Dejan Kulusevski Slams Spurs’ Defeat to Nottingham Forest: “Not Good Enough” – Demands More Respect for Every GameTottenham forward Dejan Kulusevski has delivered a stinging assessment of his team’s latest Premier League defeat, labeling their performance against Nottingham Forest as “not good enough” and calling on the entire squad to take greater responsibility. Speaking with clear frustration after the 2-1 loss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Kulusevski stressed the importance of treating every match with urgency and respect, insisting that Spurs must start approaching each fixture “like it’s your last.”The Swedish international was visibly disappointed by Spurs’ sluggish start to the game, which saw them fall two goals behind for the second weekend in a row. A deflected effort from Elliot Anderson handed Forest a fifth-minute lead, and Chris Wood doubled the advantage with a powerful header shortly after having a previous goal ruled out for a marginal offside. Although Richarlison pulled one back late in the 87th minute, Spurs were unable to recover, suffering their 18th league defeat of the season—a stark contrast to their midweek Europa League triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt.Kulusevski pinpointed one of Tottenham’s biggest flaws on the day: their inability to deal with crosses and set-pieces. “We have to take responsibility—every single one of us,” he said. “We concede far too many crosses and corners, and it’s killing us. The manager said it: the first 15 minutes lost us the game. That’s when we switched off.”He also admitted that Spurs were unprepared to manage the demands of playing in multiple competitions this season, a shortcoming that was exacerbated by a string of injuries over the winter. “The top teams have done this for years,” Kulusevski explained. “They’re built for it—they rotate, they have depth, and they bring in players who are ready to handle the physical and mental load. We simply weren’t prepared the same way. We started the season poorly, and now we’re paying the price.”Kulusevski opened up about the challenge of returning to Premier League action just days after a huge European night, highlighting how difficult it is to maintain energy and intensity. “After games like Thursday, you come back home at five in the morning, and it’s hard to recover. You feel terrible. That’s where experience comes in—you have to find ways to reset and be ready again. I felt great today, physically. But we didn’t show the mentality needed early on.”Pressed on his earlier remark about the club having “done a lot of things wrong” early in the campaign, Kulusevski didn’t hold back. “We had too many injuries, and injuries don’t just happen randomly. That tells you we didn’t do things right in terms of preparation and load management.”Looking ahead, Spurs are bracing for a daunting visit to Anfield this weekend, where they’ll take on Premier League leaders Liverpool, who could potentially seal the title with a win. Just days later, they’ll host Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final—an opportunity that Kulusevski insists must be taken seriously. “The Europa League is massive for us. I’ve said since the beginning of the season—we have to win it. We have the quality, and you saw what we’re capable of on Thursday. The intensity, the build-up, it’s real when we play those games.”Despite the disappointment of the Forest defeat, there was a personal positive for Kulusevski. His return to the starting lineup marked his first appearance since February 22, having recovered from a persistent foot injury. “Honestly, I felt really good out there,” he said. “Of course, I’m angry about the result, but on a personal note, it’s great to be back. I’ve worked so hard to get here.”Kulusevski also spoke candidly about his recovery process and how he used his time off to regain both physical and mental balance. “I had to accept it—it was frustrating at first, but I also got more time with my daughter and wife, which helped a lot. I kept training hard because I knew coming back wouldn’t be easy. I did everything right to make sure I’d be ready, and I’m glad I feel strong again.”With crucial matches on the horizon and their Europa League ambitions still alive, Kulusevski’s words serve as both a reality check and a rallying cry. If Spurs are to salvage something from a turbulent season, they’ll need to match the Swede’s commitment, urgency, and brutally honest self-reflection—starting with a massive test at Anfield.
