Latest news with #DejanKulusevski
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
The players who run and run...
Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes covered the most ground this season, running 261 miles (St James' Park to Wembley is 271 miles). He retains the award after racking up 263 miles in the competition last Gvardiol, Daniel Munoz, Bryan Mbeumo and Milos Kerkez complete the top five for most distance covered across the Premier League season. Taking time on the pitch into account (out of players that played over half the available minutes), Guimaraes was pipped by Newcastle team-mate in the list by team-mate Sandro Tonali who covered more ground per 90 minutes than the Brazilian…although Bruno still ran 7.2 miles per 90 minutes!Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski ran harder than any other player this season, covering 7.7 miles per 90 minutes on Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek ran an average of 7.5 miles per 90 minutes, while Manchester City's Bernardo Silva (7.3) and Brighton's Yasin Ayari complete the top five.
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Tottenham's player of 2024-25: Pedro Porro – nobody gave them more
Through the turmoil and the triumphs, there was one constant on the pitch for Tottenham Hotspur this season: Pedro Porro. Sure, some players have had higher highs. Dejan Kulusevski was the outstanding player of their campaign's first half, and had he remained fit throughout and continued on a similar trajectory, he may have fashioned an argument for the Premier League's player of the year award, not just Tottenham's. Brennan Johnson's near-post finish in Bilbao inscribed his name in the club's history books forever, and that image will be immortalised on the walls of the stadium and training ground to inspire generations to come. Lucas Bergvall, who was probably Tottenham's outstanding player of 2025 before an ankle injury in training ahead of the Europa League semi-final, is deservedly in the conversation, too. Advertisement But there are few substitutes for availability, and no player has given more to Spurs this season than Porro. Seasonal awards often come down to endurance, and numbers tell that part of our story. Porro totalled more Premier League minutes than any Tottenham player this season (2,608), 217 more than second-busiest Kulusevski. He is one of just six players to have played more than 2,000 minutes for Tottenham in the league. Only Pape Matar Sarr played in more of their 38 top-flight matches (36 to 33), though the Senegal international came off the bench for 14 of those. Had Spurs not gone so far in Europe, Porro would likely have featured in every game. As the defensive unit — from where the team's success tends to live or die — was broken apart by injuries over the winter period, the Spaniard was the last of coach Ange Postecoglou's preferred starters standing. Adjusting to a single change in a settled back line is not straightforward at the best of times, but Porro made do as Postecoglou experimented with makeshift alternatives. He didn't always find it easy — he was run ragged in the FA Cup by non-League Tamworth's winger Beck-Ray Enoru, a sales assistant at high-street clothing store Zara to supplement his semi-professional wage — but nobody could question his effort and dedication. Combining that dedication with his technical brilliance makes him as crucial to Spurs' success as anyone. Inverted full-backs are not the tactical marvels today they were considered to be five years ago, but at his best, Porro delivers from that position in a manner that makes it seem entirely fresh. His delivery is world-class, and he finished with nine Premier League and Europa League assists to show for it. When he takes the quarterback role from central defender Cristian Romero, he can land balls on a sixpence for runners, as evidenced by the excellent pass played to James Maddison for his goal in January's 3-2 win against Hoffenheim. Should he push forward and cross from the right half-space, his execution is equally precise. Dominic Solanke's header against Newcastle United a few weeks earlier is evidence of that. Advertisement 'It's something we're continually working on, to get him on the ball in more key areas,' Postecoglou said of Porro in a press conference in May. 'He has such quality with his ability to hit the longer pass. But also, the quality of his crosses every time he puts the ball in the box — whether that's a set piece or a cross in general — causes opposition problems. 'He's played more than anyone else this year. He's been unbelievable for us. Not just in his durability — which has been important because we've had so many players going down; we've needed a few to be durable like he has — but also the quality he's shown.' Still, maybe the most thrilling part of Porro's game is his ability to ghost into dangerous positions. No full-back in England's top flight has a greater instinct for goals, something that proved crucial to Tottenham's Europa League success. Porro telegraphed his ability to sniff out a goalscoring chance in the season's opening-weekend draw away to Leicester City, making a late run to meet Maddison's whipped cross with a glancing header into the bottom corner. Maddison played provider again for the most important of Porro's four goals during the campaign, cutting a cross back for him to delightfully flick Spurs back onto level terms against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. Having been partly to blame for Hugo Ekitike's goal earlier in that match, it was not just an excellent piece of skill but a crucial atonement during their run to glory in Bilbao. In the following round, his looping effort from outside the box away to Bodo/Glimt was when Spurs fans knew they were heading to a European final. Porro