Dejan Kulusveski has revealed what was going through his head when he missed an open goal against Norwich City in Tottenham’s final game of the 2021/22 campaign.
Spurs needed all three points at Carrow Road to seal Champions League qualification on the final day of the season, and eased to a 5-0 win, with Kulusvski netting a brace.
The game was also pivotal to Son Heung-min’s pursuit of the Premier League Golden Boot, with the South Korean being one goal behind Mohamed Salah heading into the match.
Son eventually did win the award owing to two late strikers but for large parts of the encounter, it had looked like it was not going to be his day.
Kulusevski has now revealed how he was caught in two minds on whether to shoot or pass to Son after rounding Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul in the second half.
The Swede admitted that he was embarrassed to fluff his lines right next to Tottenham’s away contingent.
He told Anis Don Demina YouTube Channel: “Two minutes before the goal (his second goal of the game), there was a weird situation. I was free with the goalkeeper. A lot of things went down.
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“A guy tackled me. I’m alone with the goalkeeper. I was thinking ‘Should I lay down? He’s going to get sent off.’ But I was like ‘No, I have to score of course.’
“So their keeper comes out and then hesitates. So I realise that I’m going to get there first. So I run past him. I have an empty goal in front of me. I was like ‘Man, this is awkward’ I don’t really like to have an open goal.
“And the fans are right next to me, you know. They are shouting ‘Gimme, gimme’ right next to me. I’m like ‘Take a deep breath. Take your time, Dejan. You have an open goal’’ I’m staring at it, you know it’s definitely empty! But I take one more touch. Then I think ‘Now maybe it is time to finally shoot’’
“But then I see Son. I see my teammate Son. He is like ‘Pass me the ball!’ He needs one more goal to win the Golden Boot. And we all have said before the game that we need to pass to Son. You know Son has to win the Golden Boot.
“So I’m like ‘Dejan, forget about the goal you have to assist Son’. I pass the ball and when I pass the ball I get stuck in the ground. So it becomes a wrong touch and the ball just rolls slowly towards the goal and they clear the ball at the goal line. And I just stand there after and think ‘Bro…Dejan… What the f**k are you doing?’
“I’m thinking ‘You are the biggest idiot’. And I felt so ashamed. And I got so frustrated and was like give me the ball again. Then two minutes later I get the ball again and then I don’t think at all I just put the ball in the top corner.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Kulusevski is not just a great storyteller but he is seemingly someone who is willing to crack a joke at his expense and not one to take himself too seriously. Apart from his ability as a footballer, I have been impressed with the level head that the Swede has on his shoulders at just 21 years of age.
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