Dejan Kulusevski offers insight into why opposition teams are finding it hard to stop him in his new position. The Swede has been in glorious form so far for Tottenham this season.
Dejan Kulusevski is now a full-time number-eight
Given the outstanding performances that Kulusevski has delivered since being moved to the number eight role, it is fair to say that the Swede has now found his best position and is unlikely to play on the wing too often again.
The 24-year-old is now a lot more involved in the game, not only proving to be Tottenham’s creative fulcrum in the middle of the park but also constantly pulling sides out of shape with his tireless running.
Kulusevski on why he is hard to stop
Kulusevski certainly appears to be enjoying the freedom that the new role affords him, being involved in all phases of play and getting on the ball in different areas across the pitch.
The Tottenham star pointed out that his freedom to drift across the pitch is what makes it difficult for opposition players to mark him effectively.
when asked about the freedom he gets as a number eight, Kulusevski told Spurs Play: “That is what I’m saying they can’t know how to defend me when even I don’t know where I am going because it is all instincts.
“It’s all freedom and every game is different, I finally have that freedom. My teammates trust me, the coach trusts me because when I play like this, this is my position. It is all instincts and I can hurt the defenders in every kind of way.”
Not good news for James Maddison?
While Maddison and Kulusevski have shown that they can play together, there is now little doubt that the former Juventus man is ahead of the England star in the pecking order for the attacking midfield role.
If Ange Postecoglou decides to revert back to last season’s system, there is no doubt that Kulusevski will get the nod to start ahead of the 27-year-old as the sole number ten.