on the night while completing three out of four dribbles attempted. 

Kulusevski provided an assist late on in the game as he set up Emil Holm for what turned out to be a late consolation.

Spurs Web Opinion 

Even though the result might not have gone the way he would have wanted, Kulusevski will take confidence from his display and will want to bring the same form to Spurs, who have some crucial matches coming up.

The Swede will have to impress in training in order to retain his place in the starting eleven, with new signing Brennan Johnson now likely to be snapping at his heels.

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After an outstanding first six months at Tottenham following his switch from Juventus in January of 2021, Kulusevski struggled to replicate the same standard of performance last season.

The Swede has started the new campaign in decent form, having looked quite menacing in the final third but he still has not hit the heights that he previously showed he can.

The 23-year-old netted his first Premier League goal of the season in Tottenham’s 5-2 win at Burnley and now has added competition for his place after the North London club paid £47.5m to land Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest ahead of the summer transfer window closing.

(Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Could Dejan Kulusevski play a midfield role at Tottenham?

While Johnson can operate as a number nine or in the attacking midfield role, he is most comfortable out wide and offers the pace and directness that Kulusevski does not.

Gold has now suggested that the former Juventus man could be used in the middle of the park by Postecoglou.

When asked about Kulusevski operating centrally, the journalist told Football.London Q&A: “I think it’s a possibility certainly. He told me last year that his favourite position is the number 10 role so this would just be a slight adjustment to that.

“I think it’s a role that would suit him quite well as long as he could handle the defensive aspect of the box-to-box type. But having played as a wing-back in the past he might be able to.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I do not think there is any chance that Ange will consider Kulusevski for the Pape Matar Sarr role unless there is an injury crisis. If the Swede is to be used centrally, he would either have to play as the number nine or as the most advanced of the three midfielders where James Maddison operates.

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While some eyebrows were raised at the fact that Spurs paid £47.5m to sign Johnson from Nottingham Forest on deadline day, the news coming out of the North London club is that they are over the moon with the deal.

In fact, The Telegraph claimed last week that the 22-year-old was Ange Postecoglou’s top attacking target and that Tottenham believe they have secured one of the best young talents across the Premier League.

(Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

With Spurs not signing an out-and-out centre-forward to replace Harry Kane this summer, some pundits such as Michael Dawson have opined that Johnson could be used in the number nine role by Postecolgou (Sky Sports News 12:14 pm, September 2, 2023).

Gold has now said that he initially expects the pacy winger to compete with Kulusevski for the right-wing birth.

Brennan Johnson will push for all three positions

When asked where he expects Johnson to play, the journalist said on a Q&A on Football.London: “The great thing about Brennan Johnson – a trait many of the Spurs attackers share – is that he can play anywhere across that front line.

“His pace is going to make him a threat in any of the three roles. I think he’s going to put a lot of pressure on everyone up there. 

“He mostly plays on the right, which means Kulusevski is going to be pushed perhaps more than most, but Son’s ability to play anywhere means that if Richarlison continues to struggle then the South Korean or Johnson will get the central role. 

“There are so many options now, with Manor Solomon impressing last weekend and Perisic and Gil also looking to compete. So I’d say right and centrally are the two main areas we’ll see Johnson but don’t discount the odd appearance on the left.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The issue with Kulusevski (and also with Son when he plays on the left) is that he is not as aggressive in taking on his man in one-on-one situations and exploiting the space in behind, even though he is naturally a very good dribbler. Johnson is much more direct than the Swede and would not be afraid to take on his man on the outside at every opportunity.

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