Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has thrown his support behind new manager Roberto De Zerbi, describing the Italian as the ideal coach to unlock his attacking potential and usher in a new era at Spurs.
De Zerbi, who took over from interim boss Igor Tudor in March, guided Spurs to Premier League survival with a final-day win over Everton and has since spearheaded an aggressive rebuild with several high-profile signings. Maddison, speaking in Sydney ahead of the club’s pre-season tour, expressed excitement about the club’s direction and the manager’s style.
“The manager is very clear, the goal is to be better, to play better football, to be passionate, to be proud to play for this club,” Maddison said. “He’s a coach you want to play for because he loves everything with the ball. He’s very attacking, and I’m really excited.”
Maddison, poised to become Spurs’ new captain after missing much of last season with injury, emphasized the positive atmosphere and high expectations for the upcoming campaign. “We need to be better than the last couple of seasons. So it’s kind of all just preparation leading to that first game,” he added, referencing their Premier League opener against Brentford on August 22.
De Zerbi has already added midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, as well as defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, signaling a fresh start for Spurs.
With a mix of new faces and renewed ambition, Maddison believes the club is ready to play an exciting brand of football under De Zerbi’s attacking philosophy.
