Cristiano Ronaldo makes an impact with whatever he does on the pitch and whatever he says on it.
It might be more than three years since he last played alongside Dejan Kulusevski but the Tottenham Hotspur still remembers his words.
AFPKulusevski is continuing his fine form on international duty[/caption]
The Swedish star has had a transformational season so far, going from talented by inconsistent right winger to a dominant and creative attacking midfielder.
His stunning performance against Manchester United in a 3-0 Tottenham win left fans and neutrals purring.
And his displays are rightly earning him plaudits.
The same has happened on international duty with another stellar showing in a 2-2 draw with Slovakia, whilst wearing the captain’s armband.
And as he continues a breakout season, he’s revealed exactly what’s changed for him mentally.
“To not be satisfied with being good, but to be the best every day,” said Kulusevski, per Fotboll Skanalen.
“That’s the only thing that matters. As hard as it is to try to be the best.
“I think that you learn over time, that you begin to understand much more about how the world and the brain work. You can’t be 17 and know everything.
“Yes, I always change. I’m starting to get to know my body. When I was younger, I didn’t understand when [Cristiano] Ronaldo told me: ‘You will get to know your body’. Because I didn’t know my body then.
“But now I’m starting to understand my strengths and weaknesses, how I can improve. So I feel like everything is getting easier.
GettyRonaldo and Kulusevski teamed up in Turin[/caption]
GettyKulusevski’s performances against Manchester United was one of the best of the season[/caption]
“I know how to train the day before a match, two days before a match, what to do when I’m tired and so on. All the little details that in the end make a big difference.”
Kulusevski has played in a number of roles in his time at Tottenham but finally appears to have found the place where his future lies – and the display against Manchester United was the culmination of hard work and belief.
“It [being a protagonist] came out in that match, but I have worked incredibly hard to be able to play at that level. I’m not shocked. I’ve just been waiting for it. Every match has felt good, but that one was perhaps extra good,” he explained.
“I want to try to maximize this career as much as possible and never be one of the crowd. It has been the whole season. I really feel that I am stronger mentally and physically this season.
“I have changed the ‘mindset’ a bit. I think that is to my advantage. I have grown off the pitch as well. The plan is to get better every day, and I feel that I am becoming that.”
