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Inside the office in Solna, national team captain Janne Andersson and assistant Peter Wettergren outlined plans for the Nations League match with the Croats.
One of many was about Dejan Kulusevski.
“Great offensive qualities”
– Dejan as a player has enormous offensive qualities, and as an outside midfielder you can finish low against a good team and put time and energy on defense. Our idea was to take it higher, says Peter Wettergren, head of the collection in the absence of Andersson infected with covid-19.
– I saw a match with Juventus – Janne too – where he played with (Cristiano) Ronaldo and he did very well. How mobile it was and how its qualities emerged.
However, it was only the day before the Croatia meeting that the midfielder was asked: Can you play forward?
– I answered that I thought so, says Kulusevski.
The message was enough for Wettergren, who – along with Andersson – decided to complete the plans from the office.
The result was the best possible.
“I played in my position”
The 21-year-old was more direct, found the surfaces he wanted and gained momentum in the Swedish offense.
– When I play outside, I have a lot of freedom to get in the middle, but in the position I was in now I feel very safe and received an incredible amount of help, so I was able to do what I am good at, he says.
– The more central I am, the more things I can invent. I can go right, left and counterattack … I’m always close to the goal. Now I played in my position, absolutely.
The result of Dejan Kulusevski’s change of position?
The 1-0 goal in the 36th minute.
The striker received the ball from Mikael Lustig, pushed Mateo Kovacic and put a wide side in the highest angle of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
– It was good to win. It was nice to score goals so I was able to help the team win. I am satisfied with the team and my effort, he says.
– It was really fun to play. I felt comfortable on the pitch, and that is very important, both for me and for the team.
Henrik Skiöld / TT
Anders Wallin / TT
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