Kulusevski discusses "amazing" Postecoglou but makes 'mental' Spurs admission

15 December 2023 , 23:01

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Dejan Kulusevski starred as Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest (Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Dejan Kulusevski was the star of the show as Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Friday, with the attacker having a hand in both goals.

Kulusevski produced a brilliant cross to set up Richarlison for Tottenham's opener on the stroke of half-time, before capitalising on a blunder from Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner to double Spurs' lead.

The 23-year-old has now assisted 17 goals in the Premier League since his first start in February 2022, the fifth-most behind Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka and fellow Tottenham star James Maddison.

Reflecting on his recent form, Kulusevski said: "It cannot be better. Everything is fantastic, not only today but in these last few weeks. First half we had a lot of the ball we just had to stay patient.

"Second half they were strong, it is not easy to play at this ground with the fans' energy. We had the red card and then we had to show our character. I cannot do anymore. I just try to give my team-mates the chance to score.

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"Richi [Richarlison] is a top striker, we give him those balls and he will score them. I like my right foot, it is too underrated by me. I have to keep shooting with my right foot."

Kulusevski was also full of praise for manager Ange Postecoglou, but admitted Spurs "still lack something mentally". He added to Sky Sports : "It's amazing. Training is so fun and I really like Ange Postecoglou as a guy.

Ange Postecoglou was delighted with the win (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

"If I would choose my football, this is the football. Attack, combine a lot and very fun training sessions. We don't play to lose but we play to win. We're very positive and we want to get better every day. We still lack something mentally but I think football-wise, we're there at the top."

Postecoglou, meanwhile, was delighted to have picked up back-to-back wins. "It's a tough game and you have to earn what you get," he told Sky.

"They are desperate for points, the crowd get behind them and every time they get a throw-in you feel like you have conceded a goal and they then launch it into the box and give us a lot of things we normally wouldn’t have to deal with. Our football was good as well, but it was a bit of everything."

Matthew Cooper