Tottenham 3-1 Coventry: Roberto De Zerbi reveals inspiration behind Dejan Kulusevski sub as Swedish star makes long-awaited return

By Ben Sully | 20 Oct 2026 00:53, Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 01:08

Tottenham Hotspur brag Roberto De Zerbi has revealed that the fans played a relation successful his determination to present Dejan Kulusevski successful the second stages of Monday's 3-1 win implicit Coventry City.

Prior to his return, the Swedish attacker had endured an wounded nightmare since his erstwhile Spurs appearances successful a 2-0 decision against Crystal Palace successful May 2025. 

Kulusevski underwent country and suffered aggregate setbacks successful his agelong roadworthy to betterment from a superior genu injury.

After 526 days connected the sidelines, Kulusevski was named among the substitutes for the location clash against newly-promoted Coventry.

A HUGE cheer from the Spurs fans arsenic Dejan Kulusevski returns to the transportation aft a lengthy wounded ? https://t.co/adxWlOnq76

De Zerbi explains instrumentality inspiration down Kulusevski sub

With Spurs starring 2-1, the Sweden planetary was introduced alongside Mathys Tel successful an 87th-minute treble change, which saw Mohammed Kudus and Omar Marmoush marque way. 

The Spurs faithful chanted his sanction and gave him a large reception arsenic helium made his mode onto the pitch, earlier greeting his archetypal interaction arsenic if their squad had scored a goal.

With Kulusevski connected the pitch, Tottenham went connected to adhd to their tally done Ben Davies, wrapping up the club's archetypal Premier League triumph of the season. 

Speaking aft the match, De Zerbi explained that the supporters were the main origin down his determination to present Kulusevski erstwhile Tottenham's pb was a precarious one. 

"I did it for the fans," De Zerbi told reporters. "We needed the enactment of the fans. They are fantastic.

"They endure excessively overmuch successful the past 2 oregon 3 years."

Maddison marks archetypal commencement successful 18 months with a goal

Monday's triumph besides represented a important milestone successful James Maddison's roadworthy backmost from his ain wounded nightmare. 

Maddison marked his archetypal competitory commencement since April 2025 with a stunning curling effort from conscionable extracurricular the container successful the 14th minute.

Speaking aft netting his archetypal Premier League extremity since February 2025, Maddison admitted helium dreamt of producing strikes similar that connected his agelong mode backmost from a superior genu injury.

"They are the ones you imagination of," Maddison told Sky Sports. "Those acheronian days recovering from the ACL you imagination of those moments and those goals. That is ever the airy astatine the extremity of the tunnel.

"That is wherefore I felt truly affectional and arrogant of Dejan Kulusevski contiguous due to the fact that I knew precisely that feeling helium had stepping backmost onto the transportation aft that magnitude of clip out. 

"Those moments and those goals they marque it each worthy it."

After helping Spurs determination retired of the Premier League relegation zone, Maddison volition anticipation to marque different affirmative interaction successful Saturday's London derby against Chelsea.