Kulusevski 'a different man' after 526-day Tottenham absence
Dejan Kulusevski has described himself as "a different man" after making his first Tottenham appearance in 526 days during Monday's 3-1 Premier League win over Coventry City.
The Sweden international missed Spurs' entire 2025-26 campaign after suffering a serious right patella injury during a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace in May 2025. He underwent surgery and endured multiple setbacks during his rehabilitation, and Spurs parted ways with three head coaches – Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank and Igor Thiago – while he was on the sidelines.
Kulusevski received a standing ovation when he was brought off the bench by current boss Roberto De Zerbi against Coventry, replacing Mohammed Kudus in the 87th minute. During that brief cameo he completed all four of his passes and contested six duels, winning two of those, including one successful dribble from two attempted, per match data.
An 'amazing journey' back
After his long road back to first-team football, Kulusevski is determined to enjoy every appearance he makes for Spurs.
"I will tell everyone about the journey. It has been an amazing journey, even if it has been hard sometimes – hard is beautiful," he told Sky Sports.
"I am so grateful that I had to experience it. Now, I am ready to play football.
"I see myself as different now. I think that I am a different man. I'm the same guy that wants to play football, but a little bit smarter, so I am happy."
The victory was Tottenham's first in the Premier League this season, at the seventh attempt, and once Kulusevski entered the fray with De Zerbi's men leading 2-1, it was all business.
"I was locked in, I was ready to play those 10 minutes and make a good impact," he said. "It's amazing.
"It was more emotional this morning. It's a beautiful day and I am so happy that we won."
Maddison returns and scores in first win of the season
Kulusevski was not the only long-term absentee celebrating a comeback. James Maddison also made his long-awaited first Premier League start since April 2025 after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear, and he opened the scoring with a glorious finish from outside the box.
Spurs' return to action had been prepared during a warm-weather training camp in Marbella, and the hosts went into the Coventry fixture bottom of the table and still missing seven players. The build-up had confirmed Kulusevski would be in the matchday squad for the first time in more than 500 days, while Savio and Lucas Bergvall were ruled out.
Coventry made life awkward before Spurs' quality told. Their goal came from a vicious 20-yard strike into the far corner by a player on loan from Manchester City, an effort that proved controversial because he caught Milan van Ewijk in the face with an elbow, yet referee Andrew Madley allowed play to continue and video assistant referee Paul Tierney offered no intervention. As reported at the time, Frank Lampard looked bewildered and the away end reacted with astonishment when the goal was replayed on the big screens.
Stung into action, Spurs raised the intensity, and the feelgood factor peaked in the 85th minute when fan-favourite Kulusevski made his long-awaited return, sealing the mood around a first league win of the campaign.