Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski has admitted it was “hard to accept” having to fly around the world and back for a friendly game just days after the end of the Premier League season.
Spurs and Newcastle were criticised for jetting off to Australia for a post-season friendly in Melbourne last month.
The game, a homecoming for Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou in front of over 78,000 fans, came just three days after their league finales and ahead of a busy summer including Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
“Of course it was tough,” he told Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen when asked for the squad’s reaction to the friendly.
“It was hard to accept. But nothing can be done. Others decide.”
He added: “It was hard. But sometimes you just have to accept that you can't decide everything in life. The club made the decision that we had to go there and then I had to make the best of the situation.”
Kulusevski played 69 minutes of the 1-1 draw, which Newcastle won on penalties.
Sweden failed to qualify for Euro 2024 and the 24-year-old is now preparing to take on Denmark and Serbia in international friendlies.
“I work hard,” he continued. “It’s a last push before the holidays. I'm just trying to give everything I have left. Then I'll relax.
“I have to train - I can't come to matches unprepared. I have been training anyway. It was nice to be able to be with my friends in the team.”
