Dejan Kulusevski admits he was "terrified" about making the move to Tottenham and the Premier League but found a head coach in Antonio Conte who is strict but "very nice on the inside".
The 22-year-old signed for Spurs last January from Juventus in a loan-to-buy deal and became an instant hit, helping transform the north London club's season with fellow Juve team-mate Rodrigo Bentancur. Kulusevski has now racked up 19 direct goal involvements, 13 assists and six goals, in just 28 Premier League games.
However, after being awarded the Guldbollen (Golden Ball), handed to the year's best Swedish footballer, Kulusevski told media outlet Aftonbladet about his fears regarding the move.
READ MORE: Franck Kessie, Tete and Antonio Conte's two Tottenham January transfer window priorities
"I was nervous, terrified. It was a new league, the Premier League, where everything goes so much faster and everyone is much stronger. I had had a poor playing time at Juventus and didn’t know what I was going to do," he said in the interview, as translated by Sport Witness.
"Luckily, I came to a club that knew who I was, got a manager who had wanted me a couple of years earlier, as well as a director of football who brought me to Juventus.
"They knew what I was capable of. I will always be grateful to them, especially in the first month when they helped me a lot. After that, I just flew."
When it comes to Conte, Kulusevski admits the Italian is "very strict, has a lot of rules and is very tough", but the Spurs head coach is also "very nice on the inside" and is someone "who really cares about the person behind the player".
Kulusevski is expecting bigger things from both himself and Tottenham in 2023, saying: "Things must go better on all levels. I absolutely believe I can top it. Looking forward to the Champions League against Milan.
"Looking forward to the Premier League where we are in fourth place. I think we can play much better and I think we will during these six months."
READ NEXT:
Every word Antonio Conte said on his contract, Kane, Romero, Richarlison injury and transfers
Conte's exciting Sarr verdict, Bissouma solves dilemma - 5 things spotted in Tottenham vs Nice
How Davinson Sanchez helped Son Heung-min as Harry Kane and Richarlison watch Tottenham draw
Tottenham player ratings vs Nice: Pape Matar Sarr and Bryan Gil impress as Matt Doherty scores
Tottenham vs Nice first-half player ratings: Doherty and Bissouma impress, Sanchez sloppy
