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Tottenham fans will love what Dejan Kulusevski said to his Sweden teammates in the dressing room before going out onto the field to deliver a masterclass Azerbaijan.

Dejan Kulusevski leads from the front

Kulusevski once again donned the armband for Sweden and he delivered a real captain’s display as the home side dismantled Azerbaijan 6-0 in Stockholm on Tuesday.

The Tottenham man scored two, assisted one and had an important hand in another goal as the Azerbaijani defence could not cope with his movement and creativity.

The win ensured that Sweden finished top of League C, Group 1 of the Nations League, thus sealing promotion to League B for the next edition of the competition.

Dejan Kulusevski’s cold line before kick-off

Being the leader of this young Sweden side, the Tottenham man was tasked with saying the final words in the huddle inside the dressing room before the side went out onto the pitch.

Kulusevski delivered a line that will be remembered for a long time, ending the huddle by stating “I’m hungry, let’s eat.”

Here’s the video that the Swedish national team shared of their captain’s words, followed by his heroics on the pitch:

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Is Kulusevski a contender to be the future Spurs captain?

Kulusevski is a natural leader and has demonstrated time and again that he has a winning mentality, always stepping up and delivering on the big stage.

The former Juventus man is undoubtedly one of the contenders to take over the armband at Tottenham when Heung-min Son eventually leaves. Perhaps there is a case for Ange Postecoglou to include Kulusevski in the leadership group.

Ange Postecoglou will be encouraged by how well his players have performed in the past week while representing their countries – as well as a few added bonuses in there too.

The international break

The international break is often criticised for taking players away from their clubs to play glorified friendlies. With three pauses to the club season so far for players to represent their national teams, despite it only being November, there have been calls to decrease the number of times these breaks occur.

But the international break can be useful for getting struggling players in form and giving minutes to those who have had limited match time for their club.

And Tottenham look set to benefit from what has been a largely positive international break for their players.

Spurs players thrive on international duty

Heung-Min-Son, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma all contributed with goals or assists for their national sides, while Dane Scarlett, who is on loan at Oxford United, scored for England’s under-21s team (Spurs Global).

With Son only recently returning from injury, his two goals are an encouragement, while Johnson’s goal and assist are a huge positive, with the 23-year-old scoring just once for Tottenham since the previous international break last month.

The break also saw Archie Gray and Ben Davies play two full matches for England under-21s and Wales respectively, both of whom have had limited Premier League match time this season, while Radu Dragusin, who has been disappointing for Spurs, started both matches for Romania.

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And another positive of the break is that Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie were both rested, with neither starting a match for their countries, while Pedro Porro, who recently has looked in need of a day off, did not play in Spain’s most recent match against Switzerland.

Spurs need to come back firing

Although there are some negatives from the break, such as Cristian Romero going off injured for Argentina, it should have boosted the confidence levels of players in need of a lift.

The break came at a good time, with Spurs losing their two most recent matches against teams they ought to have been beating, but now they will be able to regroup and attempt to find some form again.

Tottenham Hotspur take on the reigning Premier League champions this weekend, but Man City are staring down the barrel of a potential five defeats in a row.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Man City

Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario had a troubling international break with Italy, although he received some unfair blame for the goals he conceded against France.

Right-back: Pedro Porro starts at right-back as usual, but he will need to improve his back-post defending against Man City’s star attackers – especially Erling Haaland.

Centre-back: Radu Dragusin moves over to the right side of defence against Man City, with Cristian Romero joining Micky Van de Ven on the treatment table.

Centre-back: Ben Davies comes in to deputise for the injured Dutchman but will face a tough evening up against the likes of Haaland, Foden, and Silva.

Left-back: Destiny Udogie starts at left-back despite some up-and-down form this season. He will need to do much better at tracking his man on Saturday evening.

Pivot midfielder: Yves Bissouma replaces Rodrigo Bentancur as he starts his seven-match suspension. This leaves Postecoglou with far less flexibility and quality on the bench though.

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Central-midfield: Pape Matar Sarr is preferred over James Maddison once again. If Postecoglou is going to throw Madders back in at some point, I can’t imagine it would be Man City away.

