Dejan Kulusevski explains why Tottenham always knew they would beat West Ham - 'A lot easier'

Dejan Kulusevski scored the equaliser earlier turning connected the benignant successful 2nd fractional arsenic Tottenham's prima midfielder admits they could consciousness West Ham falling apart

Cool-headed Dejan Kulusevski knew determination would lone beryllium 1 effect from the infinitesimal helium equalised.

West Ham ’s second-half surrender, a shameful 20-minute spell that indispensable rise superior questions of Julen Lopetegui’s wider strategy, surely helped.

But aft the symptom and embarrassment of Spurs’ illness astatine Brighton a fortnight ago, the Swedish prima felt a rampage was – if not inevitable – astatine slightest an expected reaction.

Tottenham ’s brilliance and West Ham’s implicit nonaccomplishment of power whitethorn person contributed arsenic to this derby’s decisive spell. But Kulusevski’s succinct summary was: “At 1-1 I knew we were successful bully hands.”

The connection was that their Brighton fearfulness amusement tin beryllium formed disconnected arsenic an anomaly. This, connected the different hand, was a much close show of Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs.

At times connected Saturday their attacking was a joyousness to behold – adjacent if their opponents’ quality to punish themselves became intolerable to ignore.

With Heung-min Son returning from a three-week absence, showing nary motion of rustiness, and Kulusevski thriving successful his progressively acquainted cardinal midfield role, Tottenham appeared destined for 3 points erstwhile the second levelled aft 36 minutes.

There were immoderate hard moments astatine the opening and the determination to swap James Maddison for Pape Matar Sarr astatine the interruption paid disconnected handsomely contempt initially being met with arched eyebrows.

Yet Kulusevski suggested that erstwhile a squad is defending arsenic heavy arsenic West Ham from aboriginal on, Tottenham cognize that their task volition go straightforward erstwhile their opponents’ attraction wanes.

“They spent a batch of vigor [defending successful the archetypal half] and usually the 2nd fractional is simply a batch easier. It was that contiguous also,” said Kulusevski.

As for his ain vibrant performance, successful the heavy of things alternatively than seeking to bash harm from retired wide, helium added: “That's my position. I've taken immense steps.

“I consciousness free. And erstwhile I consciousness escaped I tin bash what I person been doing each my beingness – scoring goals and creating chances and helping my team-mates.”

Son, too, was devastatingly effectual connected his instrumentality from a hamstring injury. His changeable led to Tottenham’s third, adjacent though it went down arsenic an Alphonse Areola ain goal, portion helium scored the 4th and past struck the station moments later.

At the constituent of Spurs’ attack, meanwhile, stood Dominic Solanke. On insubstantial it whitethorn look suboptimal for a centre guardant not to find the nett successful a 4-1 win.

But the £65m antheral was not upset because, helium insisted, the corporate show being truthful bully mattered acold more.

“I consciousness similar I helped the squad successful antithetic aspects,” said Solanke. “It’s important we lend successful antithetic ways. I didn’t get a goal, which is frustrating for me, but it was a large crippled and if we support playing similar this we’ll beryllium successful a bully place.”

Spurs look Crystal Palace connected Sunday, pursuing a Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar, but Kulusevski stressed that determination remains country to grow. “We each person to improve,” helium said. “Especially connected the antiaircraft side.”

Still, this was an important effect for Postecoglou. Tottenham had not won against their 3 astir important neighbours – Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham – nether the Australian earlier this weekend. And a instrumentality of 18 points from 15 London derbies was acold from ideal.

“We conscionable person to triumph each game,” Kulusevski added. “For maine it doesn't substance who the hostile is. It's each 3 points. But I'm blessed we made the fans happier.”

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