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Postecoglou delivers Tottenham injury update ahead of Europa League final

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back | Last updated May 12, 2025 10:36 PM ET

The Swedish star was forced off early in the first half, raising doubts over his fitness for the Europa League showdown

Tottenham’s inconsistent domestic performances continued against Crystal Palace in 2-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with yet another lackluster showing in the Premier League. While the defeat is essentially irrelevant as Spurs season is done and dusted with nothing riding on the league campaign, the focus has now switched to the ultimate goal of winning the Europa League and getting back to the Champions League.

Dejan Kulusevski, was one of the few players still in the team from the line-up who beat Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final, was forced off early after a heavy tackle from Marc Guehi. After questions arose over a possible serious knee injury, Ange Postecoglou in the post game presser as relayed by The Standard UK has since downplayed there being any serious concerns on the fitness of the Swedish midfielder.

All eyes were on Kulusevski’s availability for the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21.

Spurs acted quickly, bringing on Mikey Moore as a precaution after the Swedish midfielder went down, but Ange Postecoglou remains optimistic that the injury isn’t serious. Tottenham have already felt the impact of Kulusevski’s absence earlier this season, struggling for rhythm when he was sidelined. With James Maddison ruled out for the rest of the campaign, the Swede’s presence has become even more vital as one of the few creative driving forces left in midfield.

Ange Postecoglou remains hopeful as Kulusevski avoids major injury scare

Big Ange already has plenty on his plate, and the last thing he can afford is losing another key player. Tottenham’s previous injury crisis severely impacted their momentum this season, and the Australian boss knows just how vital Dejan Kulusevski is to his plans.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, as relayed by The Standard UK, Postecoglou gave a reassuring update:

“Should be OK, just talking to him after. The medical team’s not too concerned, more of a knock than anything else.”

Spurs are already without Lucas Bergvall (ankle) and James Maddison (knee) until next season, leaving Kulusevski as the only fit playmaker available.

On a positive note, Tottenham welcomed back captain Heung-min Son after a six-game absence. While the South Korean forward looked understandably rusty, his return gives Spurs a timely boost ahead of the Europa League final, as he builds match fitness.

Tottenham face Aston Villa next Friday night before travelling to Bilbao in pursuit of ending their 17-year trophy drought. As things stand, Kulusevski is expected to be fit in time for the final and will be ready to give his all on the big stage. With a shot at European silverware on the line, Spurs will be fully focused on going out and finishing the job in the Europa League.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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