Central-midfield: Dejan Kulusevski has a chance to live up to his Dekihad status after two goals and an assist for Sweden last week on international duty.

Right-wing: Brennan Johnson scored for Wales this week and will be looking to kickstart another goalscoring run in a Lilywhite shirt.

Striker: Dominic Solanke had a nice rest on international duty with only 18 minutes of action so he should be fresh and raring to go.

Former Tottenham Hotspur scout, David Pleat, has revealed that a young defender left the club, despite being promised by Jose Mourinho that he would get a chance in the first team.

Tottenham’s development of young players

Tottenham have had limited success in recent years at bringing academy players into their main squad, with even Harry Kane having to wait patiently and endure multiple loan spells before getting his first real chance.

Much excitement has been expressed by supporters over the likes of Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear recently making first-team appearances and this has likely been enhanced by the fact that in the last decade, products of Tottenham’s academy have rarely become successful in the club’s senior side.

And some of the players to leave Spurs before getting a proper opportunity will have no regrets including Noni Madueke, who has impressed for England during the international break, Marcus Edwards and Kyle Walker-Peters, and Troy Parrott, who has taken the Eredivisie by storm since joining AZ Alkmaar.

Luis Binks left Spurs despite being promised a chance to play

While some players have made the right choice to move forward with their careers by leaving Spurs, that decision has not worked out for everyone.

David Pleat has revealed, while speaking on The Joy of Football podcast, that former Spurs defender, Luis Binks, left the club, despite being promised by then manager, Jose Mourinho, that he would be given a chance to play for the first team.

He said: “Binks went from Tottenham, and I remember this clearly. Went to Montreal, to be managed by Thierry Henry.

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“Now, Binks, I can tell you this. He was England’s left centre-half. Mourinho himself made a big point of saying there’s a pathway for him.

“Now, the boy said there wasn’t a pathway. Whether there was or wasn’t, he would have developed, maybe, into a first-team player. But he was enticed away to Montreal, who loaned him to Bologna, and then he’s come back to Coventry and he’s at Coventry now. That’s happening all the time because of financial sustainability.”

Tottenham must give their young players a chance

In this instance, it is Binks, rather than Spurs, who suffered as a result of becoming impatient and leaving the club, but this has not always been the case.

With Spurs gearing up for a daunting Premier League clash against Manchester City this weekend, the latest injury updates from manager Ange Postecoglou have revealed when Micky Van de Ven could return to the starting XI.

Tottenham’s Defensive Crisis

Ange Postecoglou has had a busy week ahead of Tottenham’s crucial away fixture at the Etihad Stadium, where his side will go head-to-head against a wounded Manchester City team.

Alongside their inconsistent start to the season, Spurs have found themselves navigating a series of injury concerns, particularly in defence. With both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero currently sidelined for Spurs, Postecoglou’s options are limited as he looks to solidify his backline this weekend.

Romero, who is a key part of Tottenham’s defence, suffered a foot injury in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa. Although he was able to make a swift return for the home defeat to Ipswich Town, his international duty with Argentina has proven to be a more testing affair.

In their recent 2-1 defeat to Paraguay, Romero played just 45 minutes before being substituted, reportedly due to discomfort in the same foot that had already caused him issues at Spurs. This has left many wondering if the 26-year-old will be ready in time to face City.

Meanwhile, the absence of Micky van de Ven looms large, with the Dutchman suffering a hamstring injury in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup win over Manchester City last month.

Despite initial hopes that he might recover in time for the weekend, Postecoglou has shed more light on the current situation of his injury.

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Postecoglou Injury Update: Micky Van de Ven

In his most recent interview with Sky Sports as relayed by football.london, Postecoglou spoke on the injury situation surrounding his key players.

He said: “Happy for Cristian and his wife on the birth of their baby girl. He is still not 100 per cent so he is a doubt definitely for the weekend. Everyone else from the internationals got through well.

“Micky is still a couple of weeks away. He is on the grass training but he is still a couple of weeks away. We’re hoping by the middle of December he is back and available to play.”

The impact of these absences

With the absence of these two key players, Postecoglou will have to rely on alternatives in defence. Ben Davies and Romanian defender Radu Dragusin, who has struggled in recent games in the Premier League, are the next in line to step up. However, their experience and cohesion in such a high-pressure match will undoubtedly be tested against City’s relentless forward line.