has not just been there for all the season's best moments, he has been responsible for delivering them. But for all his apparent talent going forward, it's defensively where he's progressed the most. Advertisement At odds with everything we're supposed to believe about football under Postecoglou, Tottenham's Europa League triumph was built on the defenders. And not brilliant line-breaking passes from Romero or Micky van de Ven's recovery pace, either. It was pragmatism, structure, and dedication to executing assignments that kept Frankfurt and Glimt at bay in the second legs away from home, when much of the discussion beforehand suggested Spurs' only possible route to success was to be the last team standing in a goals-filled standoff. Porro was reliable in those moments. Had he not been, the outcome against Manchester United in the final — or against Frankfurt or Glimt — may have been different. In the wake of last week's triumph back home on Spanish soil, he captioned a picture of himself holding the trophy with 'I don't defend,' poking fun at the suggestion he's solely an attacking full-back. He deserves to be considered Tottenham's player of the season because he has been much more than that: a constant, a scorer of important goals, and, crucially, a dependable defender in the biggest moments.
The 42
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
LIVE: Man United v Tottenham, Europa League final
Hello, and welcome to tonight's liveblog. It is arguably the biggest game of the season involving two Premier League clubs, and it's probably unprecedented to say that about sides expected to finish in 16th and 17th place in the table with one game remaining. Man United and Tottenham have had similarly dreadful seasons domestically, with their far superior finances than most other teams in the competition getting them to this point in the Europa League. Many people make the Red Devils slight favourites. They are going for their third trophy in three seasons, while Tottenham haven't won anything since the League Cup in 2008. Spurs, however, have won all three previous encounters between the teams this season and will be confident of another victory, despite missing key midfielders James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall. A Champions League place and an estimated £100 million boost are at stake. It's bound to be a fascinating affair.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Why are Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison not playing in the Man Utd vs Spurs Europa League final?
TOTTENHAM Hotspur will be without two of their most influential attacking players for the Europa League final against Manchester United. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison's absences are due to injuries sustained in the final weeks of the season, severely impacting Spurs' preparations for this crucial match. 4 Dejan Kulusevski — knee injury and surgery Dejan Kulusevski has been a key figure for Tottenham this season with 10 goals and 11 assists across 50 appearances. He suffered a knee injury during Spurs' 2-0 home defeat against FA cup heroes Crystal Palace on May 11, 2025. The Swedish international was forced off the pitch in the after 19 minutes, with subsequent medical evaluations revealing damage to his right patella. Kulusevski underwent surgery on his knee shortly after the injury, which has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, including the Europa League final. At first Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said: 'It should be okay. Just talking to him after, the medical team's not too concerned with him. It's more of a knock than anything else... We're hopeful it will be fine. I can't say for sure, though.' However, after further assessment and surgery, Ange confirmed the the news his side's fans were fearing: 'Initially we thought it wasn't too serious but it blew up the day after. "He's had the surgery, which will put him out for at least a few months.' On whether Kulusevski would be ready for the start of next season, he added: 'We'll see. I currently have only basic details regarding his recovery, but it will definitely keep him out for a considerable period.' James Maddison — season-ending knee injury James Maddison, another creative force in Tottenham's midfield, has also been ruled out of the Europa League final due to a knee injury. 'Spurs does crazy things to people' - Postecoglou takes swipe at Wenger as Arsenal legend proposes shock rule change Maddison sustained the injury during the first leg of the semi-final against Bodø/Glimt at the start of May. Despite his instrumental role in Spurs' European campaign, both scoring and assisting in key knockout matches, Maddison's season was abruptly ended by this setback. Tottenham confirmed he would not return before the end of the season. The midfielder expressed his disappointment publicly, stating he was 'absolutely gutted' to miss out on the club's biggest match in years. Maddison wrote on social media: "Gutted. Just absolutely gutted." 4 "We've had our sights on that European final in Bilbao from day one." He added: "But I truly believe it can be a special night for my football club. Bring on the 21st. All together." His absence leaves a significant creative void in Spurs' lineup for the final. Impact on Tottenham's lineup The loss of both Kulusevski and Maddison is a major blow for Tottenham. Both players have been central to the team's attacking play and their injuries have forced Ange to rethink his approach for the final. In addition to these two, Spurs are also missing Lucas Bergvall (ankle injury) and Timo Werner (hamstring injury) from the squad named for the knockout stages. Nevertheless, Tottenham will look to rally around their available squad members in hopes of securing their first major trophy since 2008.
