Dejan Kulusevski keen on Spurs stay despite Conte fiasco

Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski insists he is happy to remain a Spurs player despite the uncertainty surrounding manager Antonio Conte’s future at the club.

The Italian tactician is just an announcement away from being jobless after criticising the club’s hierarchy and his players following a thrilling six-goal stalemate against Southampton.

Conte said his players lacked fighting spirit, which is a factor that has repeatedly hindered the club’s attempts to win major silverware in recent years.

His long-term future is currently under review, with several players expecting him to be sacked sometime this week. 

However, Kulusevski insists he did not take offence to what the manager said because he knows what he offers to the team.

“No, because I know what I bring to the team every day,” the 22-year-old told Sky Sports.

“I know that I prepare myself to do as good as I can, and that’s why I can always look at myself in the mirror.

“Sometimes I don’t play good enough, and I can take responsibility for that – what he said is his word, but I respect him. He helped me a lot during my career, so he’s still a very important man in our club.

“He was very disappointed as us players, and we have to accept that. We lost all the cups – went out in the Champions League also, so I know that sometimes we have to be sad and angry, and that’s how he took it – we have to respect his words.”

Kulusevski joined Tottenham on an initial loan deal in January last year and has become a catalyst in Spurs’ attack, forging a productive partnership with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

Spurs have an option to sign the former Parma prodigy permanently at the end of the season, and the player is keen to stay at the club despite the Conte fiasco.

“Conte situation will not affect the club’s buy option for me — absolutely not,” the winger added (via Fabrizio Romano). “I want to stay at Spurs, of course,”

Kulusevski has started 16 of his 20 Premier League outings this season, scoring twice and creating six goals.