How Dejan Kulusevski and Konrad Laimer Are Adapting to New Roles
Injuries have disrupted Tottenham Hotspur’s strong start to the season, forcing head coach Ange Postecoglou to experiment with player positions and squad dynamics. The absence of creative playmaker James Maddison and defensive stalwart Micky van de Ven has been especially notable. However, these setbacks have opened the door for players like Dejan Kulusevski to step up in unfamiliar roles, while at Bayern Munich, Konrad Laimer has found himself filling a gap at right-back following Benjamin Pavard’s departure. This article explores how both players are navigating these transitions and making valuable contributions to their teams.
Dejan Kulusevski’s Evolving Responsibility at Tottenham
As Tottenham’s season progressed, injuries decimated the squad, impacting both defensive and attacking phases of play. While Maddison’s creativity has been difficult to replace, Dejan Kulusevski has emerged as a solution in the advanced midfield role commonly known as the “number 10.”
Kulusevski has long been recognized for his creativity, tallying 15 assists in his first two campaigns with Spurs—a remarkable figure, considering his initial arrival mid-season. This year, with Maddison out, Kulusevski’s playmaking numbers have dipped, but his goal-scoring output has improved, notching five goals so far. This shift echoes the dual contributions of players like Kevin de Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes, who provide both invention and direct threat.
Kulusevski’s attributes make him well-suited to central creative responsibility. His spatial awareness allows him to receive the ball in compact areas and play precise passes, even when heavily marked. Quick thinking and anticipation set him apart, enabling him to thrive in the “number 10” role where time and space are limited. Kulusevski excels at threading through passes for teammates making runs in behind—and can do so with either foot. His technical quality is complemented by impressive dribbling ability, making him dangerous in both central and wide areas.
When operating between the lines, Kulusevski’s instincts allow him to attract defenders and release runners such as Brennan Johnson and Heung Min-Son. This movement mirrors Maddison’s impact, floating intelligently between central and half-space channels, increasing unpredictability and opening up new passing lanes.
Despite his proficiency in central areas, Kulusevski’s most natural fit remains as an inverted winger, cutting in from the right side onto his stronger left foot to whip crosses into the box. That said, he has recently shown tactical flexibility—shifting to other flanks, making late impacts, and scoring or assisting from both feet. His versatility has helped Tottenham’s attack stay dangerous, even with so many first-team regulars sidelined.
Should Maddison and van de Ven return to action soon, Tottenham might regain the dynamism that made them look like legitimate Premier League contenders early in the campaign. Until then, Kulusevski’s ability to adapt and cover multiple attacking duties remains invaluable for the club.
Konrad Laimer’s Impact as an Auxiliary Right-Back at Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich faced a challenge after the summer departure of reliable right-back Benjamin Pavard. Manager Thomas Tuchel responded by looking internally rather than seeking immediate transfer solutions, opting to convert versatile midfielder Konrad Laimer into a temporary right-back.
Laimer has previously filled the role during his career, but has primarily excelled as a box-to-box midfielder known for his ball-carrying power and tireless running. At right-back, he brings the same energy and transitional presence that defined his central roles at RB Leipzig. His ability to advance the ball through the half-space and engage defenders creates room for Bayern’s wingers, like Leroy Sane, to isolate their markers and threaten the box.
Offensively, Laimer is comfortable beating his man and can protect possession under pressure. However, he is still adjusting to the final third demands of the fullback position, such as timing crosses and connecting accurately with forwards. While he has registered two assists in 14 Bundesliga appearances this season, his decision-making in attacking zones continues to evolve.
Defensively, Laimer’s intelligence and anticipation prove critical. At Leipzig, he often anchored a double-pivot in the club’s preferred “3+2” rest-defense system. Bayern, on the other hand, frequently allow Leon Goretzka to advance, leaving Joshua Kimmich deeper to shield the backline. Laimer’s deployment at right-back thus becomes more significant in rest-defense scenarios—providing extra cover against opposition counterattacks and ensuring Bayern are less vulnerable in transition. He possesses a strong understanding of positional priorities, adeptly narrowing the defensive line and closing down dangerous spaces when needed.
Laimer’s awareness extends to pressing phases as well. When Bayern lose possession high up the pitch, he checks for lurking wingers before joining the counter-press, reducing the risk of being caught on the break. Simultaneously, he remains eager to join attacking transitions, pushing forward with urgency as soon as Bayern regain the ball.
His versatility does, however, create occasional overlaps with Kimmich, who also prefers operating in right-sided half-spaces to deliver crosses. Ideally, Tuchel would leverage Laimer’s mobility to ignite transitions while counting on Kimmich’s deep-lying creativity. If this balance is struck, Bayern will have a solid stopgap solution for their right-back void, while still tapping into Laimer’s core strengths as a midfield disruptor.
Conclusion: Tactical Flexibility in Modern Football
The stories of Dejan Kulusevski and Konrad Laimer highlight a broader theme in elite football: the increasing need for tactical flexibility amid injuries and squad changes. Kulusevski’s evolution as Tottenham’s creative hub during Maddison’s absence has kept the team competitive and unpredictable. Meanwhile, Laimer’s willingness to transition from midfield engine to fullback has provided Bayern Munich with an adaptable defensive option in a moment of need.
As both players adapt and evolve, their coaches gain new tactical options—and their teams benefit from the dynamism and resilience that such versatility brings. If Tottenham and Bayern can eventually restore their preferred lineups, the experience gained during these testing periods will only strengthen their squads for future challenges.
