De Zerbi credits fans for Kulusevski substitution in Tottenham win

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi said supporters prompted him to bring on Dejan Kulusevski during a 3-1 victory over Coventry City. The Swedish attacker’s appearance ended a 526-day absence, while Spurs secured their first league victory this season and moved clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Kulusevski entered in the 87th minute with Tottenham holding a 2-1 advantage. He and Mathys Tel replaced Mohammed Kudus and Omar Marmoush, with Ben Davies subsequently adding Tottenham’s third goal. Fans chanted Kulusevski’s name and cheered both his entrance and his first touch.

De Zerbi told reporters that Tottenham needed the crowd’s backing and that the supporters were the main reason for the substitution. Kulusevski had not played for Spurs since the 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace in May 2025, undergoing surgery and experiencing several setbacks during his recovery from a serious knee injury.

James Maddison also reached a recovery milestone, scoring a curling shot from outside the box in the 14th minute on his first competitive start since April 2025. It was his first Premier League goal since February 2025. Maddison told Sky Sports that imagining such moments had helped him through his ACL recovery, and said his own experience made him feel emotional and proud as Kulusevski returned.