De Zerbi says Spurs players can take inspiration from team-mate’s injury battle

Roberto De Zerbi has described Dejan Kulusevski as an inspiration as the Tottenham midfielder edges closer to a return from his long-term knee injury.

Kulusevski has not featured for Spurs since May 2025 after suffering a knee injury against Crystal Palace late in the season.

The Swede has now been sidelined for nearly a year and a half, but is back training with the first team and could be closing in on a return to the matchday squad.

De Zerbi was asked about Kulusevski’s battle to return to playing football and his importance to the team.

“It’s inspirational because, like I said, he reacted very well with character, with courage, with passion,” he said.

“We have to take inspiration from Deki. I said this in the meeting with my players.

“As a player, I suffered many times from long injuries. The injury is bad because you lose football, but it’s nice because you come inside yourself and you know yourself better than before the injury.

“You can start communicating with yourself better, you find the motivation, you find the target, you find the goal, you become stronger.

Tottenham went into the international break bottom of the Premier League with only two points, and De Zerbi admitted the time away from club football had been difficult given their position.

“I suffered a lot,” he said.

“But we have just one thing to do. Other things are nothing.

“We have to give something more. We have to remove the excuses. I think we have a great squad, great players. The club is perfect. There’s nothing bad in this club.

“The people speak too much, but if you listen to Roberto, if you listen to me, the club is top. The players are top and we have to react.

“Finally, we have to show who we are without excuses. We must take responsibility and show who we are on the pitch and outside it.”outside of the pitch as well.”