Tottenham Hotspur’s triumph in the Europa League final in Bilbao remains a landmark moment in the club’s modern era, yet for Swedish international Dejan Kulusevski, the historic night was defined by immense personal heartache and profound isolation.

Speaking about his prolonged period on the sidelines during his recovery journey, Kulusevski offered a poignant, raw account of what transpired behind the scenes during Tottenham’s trophy celebrations, as shared by fan aggregator Hotspur Lane on X.

“That was one of the hardest days in my life I think. It was so beautiful to see all the people happy, but it was very difficult for me, going there with crutches, can’t walk. I couldn’t even take my medal because it was too slippery to go on that thing (the podium).”

“Things like this was not nice but I accepted it and I came back to Barcelona and I had to stay there because I couldn’t travel with the flight back so seeing the team celebrating on the bus, that was probably the most difficult part of all this journey, because you feel so alone in this time”

Emotional Bittersweetness on the Pitch in Bilbao

While the rest of the squad and traveling supporters revelled in European glory at San Mamés, Kulusevski found himself physically constrained and unable to fully participate in the crowning moment of the season.

Attending the final on crutches and wearing a full protective leg brace, the forward revealed how difficult it was to process the joy around him while being trapped in a state of physical helplessness. The physical setup of the presentation stage even prevented him from walking up to accept his winners’ medal alongside his teammates, adding another layer of distress to an already overwhelming situation.

The hardship extended far beyond the final whistle in Spain. Due to strict post-operative medical protocols and flight safety restrictions, Kulusevski was unable to fly back to London with the rest of the team. Instead, he had to travel to Barcelona and remain isolated while the club returned home to conduct their victory parade through the streets of North London.

Watching his teammates celebrate on the open-top bus via media screens while stranded in a hotel room in Spain marked the emotional low point of his career recovery journey, leaving him feeling deeply disconnected from the triumph he helped build.