Micah Richards has lauded the qualities of Dejan Kulusevski as he shone during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Friday night.
The 23-year-old provided a stunning assist to allow Richarlison to open the scoring, before killing the game off in the second half when Nottingham Forest were sensing a goal
When Micah Richards was told that Tottenham’s ‘workaholic’ on the right has run the most distance in the Premier League this season, he labelled it ‘madness’, as he told The Rest is Football Podcast.
It’s not just out on the flanks that Dejan Kulusevski is being deployed by Ange Postecoglou, but also as a number ten.
With James Maddison’s absence, Spurs are missing that guile and fine touch in the centre of the pitch.
But from the games that Dejan Kulusebski has been deployed in that role, he has faired very well, with Micah Richards adding that he is a ‘joy to watch’.
Dejan Kulusevski’s workrate for Tottenahm
“Kulusevski is back to his best as well,” said Richards. “On Friday night, he was excellent. He works so hard. Got such a good left foot.
“I like the positions he picks up as well, even if he plays in the middle as the number ten, with Johnson playing on the right. He has just got the freedom to do whatever he wants. He seems as though he is relishing it. Absolutely wonderful player.
On Deji running more than anyone else in the PL this season: “That’s madness. He is a workaholic. He presses and he is quick. You will have players who will do up and down running – but it’s the sprints that he puts in as well. How much he does of the sprinting, not just the long-running.
“The intensity in which he runs at is ridiculous and it works for his team so much. It allows the fullbacks to get involved – he is a joy to watch.”
Dejan Kulusevski an underrated player
It needs to be noted that when Kulusevski first joined Spurs in 2022 on-loan from Juventus, he arrived as a struggling player.
Things weren’t going right for the winger in Serie A, but he became a fan favourite pretty quickly under Antonio Conte in the Premier League.
Yes, there was a blip in between for the £25 million signing, but he is now back to his best and proving to be one of his side’s better players.
There is a lot of spotlight on the likes of Son Heung-min, James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, to name a few.
But Tottenham’s underrated Swede on the right deserves more praise for his performances because he has been outstanding.
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