Roberto De Zerbi has urged winless Tottenham to draw inspiration from Dejan Kulusevski’s comeback ahead of Saturday’s trip to Manchester United.
Kulusevski has not played for Spurs in more than 500 days following a serious knee injury, but featured in a behind-closed-doors match during the international break and will travel to Old Trafford to offer support.
With Kulusevski inching closer to an emotional return after multiple setbacks and fears he may never play again, De Zerbi used the Swedish attacker as a reference point for bottom-of-the-table Tottenham, who have taken two points from their first five Premier League fixtures.
“Yes, he’s an inspiration,” De Zerbi said. “He reacted very well, with character, with courage, with passion. Yes, passion. It’s a good word, passion. We have to take inspiration from Deki. I said the same in the meeting to the players.
“[Away at Old Trafford] he comes with us, also [Pedro] Porro [for support]. I want all players tonight and tomorrow, but he is working very well. I think he is an example for everyone, Dejan Kulusevski.
“Forget the player, but the example of how he reacted to the injury, the reaction to being unlucky, the character he showed this time, was an example, a reference for everyone.”
Quizzed on when he could make his long-awaited return, De Zerbi explained: “I don’t know, it’s not just my responsibility.
“We are working together with the medical staff. They are working very well with him, they have done special work. We have to analyse week by week.”
Spurs have sorely missed the creativity and character of Kulusevski during his 17-month absence, but De Zerbi is calm after a slow start to the campaign and was reminded of a similar situation for Aston Villa last season.
Asked about Villa being able to finish fourth after they went five games without a win, De Zerbi said: “Yes, it’s possible. Why not? But to do what Villa did, we have to click.
“I think the first win is not a gift from God. You have to deserve to win. And we didn’t deserve to win so far.”
James Maddison will travel to Old Trafford and is available but De Zerbi hinted he might only have a cameo role after he missed days of training over the last week.
– Tottenham’s Xavi Simons enrolls at Harvard Business School
– Man City charges: What managers said about scandal ahead of Premier League return
– Premier League team news, injury updates after international break
With Kulusevski still absent and Maddison not back to his best, it has increased calls for Spurs’ highly rated 18-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett to get an opportunity.
Major clubs across the world are circling playmaker Williams-Barnett, but Spurs have opened talks with the mercurial talent over a new deal, the Press Association reported.
De Zerbi acknowledged he was “thinking” about when to include Williams-Barnett in the squad after he made his second Tottenham appearance late on in the Carabao Cup win over Charlton.
“Special talent, special personality also because he’s arrogant, but arrogant good for football,” De Zerbi said of Williams-Barnett.
“You have to believe in yourself. Not forgetting to be humble. Anyway, humility but believe in yourself and the right example is Luca.”
