Ange Postecoglou is confident that James Maddison will bounce back from a disappointing end to last season, emphasizing that the attacking midfielder has looked sharp in training since returning from pre-season.
James Maddison’s Struggles Last Season
Maddison had a brilliant start to his Tottenham Hotspur career following his transfer from Leicester City last summer. For the first few months of the 2023-24 season, he was arguably one of the best players in the Premier League. His creativity, vision, and goal-scoring ability made him a standout performer, and he quickly became a key player for Spurs.
However, things took a turn when Maddison suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for several weeks. Upon his return, he struggled to regain the same level of form that had made him so effective earlier in the season. His performances were inconsistent, and he found it difficult to influence games as he had done before his injury. This dip in form coincided with a challenging period for Tottenham as a whole, with the team struggling to maintain momentum in the latter stages of the campaign.
Missing Out on the England Squad
Maddison’s struggles did not go unnoticed by Gareth Southgate, and the 27-year-old was ultimately left out of the England squad for the Euros, a decision that came as a major blow to him. Maddison openly expressed his disappointment on social media, sharing his frustration at missing out on the opportunity to represent his country in a major tournament.
For a player of Maddison’s caliber, being left out of the national squad was a significant setback. It raised questions about his form and whether he could return to the high standards he had set earlier in his career.
Postecoglou’s Faith in Maddison
Despite the challenges Maddison faced towards the end of last season, Ange Postecoglou has no doubts about his vice-captain’s ability to bounce back. The Spurs boss believes that Maddison will use the disappointment of missing out on the Euros as motivation to come back stronger this season.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Postecoglou discussed his thoughts on Maddison’s situation. When asked if he had spoken to Maddison about his omission from the England squad, Postecoglou replied: “I haven’t had an extensive chat with him. But again, I think that’s part of a footballer’s journey. I’ve often said that I think sometimes we see things in such a linear sort of way where we think that everything is going to be great and it never is.
“You could be the greatest at something but there’s going to be challenges, there’s going to be stumbles along the way and it’s how you react to them, what you do about them. How you embrace the next challenge that comes along.”
Postecoglou emphasized that dealing with setbacks is a crucial part of a footballer’s journey. He believes that Maddison has the character and resilience to use this disappointment as a learning experience and to come back stronger.
“For Madders, I’m sure he was enormously disappointed in missing out because he’d been a part of that team that went on that journey. But he’s still got plenty of football in him and there are still challenges there for him. It’s how you deal with that. Do you kind of just write it off or do you use it as motivation moving forward? Do you use it as maybe a time of self-reflection to say, well, could I have done anything better?”
A Key Figure for Tottenham
Postecoglou also highlighted Maddison’s importance to the Tottenham squad. With a young team around him, Maddison’s experience and quality will be crucial in guiding Spurs through the challenges of the upcoming season. The Australian manager noted that Maddison’s season last year mirrored that of the team as a whole—strong when things were going well, but struggling when the going got tough.
“He’s been great since we got back. His season last year kind of reflected ours. He was unbelievable when he was up and going and then he had injuries. It was a bit of a grind when he did get back and that was kind of us as a team, so hopefully the way we’ve learned as a team he’s learned about as an individual – because he’s a big part of our side.”
Maddison’s Determination to Succeed
Maddison is known for his fierce competitive spirit, and he will be eager to prove his critics wrong and show that he still has what it takes to be a top player in the Premier League. With Postecoglou’s backing and the support of his teammates, Maddison will be determined to put last season’s struggles behind him and make a significant impact for Tottenham this season.
As the new campaign kicks off, all eyes will be on Maddison to see if he can recapture the form that made him one of the most exciting players in the league. If he can, he will undoubtedly be a key figure in Tottenham’s push for success this season.
