Paul Merson thinks people ‘found out’ Spurs star but he is now adapting his game in return
Paul Merson has said that Dejan Kulusevski struggled after Premier League defenders started giving him more respect but suggested that the Swede is now managing to find different solutions.
Kulusevski was outstanding during his first six months at Tottenham after joining the club from Juventus in January of 2021.
While many people expected him to kick on in his first full season at the North London club, the Swede endured a disappointing campaign last term, having suffered multiple injury interruptions.
However, the 23-year-old now appears to be back to his best, with the winger emerging as one of the spearheads of Tottenham’s attack under Ange Postecoglou.
Kulusevski was the start of the show for the Lilyhwites last Friday, setting up Richarlison’s goal with a perfect cross before finding the back of himself in the second half.
Gary Neville was in awe of the Tottenham man’s display at the City Ground, opining that he could be a £100m player if he continues thriving in the attacking midfield role (Sky Sports).
Kulusevski is adding strings to his Tottenham bow
His fellow pundit, Merson has now also lavished praise on Kulusevski, revealing that the winger has had to reinvent his game after opposition players worked out how to stop him.
The former Arsenal midfielder told Sky Sports News (16/12/23 at 12:05 pm): “I think he has been absolutely outstanding. He has come onto the scene, dipped and then got injured. But he has come back and now he is a top player.
“The lad is a top player. When they get going Tottenham, they are a very good team. They are trying to sit men behind the ball and defend, Forest. But you can’t defend that (Kulusevski’s assist). What a ball! He started well, then all of a sudden people found out about him and he earned the respect of people.
“That’s what happens, then you have to come up with different solutions when you are highlighted in team talks to stop players and he has started to do that again now.”
Spurs Web Opinion
There is certainly merit in Merson’s assessment as there was an element of novelty with Kulusevski in his first six months in the Premier League, with most defenders being more focused on stopping Kane and Son, which offered the Swede more space.
However, defenders then understood the 23-year-old’s game better and stopped committing when coming up against him one-on-one, which made the Swede look very predictable. He is now definitely varying his game a little more and is more willing to get the ball out of his feet and get crosses and shots away.
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