Tottenham Hotspur fans will love what Dejan Kulusevski said after his emotional return to the pitch after nearly 18 months.

Spurs fans have been waiting to see the Swede back out on the field for a long time, and unsurprisingly, his introduction in the 87th minute led to one of the biggest cheers of the night from the home crowd.

The capacity crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium proceeded to cheer on almost every single touch of the attacking midfielder.

In his post-match press conference, Roberto De Zerbi admitted that he brought Kulusevski on to galvanise the supporters, given how long the fans have been waiting to see him back in action.

When asked about his decision to bring on the attacker, the Tottenham boss said: “Listen, Kudus, I thought he was playing well; I think he could finish the game, but I thought of Kulusevski just for the fans.

“Just for the fans because they waited (for) him on the pitch and in the last 5-10 minutes for extra time, we needed the support of the fans. And they are fantastic with Kulusevski, with us, they suffered too much in the last 3-4 seasons, I don’t know, but they deserve to celebrate many, many wins.”

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski opens up on ‘special’ feeling of being back out on the pitch

The former Juvenuts man had an extremely challenging journey back, having undergone two different surgeries on his knee and having suffered multiple setbacks.

Kulusevski, being a basketball fan, admitted that he took inspiration from what the late Kobe Bryant once said on his long and arduous journey back.

Speaking to Sportbladet (as relayed by Sport Witness), he said on his return: “It’s just great; it feels natural to be back. I knew this day would come, so it was just a matter of being patient.

“Kobe Bryant always said that the storm will eventually pass. That’s what I was waiting for. I stayed ready, and when the opportunity arrived, I was prepared to play.”

“It’s been like going to school. It’s been absolutely amazing, and I’ll have more time to talk about everything in the future. But it’s been very special. I don’t think anyone has truly understood just how special it’s been.”

Kulusevski admits Spurs feels like home

The crowd’s reception showed how highly the Sweden international is regarded by the Tottenham fan base.

Kulusevski’s teammates also embraced him after the final whistle, having seen firsthand how hard he has worked to get back playing.

When asked about stepping back out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a year and a half, he said: “It really feels like I’m starting to feel at home at this club.

“They know who I am, and I know who they are. Together, we want to move forward, so it was absolutely fantastic to play in this stadium again. The support is everything, of course. Family is the most important thing there is.”