Kulusevski opens up on 'impossible' comeback after 526-day injury nightmare

Dejan Kulusevski overcame his own “impossible” job after telling his loved ones he might not play again.

Kulusevski made his first appearance for Tottenham since May 2025 as a late substitute in their 3-1 win over Coventry City on Monday night. Tottenham midfielder Kulusevski received a hero’s welcome on the pitch and was greeted by his family after the game with one of his kids wearing a shirt with “526 days - my hero” printed on the back.

That was how long it took for him to come back from a serious knee injury and the Sweden international revealed just how tough it was to come back at times and he even warned his family he might not make it.

Kulusevski said: “The journey felt impossible. It was the most difficult it could be, but I had a feeling I was going to come back to play football. I just had to believe and that is what I do.

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“I never lost belief but it seemed impossible. I had to tell my closest ones it might not work out, just a couple of months ago but in my heart I always knew it would work out.

“I kept working, 10 hours every day when no one is watching, so when everything was impossible and everyone gave up, I never gave up because of this that happened when I came back.

“God gives me all the power. I can’t take credit for what I have done because I haven’t done it alone. Every day he has been doing it for me. Everything feels great. I have been working harder than you can ever imagine. I always knew God would be on my side. I do this because I love it and this is why I play the game.”

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Kulusevski praised the fans for the way they welcomed him back on to the pitch as a late substitute against Coventry. The gifted playmaker returned as did James Maddison who started his first game in 18 months but Tottenham have missed Kulusevski’s quality more than anyone.

And he says his long injury absence will only make him stronger and better as a player. He added: “I am so grateful that they miss me play. It means a lot and I am here to show them a better me. And a better me will be a better Spurs so we will be good.

“I was not nervous. I was ready to play. It was fun, it was fun. Yeah, I clicked about five days ago because it gets better all the time and keeps getting better. Imagine when everyone give up on you. Imagine that you can’t and you know football for me is like breathing.

“Imagine you can’t breath for two years but still you have a family, you show up, you do it with a smile, you go with your team-mates, you hype them up and that takes a lot of love, a lot of courage and a lot of belief.

“That is what I had to practice but I can’t take any credit because it wasn’t me. I thank God.”

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi said he brought on Kulusevski to please the crowd rather than anything else and the Spurs star says he is enjoying working with his new manager.

He added: “He’s amazing. I like him a lot and I can’t wait to keep working with him. It was more emotional I think this morning. It was a beautiful day and I’m so happy we won.”