James Maddison: Tottenham Star Says Five Young Children Helped Take His Mind Off Injury

Tottenham endured a difficult campaign last season, only confirming their safety on the final day and ending up two points clear of relegation. Maddison admitted that being unable to contribute was frustrating.

He said the team sometimes lacked imagination, leaving him to watch matches and wonder how he might have influenced those situations.

Despite the challenging period, the midfielder explained that Italian head coach Roberto de Zerbi improved the atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after arriving in March.

Maddison praised De Zerbi as an intelligent and highly tactical coach whose passion for football is obvious.

However, he added that the manager initially avoided overwhelming the squad with complicated instructions. Instead, his priority was to help the players rediscover their enjoyment of the game.

Maddison revealed that one of De Zerbi’s first decisions was to arrange a team dinner where the players were permitted to drink alcohol.

According to the 29-year-old, De Zerbi encouraged everyone to enjoy some drinks and spend a fun evening together.

Maddison said the coach wanted the entire group to have an opportunity to unwind.

He felt the occasion immediately strengthened the connection between the players and brought the squad closer together.

Another early decision made by De Zerbi was to include Maddison among the substitutes.

The midfielder recalled telling the manager that he did not yet feel ready to take part.

De Zerbi insisted that Maddison could sit on the bench even in his slippers, as he simply wanted him close to the squad and believed his presence would help the group. Maddison regarded that decision as a major compliment and behaved as though he were fully involved with the matchday team.

Although he would not claim that his involvement made the difference, Maddison said it was satisfying to see Tottenham move away from relegation trouble.

The midfielder returned against Leeds on 11 May but has not yet been used during pre-season as a precaution. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about the upcoming campaign.

He said he is putting in considerable effort to reach full fitness and remain available for most of the season.

Maddison hopes to enjoy an injury-free campaign and focus fully on playing football. He believes that, when healthy and at his best, he has the ability to influence matches more effectively than many other players in the league.