“He’s not going to settle for any level apart from being the absolute best” - Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham star has ambition like Cristiano Ronaldo
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou compared attacker Dejan Kulusevski's drive to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Australian heaped praise on the Sweden international, suggesting that his passion drove him to be the best in the game.
When asked if Kulusevski has a similar ambition to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ange said in a press conference (via TBR Football):
“Yeah absolutely, spot on. He’s very ambitious about how good he can be and that’s a great thing. He’s still relatively young and for his position, there’s a lot of improvement in him.
“I’ve just got a feeling with Deki that he’s not going to settle for any level apart from being the absolute best and it’s great for us.”
Kulusevski has become a vital part of Tottenham this season amidst their up-and-down form. His two goals and three assists in the league combined with his influence in their attacking play has made him one of their most key outfield players.
Kulusevski also shared the pitch 40 times with Cristiano Ronaldo during their time together at Juventus. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo established himself as one of the world's best while playing in Europe. His five Ballons d'Or and numerous other trophies and records are a testament to his great ability and ambition.
Roberto Martinez opens up on Cristiano Ronaldo's position in national team
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez suggested that superstar Cristiano Ronaldo needed to work as hard as everyone else to secure a spot in the team. He said to EFE:
“In the national team, no one is guaranteed a spot—it’s all about merit. Cristiano, like every other player, is in a competitive environment where everyone must prove their worth. The concept of being a starter has changed; with five substitutions, some players are more crucial at the end of a match than at the start.”
He went on to point out how influential substitutes can be as well, referring to Eder's performance in the 2016 Euros, saying:
"It’s about being impactful, not just starting the match. Cristiano understands that and continues to work at the highest level.”
The 39-year-old caught flak for his performances in the 2024 Euros. He to find the back of the net as Portugal exited the tournament in the quarter-finals at the hands of France.
Ronaldo remains Portugal's and men's international highest-ever goalscorer with 135 goals in 215 appearances. He has also maintained a rich vein of form this season at the club level with 15 goals and three assists in 18 games for Al-Nassr.