The absence of these key players, combined with the defensive fragility Spurs might face, makes this fixture one of their toughest tests yet. If Spurs are to stand any chance of upsetting Man City, Davies and Dragusin will need to rise to the occasion and prove they have the quality to withstand the pressure from one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking forces.

Liberty Media, who are reportedly interested in investing in Tottenham, have just made a big announcement about the consortium’s future plans.

Tottenham takeover rumours continue to intensify

Over the last few months, it has been widely reported that Amanda Staveley is in talks with Daniel Levy over a minority takeover of Tottenham.

The former Newcastle co-owner, via her vehicle, PCP Capital Partners, has reportedly raised £500m in an effort to buy a stake in the North London club (Football Insider).

However, TBR Football point out that she is not the only one showing interest in investing in Spurs, with a number of groups having conducted due diligence on the club.

This includes Liberty Media, who own Formula One, and who already have a relationship with Spurs after agreeing a 15-year commercial deal with the club, which saw a karting track installed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Liberty Media clarify future plans

Liberty Media certainly have the finances to not just buy a small stake in Spurs but for a full takeover of the club.

It had been rumoured that the Colorado-headquartered company were ready to cash in on Formula One and invest in other sporting ventures, but their CEO Greg Maffei has denied those reports.

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Maffei has told Motorsport Week: “Look, I don’t think there’s any plan to sell it. It’s got a great future, but, you know, I suspect the Board of Liberty will be appropriate stewards of the shareholder capital.

“The business is very well positioned, right? [We have] grown the global partnership since 2019. We’ve compounded sponsorship at 16%. We’ve compounded all the revenue streams at something like 12%.

“It’s really been a hallmark of what sports wants to be, growing fan interest through things like ‘Drive to Survive,’ growing sponsorship, growing high-end experiences. [It is] sort of a model everyone else is a little bit trying to follow.”

TBR Football relay these quotes and suggest that Liberty Media’s continued stewardship of F1 makes it less likely that they will attempt to buy into Spurs.

Tottenham keeping takeover talks under wraps

If takeover talks are going on – and one suspects they have been for over a year with various potential investors – Daniel Levy and Spurs are doing well to keep things under wraps.

Even if it is just a minority sale, we are talking huge amounts of money, which is why these sorts of negotiations will always be a slow burn, with a lot of details having to be ironed out before a deal can be finalised.

A club known for its flair and ambitious aspirations, Tottenham Hotspur has been shaped by a series of prominent managers over recent years, each leaving their mark in unique ways. But when the dust settles, whose influence truly stands tallest in Tottenham – Conte, Mourinho, or Ange Postecoglou?

Antonio Conte’s time at Tottenham

When Antonio Conte took over in November 2021, Spurs were in a precarious position, languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table under Nuno Espírito Santo.

The Italian, renowned for his tactical discipline and fiery persona, immediately breathed life into a struggling side. By the end of the 2021-22 season, Tottenham had clawed their way into the top four, securing Champions League qualification in dramatic fashion and leaving their North London rivals, Arsenal, trailing in their wake.

However, the 2022-23 campaign told a starkly different story. What began with promise and optimism quickly unravelled as opposition teams adapted to Conte’s rigid system. By March 2023, Spurs had parted ways with the manager, their season in tatters and their Champions League hopes extinguished.

Conte’s intense, passionate management style, initially seen as a breath of fresh air, soon turned into a divisive element. Reports have since surfaced that his aggressive shouting and fiery demeanour did not inspire the squad as intended, creating friction rather than unity. This ultimately contributed to an underwhelming second season, where Spurs failed to capitalize on the promise shown under Conte’s early leadership.

In the end, Conte’s time at Spurs may serve as a reminder that intensity alone cannot bridge the gap between potential and tangible achievement.

Antonio Conte’s stats at Tottenham

Jose Mourinho’s time at Tottenham

Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Tottenham in November 2019 was a statement of intent. The ‘Special One’ brought a glittering résumé and a reputation for delivering silverware – something Spurs fans craved desperately. His tenure began brightly, with memorable victories such as a 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford and a brief stint at the top of the Premier League in the 2020-21 season.

