Dejan Kulusevski has insisted that under- pressure manager Ange Postecoglou is the right man to guide Tottenham Hotspur out of their current slump.
Spurs are going through a disastrous Premier League run of one win in 11 games that has seen the North London club drop down to 15th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone.
On Sunday, Postecoglou saw his team beaten 2-1 at home by a Leicester City side that had lost their previous seven league games and were sitting second bottom in the standings.
Home fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium made their feelings clear, venting their fury at chairman Daniel Levy throughout the game and greeting the final whistle with a barrage of boos.
And while Levy bore the brunt of supporters' anger, Postecoglou is also under the spotlight with Spurs having managed to collect just five points out of a possible 33.
But Swedish midfielder Kulusevski, speaking ahead of Thursday's Uefa Europa League game at home to Elfsborg, believes there have been enough bright spots this season to justify keeping faith in the manager.
“We had games where we showed perfect football, football that not many teams can play,” he said in Wednesday's press conference.
“We played beautiful games against [Manchester] United, City away 4-0. I think he is the right man.
“We want to win for him … I have to fight for him because I believe in that football too. I think he is the right man.
“Opinions change, I don't listen to anyone. I know the truth, I see the truth from my side. It's not important what people say, it never has been.
“[Our] League [form] is very bad and the game on Sunday was tough to lose. [But] you have to stay clear-minded and focus on the goals.”
Spurs are currently sixth out of 36 teams in the revamped Europa League group-stage and victory against the Swedish club will guarantee them a place in the last 16 with the top eight qualifying automatically.
Finishing between ninth and 24th means taking part in a two-legged play-off for a place in the knockout stages.
Tottenham are also in the League Cup semi-finals, having won the first leg at home to Liverpool 1-0, and the fourth round of the FA Cup, where they travel to Aston Villa.
But while the team is still going strong in three cup competitions, it is league form that ultimately could spell the end of Postecolglou's reign.
When asked if this was the most he has had to suffer in his career, Kulusevski added: “It is not suffering. I tell you in the league, losing that many games that is suffering. It's very hard on me losing games.
“But I still have to see the bigger picture, I think we can do amazing things because we are left in three cups and that is where my focus is.
“It's a balance. It is suffering but at the same time I am still positive. I still see the opportunities.”
Postecoglou regularly points at the club's nightmare injury list as the main reason for their current problems and has made clear new signings are needed to give the squad a boost in the current transfer window.
But the former Glasgow Celtic manager was unable to provide good news on that front with the January window set to close on February 3.
“I would be disingenuous if I said anything other than, right now, nothing is imminent,” he admitted.
“That doesn't mean that opportunities aren't being explored. Traditionally, the last few days of any window tend to be frenetic and I expect us to be involved in that.
“Does that mean anything will get concluded? I can't commit to that. I'm a bit of a distance from it but the information and dialogue I have is that we are exploring all the opportunities to bring some help in for the players.”
There was some mixed news on the injury front ahead of Thursday's game with defender Cristian Romero and midfielder James Maddison unavailable, with the latter out for two to three weeks with a calf strain.
But centre-back Micky van de Ven, plus midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr are available for selection.
“Cristian is still a bit of a slow burner. We are mindful that his injury was just a bit different and he's still got to tick a few boxes,” said Postecoglou.
“Micky [van de Ven] is good to go so we will try to get him some minutes tomorrow. He has a good week to 10 days' training and he's in good condition so he's fine.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Honeymoonish
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
