Tottenham star takes aim at club chiefs for “hard to accept” decision at end of season
Tottenham controversially played Premier League rivals Newcastle in a post-season friendly in Australia and it appears that both players and staff were not particularly happy with the arrangements
Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham has criticized the team for their “hard to accept” post-season trip to Australia.
The North London team flew to Melbourne shortly after their final 2023–24 season match.In the 1-1 draw with Newcastle, James Madison and Alexander Isak both found the net, and the Magpies won the subsequent penalty shootout.
Player welfare has been a major source of criticism for the trip, as many of the players engaged will have little time to recover before the Euros and Copa America begin this summer.
Speaking up, Dejan Kulusevski criticized the choice to travel to Australia. “It was hard, but sometimes you just have to accept that you can’t decide everything in life,” he stated, as reported by Football Channel.
“The club made the decision that we had to go there and then I had to make the best of the situation. Of course it was tough. It was hard to accept, but nothing can be done. Others decide.”
He revealed his summertime plans in light of Sweden’s decision not to compete in the Euros. “I work hard,” Kulusevski continued. No, but it’s the final push leading up to the holidays. All I’m trying to do is give it my all. After that, I’ll unwind.
“I needed to work on my technique. I can never show up to a match unprepared. In any case, I had been training. Being able to spend time with the other team friends was pleasant.”
Not all members of the Tottenham persuasion have voiced their dissatisfaction with the trip, including Kulusevski.Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Spurs, was likewise not too pleased, claiming he would have blocked the trip had his team participated in a European tournament this year.
“I definitely wouldn’t have allowed it to happen if we had a larger game schedule this year and were in Europe,” he stated. Most likely, I would have declined it.
Furthermore, I doubt the club would have anticipated our departure. I doubt you’ll witness this if we’re in Europe the next year.
It’s not ideal, in my opinion. But I believe every circumstance is different. There is significance for us to play one more game two days after the season ends, given the success of our season.
We had a very early conversation about it with the playing group. They comprehended the purpose of our actions, and we all agreed to go and