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However, as time went on, cracks began to show. Mourinho’s pragmatic approach, once lauded as a winning formula, grew increasingly divisive among fans and players. Tottenham’s form faltered, and high-profile defeats, including a Europa League exit to Dinamo Zagreb, left his position untenable. The Portuguese manager’s fate was sealed in April 2021, just days before Spurs were set to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final – a decision that sparked as much controversy as his tactics on the pitch.

While Mourinho’s spell ended without the elusive silverware, his tenure was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, offering a glimpse of potential but ultimately falling short of the club’s lofty ambitions.

His time at Spurs culminated in a 6th-place finish, followed by a disastrous second season that saw the team drop to 8th before he was sacked. Compared to Antonio Conte—who managed a top-four finish despite his contentious methods—Mourinho’s tenure appears even more lacklustre.

His inability to extract the best from the squad and the lack of any discernible progress make a compelling case for him being one of the worst managers in Tottenham’s modern history.

Tottenham stats breakdown Jose Mourinho

The new wave: Ange Postecoglou Tottenham revolution

In stark contrast to his predecessors, Ange Postecoglou’s appointment in June 2023 was met with a mix of intrigue and scepticism. The Australian arrived with an impressive record at Celtic but lacked the marquee name recognition of Conte or Mourinho. Yet, his impact has been nothing short of transformative.

Since his arrival, Ange has rarely put a foot wrong in the transfer market. Key signings such as Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Micky van de Ven have all thrived in his system, proving to be integral performers. The successful integration of these players underscores Ange’s sharp eye for talent and his ability to mould the team to fit his vision.

In his first full season, Ange Postecoglou guided Tottenham to a fifth-place finish, a noteworthy achievement in what was widely regarded as a transitional season.

However, there remains a sense that it could have been even better. Aston Villa unexpectedly clinched fourth place, and Spurs’ promising start to the season—marked by an impressive run in their first ten games—was disrupted by injuries to key players such as Van de Ven and James Maddison.

Ange also faced the monumental challenge of losing Harry Kane, one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers, after his sale to Bayern Munich. Many believe that Kane’s presence could have propelled Spurs to a top-four finish. Despite this setback, Postecoglou has worked wonders with the resources at his disposal, establishing a playing style that has both excited fans and maximized the potential of his squad.

Stats breakdown: Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham

Opinion: Who stands tallest in Tottenham managerial saga?

When comparing Conte, Mourinho, and Postecoglou, it becomes clear that each brought distinct qualities to Tottenham’s ever-evolving narrative. Conte’s first season delivered immediate results, but his rigid system and fiery temperament ultimately led to a volatile second year. Mourinho promised glory but left with more questions than answers, his pragmatic style failing to align with Spurs’ attacking traditions.

Postecoglou, meanwhile, represents a fresh start – a manager who has embraced the club’s DNA and prioritised entertainment and unity. While it is too soon to declare him the most impactful, his early achievements suggest a brighter future under his stewardship.

In the end, the true measure of a manager’s influence lies not only in trophies won or league positions achieved but in the enduring legacy they leave behind. For Spurs, the journey under Postecoglou feels like a new chapter worth writing – one that could finally fulfil the aspirations of a club yearning for success on its own terms.

Tottenham Hotspur have ‘remastered’ their brand, including a new supporting colour palette which could provide some hints at what next season’s kit will look like.

Tottenham make changes to their brand

Tottenham have recently introduced a number of new emblems including a silhouette cockerel, the THFC monogram and hallmark badges which showcase key heritage features, and they have changed the font they use, as well as removing the text from their logo in a bid to ‘increase the club’s scale across different environments’.

Many were bemused when Spurs announced the decision, which has been criticised by sections of the support who see Daniel Levy as trying to Americanise Spurs as a commercial opportunity, rather than focusing on football, but others do not see it as an issue, considering the club only reintroduced their name on the logo in 2006.

But what is perhaps the most interesting detail in the announcement is that a new palette of supporting colours have been added which are ‘inspired by iconic elements of the club’s history’.

