Glenn Hoddle has claimed that Dejan Kulusevski has ‘got that quality’ after Tottenham Hotspur beat Southampton 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
The 22-year-old scored and assisted for Antonio Conte’s side on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, with Hoddle sharing that he is now one of the first names on the teamsheet at Tottenham, which is something he didn’t get at Juventus.
Kulusevski is actually still on loan from the Serie A side, but Spurs do have the option to buy the left-footed superstar when that loan deal ends.
It needs to be remembered that Kulusevski wasn’t a player working wonders in Turin, but someone who was struggling to live up to expectations in the colours of black and white.
Well, that’s all changed in north London because last season, following his move in January, the Sweden international, alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, played a huge part in Tottenham securing Champions League football.
And now he has picked up from where he left off and club legend Hoddle is liking what he is seeing from the player, as he told MatchDay Extra on Premier League Productions (06/08/22 at 8:20 pm).
“It’s a fantastic ball in,” said Hoddle. “It really is, but you need runners off the ball. You put quality like that in and Sessegnon is in there and it’s an easy header.
“He is a quality player. He has got quality about him. What he needed, at Juventus he was in and out, it didn’t feel like he was first on the sheet.
“When he come to Tottenham in January, he played really well and you knew he was going to be first on the sheet. Now, he’s looking back and Richarlison has come. Moura is still there. He is still a good player.
“So, they have got five for three spots up there, which is great for the manager and it has put everyone on their toes. I think Kulusevski has looked around and thought ‘hey, I have got to go again here if I am going to remain consistent in this team’.”
ONE OF THE SIGNINGS OF 2022
Many months still remain before 2022 sees itself out, but Kulusevski is one of the signings of the year given what he has produced, is producing and will continue to show.
Last season, from his 20 Serie A games, he scored one goal and supplied three assists, well he smashed that to bits when he donned Tottenham colours in the winter.
Kulusevski netted five Premier League goals and supplied eight assists from his 18 league games last season and now he has already got off the mark.
It’s a credit to the player for proving those doubters wrong because if this stint had gone wrong, then it would have set him back even further.
Antonio Conte deserves huge credit also because he has a knack of eeking out every bit of quality from the players he works with, as he has proven with Kulusevski.
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