Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski is having a good time on international duty for Sweden.
The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the key players at Spurs and he has shown leadership qualities while on international duty.
Under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs have made tremendous progress this season, and Kulusevski has played a big role. The attacking midfielder has managed six goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, and he will return to the club with a happy face after Sweden picked up a 1-0 win over Albania on Monday.
The likes of Brennan Johnson, Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Son Heung-Min have scored for their respective countries during the international break. Kulusevski played the entire game against Albania and provided an assist for Gustaf Nilsson.
However, it is his pre-match team talk that has garnered more attention. The attacking midfielder copied some elements of Postecoglou’s pre-match speeches and suggested that his Swedish teammate also liked it.
Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski shows leadership skills
Kulusevski told Fotboll Skanalen that he copied some stuff from Spurs boss, Potecoglou after Jon Dahl Tomasson took him aside and asked him to share a speech.
He said: “He took me aside for a second and asked if I could talk and I said I’ll solve it, then I had to walk around thinking what the hell to say, but it was fun. Maybe I’ll have to take it again next time.
“I get inspiration from everything, the speech was from my coach in Tottenham, he is strong on it so I copied a little because I believe in what he says. I prepared that we have to play as a family because a family protects each other.”
Tomasson, who was standing in his second game as a manager for Sweden, was equally impressed. He has described it as “fantastic”, and added that Kulusevski focussed on team bonding.
He said, as quoted by Fotboll Direkt: “Fantastic. He did very well. He talked about sticking together and us being a family.
“Dejan takes more and more responsibility. I like that. We need more of those players who take responsibility. Victor and Robin do it. But we need more players who do. It helps us in the end.”
We can get an idea of why Spurs give the impression of a happy dressing room. Postecoglou has created a competitive environment but at the same time, he wants everyone to stick together and be like a family.
Spurs are fighting with Aston Villa for a place in the top four this season. However, there is a possibility that the fifth-placed side could play in the Champions League next season.
Tottenham will face Luton Town in the Premier League on Saturday after the international break at home.