Tottenham wrote: “Ever since our home kit from 1898, the signature combination of Lilywhite and Spurs Navy have always been our core set of colours, and remain ever present to this day. A new palette of supporting colours have been introduced, which are inspired by iconic elements of the Club’s history.”

What will Tottenham’s kits look like next season?

Tottenham’s home kit is unlikely to feature any surprises, designed in navy and lilywhite as usual, which the palettes appear to support, although according to Gol De Sergio the shirt will also feature a light shade of grey.

Meanwhile, the away and third kits may be influenced by the new palettes, one of which is a combination of blazing yellow and Paxton purple, two colours which have often been used on the club’s alternate jerseys and adopted in recent years by supporters who protest the ownership of the club.

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While the other features hot terracotta to symbolise Bruce Castle and elm green which represents the Seven Sisters trees.

It would make sense that the three new palette designs will be used on the three kits the club release next season, however, the away shirt will reportedly be black and grey, like their third kit in 2012/13 (Gol De Sergio).

New Tottenham colour palette to feature in new kit?

Many clubs have released new logos and designs which have not actually featured on their kits at all. It is possible that the new colour palettes will be used on clothing ranges set to be launched by Spurs in the future, rather than their matchday apparel.

But the palettes could still feature on news kits as less prominent colours in the background, rather than being the centrepiece. All will be revealed in the not-too-distant future.

One Serie A midfielder, who reportedly featured prominently on Tottenham’s wishlist in the summer, is now subject to plenty of interest from around Europe, but it would take a huge offer to land him in January.

Tottenham target stayed put in the summer

The player in question is Atalanta midfielder, Ederson, who was heavily linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer (Mirror).

Various Italian outlets named Spurs as one of the favourites to land the Brazilian at the time (TuttoJuve), but Atalanta managed to hold onto the 25-year-old.

The midfielder has continued to shine in Bergamo this season and it has now emerged that a number of sides across the continent are now plotting a move for him ahead of January.

Ederson asking price revealed

This latest update comes from CalcioMercato, who say that Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are all dreaming of signing the Atalanta star.

The report does not make any mention of Tottenham, instead stating that Pep Guardiola’s men are currently at the front of the queue to land Ederson.

It is alleged that the Premier League champions see the Brazil international as someone who can add dynamism, defensive solidity and playmaking ability to their midfield in the absence of the injured Rodri.

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The report alleges that it would take an offer of €60m (£50m) to price the former Salernitana man away from Bergamo.

Atalanta’s stance on Ederson

CalcioMercato explain that Atalanta would ideally not want to lose Ederson mid-way into the season and would prefer to hold any talks over the player next summer.

Currently, the Serie A club are planning on keeping all the big names at the club in January, and this will only change if they receive ‘a huge sum’ for one of their stars.

It is also pointed out that Paris Saint-Germain are quite keen on Ademola Lookman, with the publication asserting that there is no chance of Atlanta letting both Lookman and Ederson leave in the same transfer window.

The fee Tottenham want for one of their players is considered too high for two European giants who are exploring deals for the player.

Tottenham defender a wanted man

The latest such update comes from TuttoMercatoWeb, who point out that when the Romanian made the decision to leave Genoa at the start of this year, he had the chance to join Bayern Munich.

In fact, it is alleged that the Bavarian side actually offered more money to the defender than Spurs, but he chose the latter, with the outlet hinting that the player might now be regretting his choice, given his lack of game time in North London.

Clubs cannot afford Radu Dragusin

The report in TMW backs up what we have already heard about Dragusin, claiming that Juventus and Napoli are both keen on securing his services in January.

However, it is explained that Tottenham will not consider selling the 22-year-old for a fee less than €30m (£25m) as the Premier League side have no intention of making a capital loss on the player.

It is revealed that neither the Bianconeri nor the Nerazzurri are in a position to spend such a high fee on a defensive recruit in January.

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Why would Tottenham sell Dragusin?

Postecoglou is already short of numbers in central defence and given Micky van de Ven‘s injury issues, one can argue that Tottenham need to add another centre-back to their squad in January.

It would thus make no sense for the club to consider letting Dragusin go, particularly for a fee as low as £25m.

That seems to be wishful thinking from the Italian media, with a bid of around £35m-£40m likely needed to get Tottenham to the negotiating table