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Why are Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison not playing in the Man Utd vs Spurs Europa League final?
See what Ange said about the injuries and the players' prospects for returning next season PLAYMAKERS MISSING Why are Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison not playing in the Man Utd vs Spurs Europa League final? TOTTENHAM Hotspur will be without two of their most influential attacking players for the Europa League final against Manchester United. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison's absences are due to injuries sustained in the final weeks of the season, severely impacting Spurs' preparations for this crucial match. Advertisement 4 James Maddison left the quarter-final first leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Bodo/Glimt injured Credit: Getty 4 Dejan Kulusevski was injured playing in the Prem against Crystal Palace Credit: Reuters 4 Kulusevski in hospital posted this pic from hospital on Instagram Credit: Dejan Kulusevski — knee injury and surgery Dejan Kulusevski has been a key figure for Tottenham this season with 10 goals and 11 assists across 50 appearances. He suffered a knee injury during Spurs' 2-0 home defeat against FA cup heroes Crystal Palace on May 11, 2025. The Swedish international was forced off the pitch in the after 19 minutes, with subsequent medical evaluations revealing damage to his right patella. Kulusevski underwent surgery on his knee shortly after the injury, which has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, including the Europa League final. Advertisement At first Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said: 'It should be okay. Just talking to him after, the medical team's not too concerned with him. It's more of a knock than anything else... We're hopeful it will be fine. I can't say for sure, though.' However, after further assessment and surgery, Ange confirmed the the news his side's fans were fearing: 'Initially we thought it wasn't too serious but it blew up the day after. "He's had the surgery, which will put him out for at least a few months.' Advertisement On whether Kulusevski would be ready for the start of next season, he added: 'We'll see. I currently have only basic details regarding his recovery, but it will definitely keep him out for a considerable period.' James Maddison — season-ending knee injury James Maddison, another creative force in Tottenham's midfield, has also been ruled out of the Europa League final due to a knee injury. 'Spurs does crazy things to people' - Postecoglou takes swipe at Wenger as Arsenal legend proposes shock rule change Maddison sustained the injury during the first leg of the semi-final against Bodø/Glimt at the start of May. Despite his instrumental role in Spurs' European campaign, both scoring and assisting in key knockout matches, Maddison's season was abruptly ended by this setback. Advertisement Tottenham confirmed he would not return before the end of the season. The midfielder expressed his disappointment publicly, stating he was 'absolutely gutted' to miss out on the club's biggest match in years. Maddison wrote on social media: "Gutted. Just absolutely gutted." 4 Maddison believes his side an still win the final despite the absences Credit: Reuters Advertisement "We've had our sights on that European final in Bilbao from day one." He added: "But I truly believe it can be a special night for my football club. Bring on the 21st. All together." His absence leaves a significant creative void in Spurs' lineup for the final. Impact on Tottenham's lineup The loss of both Kulusevski and Maddison is a major blow for Tottenham. Advertisement Both players have been central to the team's attacking play and their injuries have forced Ange to rethink his approach for the final. In addition to these two, Spurs are also missing Lucas Bergvall (ankle injury) and Timo Werner (hamstring injury) from the squad named for the knockout stages. Nevertheless, Tottenham will look to rally around their available squad members in hopes of securing their first major trophy since 2008.
